we're back, but only kinda.

We're back from Martha's Vineyard. It was a fun, fast trip and I'm so glad we got to go. While we're back on the mainland, I'm not fully back to bloggyland because my parents are still in town until Tuesday. I'm looking forward to catching up on all of your blogs, but give me a few more days, ok?

In the meantime, here are a few iphone pictures from our trip.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

a sweet song.

 You know when you just mindlessly listen to a song, until one day when you listen to the words and suddenly like the song a million times more? That's this song for me. It's such a sweet, emotional song about parenting. Read the lyrics, listen to the video. You'll be happier for it, promise.



The One Who Knows
Words and music by Dar Williams

Time it was I had a dream
You're the dream come true
If I had the world to give
I'd give it all to you

I'll take you to the mountains
I will take you to the sea
I'll show you how this life became
A miracle to me

You'll fly away
But take my hand until that day
So when they ask how far love goes
When my job's done
You'll be the one who knows

All the things you treasure most
Will be the hardest ones
I will watch you struggle on
Before the answers come

But I won't make it harder
I'll be there to cheer you on
I'll shine the light that guides you down
The road you're walking on

You'll fly away
But take my hand until that day
So when they ask how far love goes
When my job's done
You'll be the one who knows

Before the mountains call to you
Before you leave this home
I want to teach your heart to trust
As I will teach my own

But sometimes I will ask the moon
Where it shined upon you last
And shake my head and laugh and say
It all went by so fast

You'll fly away
But take my hand until that day
So when they ask how far love goes
When my job's done
You'll be the one who knows

npr.

yesterday, i mentioned NPR.

raise your hand if you listen to NPR. now, keep your hand raised it that makes to feel pretty darn good about yourself.

i'll bet some of you dropped your hands at first. but if you kept them raised after the first prompt, i bet you definitely kept it raised after the second one.

it seems like listening to NPR and admitting boasting it has this way of establishing you as an intelligent, forward thinking individual. 

i vacillate between finding NPR mind-numbingly boring and highly fascinating. sometimes i love it. sometimes i hate it and just want to belt my lungs out to my favorite tunes. but you can bet if i've listened to it lately, i will drop into conversation.

what do you think about NPR? love it? hate it? does it make you feel somewhat better than? it's ok. be honest. honesty is the best policy.

this is awesome. and this is hysterical.

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space exploration.

Last week I was listening to NPR and they were talking about the end of the space program at NASA. They said it's not the end of space visitation, however, as space exploration will simply become privatized. 7 passenger space taxis, they called it.

My first thought was, "Wow! I should add that to my life bucket list. I'd never be rich enough for that, but how amazing it would be!"

After a few minutes, though, I thought, "Maybe we should just leave space well enough alone."

It seems like we, as humans, ruin so much of what we touch with trash, smog, our heavy footed steps. I couldn't help but think of it in Maine as we'd come across trash or broken trees. Space seems so untouched now, but after years of it being a tourist destination I'm sure that would change (ie. Wall-E).

What do you think? Should space become a touristy destination? Do you even think it could? Would you want to go?

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songs i'm loving.

today i wanted to share with you a couple songs i've been loving. maybe you know them, maybe you don't. i love finding new songs to listen to on repeat, so i'm hoping these might help you do the same :)

The Low Anthem, Cage the Songbird


The Low Anthem, Charlie Darwin


Gillian Welch, Elvis Presley Blues


Hem, Not California


also: Tim Gearan, Pinwheel Eyes and The Donkeys, Walk through a Cloud.

snapshots of our weekend!

this weekend was mostly good. i had fun spending extra just me and mere time. there were moments though that all i could think was, Lord, Don't ever make me a single mother. even though i am with meredith on my own the vast majority of the time, it's different on the weekend when i'm mentally prepared for help. all that really matters now, though, is that as you read this we are vacation bound. please don't burglarize my house.

here are a few shots of our weekend:

happy monday!

