Madeleine

Maddie and I have been playing a lot outside for the past couple of days. This has been good- because I haven't been taking pictures of her recently, until I realized that I better - before she passes her good hair stage!

Good Hair Stage: The girl wakes up, with her hair perfectly in place. I don't brush it. I don't comb it. I don't put spray it. It just sits there perfectly, with little curls on the bottom. Don't we all wish to have the same luxury!

She is such a little character, I really enjoy being her mother. We laugh, point at birds, go down the slide 500 times a day (ok- that is a little tiring to be honest). She now responds to me when I say "where are your shoes? Go get a book. Where is your nose?" It is so wonderful to see her grow... and I'm trying to appreciate all of these small moments.

Uplifting influences

Last night we had dinner with an friend from long ago. He is 60 and now commutes from Portland (works in Palo Alto for two days and lives in Portland with his family for the rest of the week.) This dinner meant so much to me because it reminded me of how much I need uplifting/challenging/interesting influences around me.

We met his family when we lived in Palo Alto and we have always looked up to them. They are smart, humble, funny, interesting, engaging, spiritual, genuine... I just feel like a better person when we spend time with them.

I guess you could say that he is a role model. This made me think of the role models around me, and how I can be more like them.

I think the characteristics that all of my role models share is their excellence in all that they do. Their Moxy. Not in a contrived, scripted way- but something genuine inside of them. They strive to be the best lawyers, mothers, doctors, teachers...but are also sincerely nice and modest. They give service almost on a daily basis. They care deeply about the people and community around them and give back to it.

I hope I'm like this one day.

June 15th- I'm there

I absolutely love my undergrad. I don't regret it for the world, and I want all of my kids to go there. Yes- Stanford is the best school on earth. (You bears are just jealous, admit it.) I feel very lucky to be an alumnus (I think my application was stuck to the one on top of mine), and I am very fond of every memory I made there.

I miss the campus- it is beautiful. One of my dreams is to teach underwater basketweaving there someday! (that's the only class they would let me teach) I'm secretly pushing Steve to want to teach there, because then we can live in one of the beautiful houses on campus in the faculty ghetto (yes- that's what they call it- but it's no ghetto for sure).

In case you haven't heard- Stanford has chosen their commencement day speaker this year- and I'll be there. OPRAH WINFREY!!! June 15th.

LOVE THIS SONG!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE THIS SONG. LOVE HER VOICE.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MR5xv3pt7KI

Finally, something that is actually good.

Tuesday is my break from the little monkey

Yesterday I spent the entire day devoted to Maddie. I did not have any plans. Although this was awesome for her- I was exhausted. Toddlers are exhausting. For me, it was a lot easier to work 10 hours a day in the courtroom than chase a little Toddler around.

Anyway, I was so excited for the night to roll around, because Tuesdays are my night off. Steve is really nice to give me Tuesdays each week. Sometimes I don't take them, and then regret it. But- this week, I decided that I was going to do something fun.

Usually- I love going to the movies alone! It is so great to sit in the movie theatre of my choice, watching the movie I want to watch. But yesterday, I decided to e-mail my great friend (who has the same taste in movies as I do!) and she came with not much notice... we had a great time basking in the predictable cheesiness of 27 dresses. What a great movie. Loved it.

I had a great break and I feel energized to chase the little monkey around again.

GET READY, GET SET, GO!!!

MY WEBSITE IS DONE!!! WHOOOO HOOOO.

You can access it at : www.alieleeflang.com

A huge thanks to all that helped. It was a tremendous group effort...


XOXOXOXOXO

We live in Paradise!

It is 70 degrees today and we were skipping on the grass (ok- more like walking), but it is a beautiful day! I have all of my doors and windows open because it is just too wonderful.

Gotta go outside---

Pneumonia for Valentines Day

Little Maddie had a cold about two weeks ago, and had a lingering cough. I didn't think it would be anything serious, but it started getting worse. So- I went in to the doctor yesterday, and she has or had pnemonia...

We tried to clear her lungs in the office using a nebulizer:

You see how great this girl is? Well- we were no where near this calm/happiness. Screaming/thrashing/yelling/red face are all descriptions of yesterdays adventures. I don't think she breathed in more than 10 seconds of the stuff.

But- we left, spent $60 dollars on antibiotics and an inhaler (Wow)... and we are on the road to getting her better. BTW (she isn't contagious if you're worried).

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!! I got Steve a Valentines Pig (we love pigs)...

Mixing friends/family with money

I tried to start a company a while back with a friend, and things went south. For the company and our friendship. Since then, I have vowed to not mix friends and/or family with money. But- on the other hand, Steve started a company with three close friends, and it has been successful for the company and his friendship... so is it just me?

While starting the photog company- I haven't mixed friends into the mix until I hired a friend to do my logo. She is a fabulous designer, and I'm sad she's across the country. But- I hope she doesn't hate me by the end of this process. I keep on calling her and asking her to change this and that.

(It has been such a hard process to decide on a logo. I went with a company that had many recommendations-- but I HATED all of their ideas (it's kind of a strong reaction-- but you would feel the same if you saw them). It is so hard to find something that you like- and that fits with the style that you want to portray.)

I think we have narrowed it down... and it is very close.

THANKS MELISSA!!!

A fabulous season of color

When I get to the mailbox, I am excited to open a couple of things. And most of these things involve catalogues. I love flipping through the pages and soaking in what the designers came up with each season.

I was very impressed with Jcrew's colors this year. They have more punch than usual.


But- I have to share a catalogue that I have fallen in love with- Boden. (http://www.bodenusa.com/). They are a UK company, and very expensive. But, the colors are so great. I just love how they match completely opposite colors on the color wheel-- blue/red.... etc.

Very cute stuff. Just some ideas for my birthday present!! (just kidding)

I also love these colors on my favorite drink:

And- finally, I just have to put a plug for my friend's company- SHABBY APPLE. (http://www.shabbyapple.com/).

They came out with a girls dress line- and I am in love. They came up with the best combinations of patterns. I just adore this dress:

Ok- I need to start earning some money....

Say Goodbye Romney and Hello Obama

It's only February, and the political field is getting thinner by the second. I hesitate at posting who I'm going to vote for, but I'm going to do it anyways.

It's funny- after talking last night with Steve, I would say that I am a pretty "fiscally conservative" person who is usually characterized as Republican. But- when has there been a fiscally conservative Republican lately?

I just can't vote for McCain- and neither could another 60% of voters on Super Tuesday.

So- my vote is pretty clear at least where I'm standing. It's a vote for Obama- loud and clear.

Tahoe

Steve and I went to Tahoe this weekend with our old good friends. (Steve lived with all of the guys way back when). We had such a good time. We rented a cabin in North Shore, went sledding, sat in front of the fire, made snow forts, went skiing... it was the life. The snow is the best I've ever seen.

I could buy myself one of those sweet cabins. (yeah right)

A picture of the whole gang...

For babies, Maddie and Jackie (friend) did quite well in the snow. We pulled them around and they just sat there until they got too cold.

We had to put on chains on our way back- but it was well worth the trip. I want to go back!!!