pancake(s) of the week: Awesome Man & co.

Hi! I'm a superhero. My name is Awesome Man.

I have a stylin' letter A on my chest...

...and an Awesome Dog named Moskowitz.

(ingredients used for all: banana, blackberry jam, raisins, nutella)

**UPDATED: Don't forget to check pancakeoftheweek.com for more pancake inspiration.**

Avery's pancake request couldn't have been more complicated this week. He asked not just for Awesome Man, but his dog, too.  The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man is the creation of Michael Chabon, an author who also wrote one of my favorite novels: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.

It's quickly become one of our favorite books to read at night and has taught some useful lessons to use during the day. You see, Awesome Man's secret identity is that of a young boy (based on Chabon's son). When Awesome Man gets really angry, he tells the reader he wants to start hitting or throwing stuff. But since he's superstrong, he has to be careful and create some alone time to give himself a "ginormous Awesome Power Grip," which means he hugs his knees to his chest until he calms down.

We have encouraged the Power Grip in this house many times.

slowing down

The boy and I find many forms of entertainment when left alone for an extended period of time.

When it's just him and me, Ave never wants to go anywhere. If I'm lucky, I can bribe him in accompanying me to the grocery store or a trip to the playground.

With me working full time during the week, I don't think he wants to share me with the rest of the world on the weekends.

Which for the most part, is fine by me. Being with him is like spending time with my childhood self.

Only much better.

On a side note: the table above is so full of water rings that they're beginning to form a pattern. Can we make this cool? (west elm, you disappoint me)

confessions of a neurotic mother in solitude

As I mentioned in this week's pancake post, I spent the entire weekend alone in my house. No child. No husband. (And definitely no Alt Summit, haha)

Our family was asked to join Bobby's sister's family in the NC mountains for an extended weekend, but because of my work deadlines, I was unable to take off and attend. This is the truth, though Bobby believes otherwise.

Here's a confession: I was secretly looking forward to the solitude.

The boys left Friday morning and promptly after leaving work Friday evening, I whipped out my 2012 to-do list and made a trip to Home Depot where I stocked up on sandpaper and stain.



The first item on my list was to refinish the dining room table, which I had planned on starting in the Spring, but a wave of determination took over and it suddenly seemed like the opportune time to knock out the project. Since it was raining and cold, I attempted to sand IN my dining room. Without a mask.

Yeah...not a good idea.

By Saturday morning, I was coughing up so much sawdust that I decided it was best to leave the project for another day.

I set my alarm to wake early on Saturday morning so that I could quickly knock out chores and have the rest of the weekend free for creative endeavors. I blasted NPR to help me pace myself and before Car Talk ended, I had already finished a majority of the little household duties that would have nagged at me all weekend.

But honestly, I worked myself into a tizzy trying to manage my time and checked my watch every 15 minutes. All the free time was creating anxiety!

I did manage to chill out and work at a leisurely pace on the following projects I've been meaning to tackle forever:



I finished painting all my thrift scores. And I had a closet full of them.

I have the horrible habit of finding objects in thrift stores that "would look great with a little work." Do I have time for this work? Not really, but I just can't pass up an interesting DIY project so those little guys jump in my cart (said the hoarder).

But you see, these guys are truly special. If you put your coat on their hook, they raise their wings.



I finally began working on my own design identity.



And got a little obsessive with the paper cutting aspect.



Finished painting another thrift score (owls) and hung them on Avery's tree mural.



Watched CBS Sunday Morning Show in peace and quiet while sipping coffee.

The harlequins got a new coat of paint on their frames.



And finally ventured out of the house for a little garden sign painting party at Suzy's house to benefit the 5 Points Community Garden.



And although I really missed out on a great time in the mountains, I also really needed the time by myself. Not that I take the people in my life for granted, but sometimes a small absence makes you appreciate the little important moments so much more.

Before the trip, I was constantly thinking, "if I had the time, I would...(insert with ambitious art and  home improvement projects, exercise, etc)."