Steppin' Out: 7/24

The heat and humidity finally broke a little today, so I actually managed to get dressed and put on make up for church this morning. Meredith and I stepped out to church while Chris worked day #2 of his conference.



Me:              
Top- Old Navy
Jeans- Target
Shoes- Target

Meredith:
Sweater- Dillard's
Dress & Headband- Gymboree

I am loving my super duper discount outfit. Everything was bought on clearance. The shirt and jeans were $5 each and the shoes were $17. also? LOVING the no heat curls. It only took me about 10 minutes to put in the headband and voila! I woke up with fun curls that are lasting!








Linking up with Mandy today!

checking in.

i hope you are all enjoying your saturday. i've been dreading being on my own this weekend for a couple weeks now, but you know what? it's not so bad. meredith and i have done some shopping and playing and sleeping. now while she naps nina's banana bread is baking in the oven while i listen to some of my favorite mellow instrumental songs. i wish chris were home with us, but life is good and vacation #2 is less than 48 hours away.

for your weekend.

no links today, but some cute pictures and video of the babe. it seems like she's been missing on this here blog lately, so i wanted to be sure you got your fix before the weekend :)

having a one year old is one of the most fun things in the world. she is nonstop entertainment. each day i can see her figuring out new things. it's amazing.

playing peek a boo with the computer

Starring: Meredith from Claire Traganos on Vimeo.

what are your weekend plans? meredith and i will mostly be on our own while chris helps run a conference. we will be busy cleaning and packing for our vacation next week!

missing family, on their way.

My parents arrive on Tuesday and I couldn't be more excited. We get to go on vacation with them and also spend time here at home together. I am counting down the hours, it seems, and yet, my heart is aching for them.

This seems to always happen. Right before they arrive, I miss them the most intensely and feel the saddest. I suppose it is because it is one of the only times I truly let myself think about how far they moved and how infrequent our visits feel. I really hate how far away Texas is.

It dawned on my yesterday that I haven't been with my whole family- parents, siblings, Chris and Meredith since Thanksgiving and it will be until Christmas that we are all together again. While there many, many perks of being an adult, the distance that jobs, college and life create is one big downside.

Fortunately there is a brief respite in sight and I know I will cherish every moment. 

ice cream cake

For as long as I can remember, I have loved ice cream cake. Even for my December birthday, I often wanted an ice cream cake. But even though it's one of those desserts I love, it never occurred to me to make one. Until this weekend. I received Woman's Day magazine in the mail and they were featured no-cook dinners and desserts. With the 90 degree heat in my house with no a/c, I was intrigued.

When I saw the ice cream cake, I just knew I had to try it. People, now you have to as well. It is SO easy and SO delicious and SO versatile. It took about 10 minutes of "work" and then several later we enjoyed the yumminess. It is certain to be my new favorite summer dessert to share with friends.

Melt chocolate & peanut butter


Mix with rice krispies cereal


Place in springform pan. Freeze for 10 minutes to set.

Add ice cream


Freeze for at least 4 hours.

ENJOY.


Seriously. Go. Now. Make it.

a favorite movie.

my apologies for the heavy weekend posts. who does that on the weekend?? beaktweets does, i guess. for today we have a much lighter, more trivial post :) enjoy.

The other night when Chris was out, I gave myself a pedicure and watched The American President. Even though I own it, when I saw it on Netflix Watch Instantly, I got all giddy. I have literally seen this movie more times than I can count. I'm not even sure why I love it so much, but I really, really do. It's my favorite movie, I think.

Except wait,

I think I like You've Got Mail even better. I've seen that one probably a hundred times. It's my favorite movie to put on in the background, which I did a lot in college. Kathleen Kelly is the sweetest character. I want to be her when I grow up- living in NYC, owning a children's bookshop and being the Storybook Lady. Oh, it would be nice.

How about you? What's your favorite move?