But given the time, I really missed making the pancake. And the three of us squeezing into a twin bed to read books at bedtime.

The boys returned home late Monday night with souvenirs from gem mining, hair smelling of campfire, and tales of snow tubing. Avery and I stayed up late flipping through the artist Nick Cave's book and as he fumbled about trying to reenact each dancer's pose, which he does soooo dramatically, for a moment I felt true bliss.

And that's the only thing that should be on my 2012 to-do list.

pancake of the week: invisibility

Sorry to disappoint you...



The boys went on a weekend trip to the mountains and I had the house to myself, so I cleaned the kitchen promptly and barely used the kitchen all weekend. I didn't realize how much I enjoy our little Saturday morning pancake ritual until it was gone.

little bits of awesome: the power of mrs. squirrel

Do not underestimate the power of Mrs. Squirrel.

She has the ability to control the actions of one strong-willed little boy.

If she asks him to clean his room, he shouts in response, "okay!"

If she asks him to behave in a restaurant and eat all his food, we are left with a quiet child and an empty bowl. Yes, Mrs. Squirrel travels now with our family and will happily sit on the table to keep an eye on the little one.

She's like a miniature Mary Poppins.

Though Mrs. Squirrel is getting tired of using "the voice" to read all the bedtime stories.

But whatever works, right?

pancake of the week: penguin

Chedder cheese slice feet and beak, yogurt white areas, raisin eye, thin layer of blackberry jam for dark coloring.

**UPDATED: Don't forget to check pancakeoftheweek.com for more pancake inspiration.**

A certain someone is learning about cold weather in school and came home the other day with a paper penguin with googly eyes. Gotta love the preschool crafts.

And I'm so glad to share Maria's pancake with you below! Finally someone has taken me up on my request to share more reader pancake creations.

Maria created the Santa pancake for her 1 yr. old son Fen.

Do you have a pancake creation you'd like to share? I can't wait to see it! Send me an image to catherinerangel77(at)yahoo(dot)com.

a glimpse into a quiet weekend

The cold weather has activated our hibernation mode.

We made a conscious effort to enjoy a slow, tech-free weekend in the comfort of our warm home.

With that came...

Letter lessons

Playing every board game we own. At least five times each.

Creativity.

And an inordinate amount of dollhouse role playing. 

Which included yours truly playing the part of "Mrs. Squirrel" for the better part of the weekend, though I quickly learned how to use this to my advantage (more to come).

Here's a peek into a boy's dollhouse. Broken furniture, disheveled rooms and babies in drawers.

I tried my hardest to keep the computer off and the phone tucked away, but broke down Saturday night after an incessant amount of Avery begging to watch the "funny pictures" on my phone. Since he had been a good boy, I caved. He's referring to Escape Club's "Wild Wild West" video, which has become his new favorite. It's currently playing over and over in my head - ugh. I made the mistake of showing it to him after playing with the reflection screen in the Mac photobooth – you guys know what I'm talking about right?

I remember seeing that video in the sixth grade and thinking it was the most innovative concept ever (I also remember it as a little more innocent). There was a mirror mounted in our elementary school bathroom where if you turned the corner and positioned yourself at just the right angle, you could mimic the reflections in the video. We thought we were brilliant.

It's funny how music affects someone at the receptive age of 11 or 12. It was the time when we started putting great importance on the music we listened to wrapped into our identity. I can't tell you any of the song titles to the albums I currently have on rotation on my iPod, but I can probably sing every lyric to the INXS Kick album if you were to ask. For reals.

little bits of awesome: they're alive!

While packing away the boxes upon boxes of Christmas decorations, I accidentally kicked over a bag of plastic cowboys and indians in the attic. Where they came from – I don't know. I think at some point, every art student has acquired a bag of these or army men.

A couple fell through the attic opening unto the hallway below. Avery quickly scooped them up, thrilled with his find, and showed his dad. I overheard Bobby from the other room telling him that they were real and had escaped from the attic. "Every time you turn away," he explained, "they move." 

Not having seen Toy Story, this is a new concept for Avery.

I'm not sure if he truly believes in this tale or if he's going along with it for fun. I do know he was elated every time he'd discover a new guy (of course I had to keep finding more things to put in the attic so I could kick a few more down). 

I took Bobby aside and asked, "should we be doing this? You know, outright lying to our child?" 

But would Avery want us to tell the truth? That I kicked over a bag of cheap toys I was getting ready to donate?

No. 

And since we've already convinced him a magical rabbit gives him candy on Easter and a fat man squeezes down his chimney on Christmas, adding one more fairy tale to the mix can't hurt.

mirror, mirror, on the wall...

You've heard people say, "give a child a cardboard box and they'll be entertained for hours," right?

The same goes for mirrors.

Being an only child with two parents who are secretly children within, Avery was showered with gifts for Christmas. We didn't mean to do it, but everyone had a different idea of what gift was ideal and the boy racked up.

By the end of Christmas day, I felt ill with how we had managed the situation and especially after noticing which toys he had chosen as his favorite: his cheap, plastic stocking stuffers from Dollar Tree. The situation worsened when he beat his new guitar on the ground and snapped it in half. At that point, I realized I had probably wanted it more than he had.

Don't get me wrong, we are VERY appreciative of the gifts friends and family gave him, but the holidays served as a reality check. Something already I knew in my gut, but was tossed aside in the frenzy of the holiday season: the imagination is stronger and more compelling than the objects surrounding a child. 

For instance, just by placing a mirror on the kitchen table, we've opened up a whole new world. We have few mirrors in the house and none that Avery can access on his own without a step stool, so for him, this was special. After all, nothing is more entertaining to a child this age than him or herself.

pancake of the week: snakes!

Cheese stick tongue, blueberry eyes, and Beth's homemade jam polka dots applied with the tip of a chopstick.

A new snap cuff provided the inspiration for the weekend pancake.

mood lifters

I suffer from the winter doldrums. Packing away the Christmas tree is one of my least favorite activities – not because it's time consuming, but I'll miss the extra light and atmosphere it produces. I seriously considered leaving it up sans ornaments and treating it like an extra lamp in the room. But alas, once packing the ornaments and snow village away, the tree quickly followed once the husband got involved.

One aspect of January I do enjoy is the organizational aspect and promise of a productive year to come. Packing up the Christmas supplies lead to more digging in the attic, which leads to filling bags with clothes to donate to the local thrift store. It feels good to let go of the visual clutter and acquired accoutrements, but I do admit to finding great pleasure in my material surroundings. I'm a visual person, so be it.

These are the little objects providing me an extra boost of pleasure at the moment:

A freshly refinished coffee table.

A NEW pair of the perfect pair of Toms (in my size!!) found at the thrift store for 5 bucks!

The size says "Mens 7" and since they're a perfect fit for my Women's size 7.5 feet, I'm guessing someone got them for Christmas, they didn't fit, and then decided to donate them rather than figuring out how to return them. At least that's the scenario I'm going with. Second scenario: someone received them as a gift and thought, "these are the ugliest pair of shoes I've ever seen." Very possible.

This confetti-like necklace makes me want to dance every time I put it on.

Metallic nail polish.

I've recently enjoyed painting my nails all sorts of colors and this copper penny color has proven to be a winner. And at $3.99 a bottle at the local grocery store, it's a cheap pleasure.

The little guy begged to model it for the photo, so I obliged. His cuticles look much better than mine anyway.

The 2012 sign and the deer with gold antlers are giving my otherwise conservative dining room a splash of much needed fun. It serves as a reminder to live a little and not take one's self too seriously. Plus love me some glitter and hand painted signage.

This is the little material object providing the little guy an extra boost of pleasure at the moment:

Chapstick.

I have to monitor his tube and allow him to only put it on before we leave the house; otherwise, he'd be smearing it on his lips every two seconds.

How about you guys? What do you do to liven up your chilly January?