Hippity Hop...

It seems like I just got the green and red food coloring off my fingertips from Christmas, but Easter is on its way.

The bunny had a dress rehearsal today...

Out of towners...

photos: Doris Sochaczewski

A definite advantage to living in the United States: Alice in Wonderland was released on the 5th of March. The film arrives in Brazil April 23rd.

But all is not lost. Wonderland at Coisas da Doris is a car ride away.

Don't miss it if you live in town. Otherwise, here are some photos. I'll trade you for a few (without ruining anything, naturally) film highlights....and a handful of popcorn. : )

Run Weekend Run

So it is...Monday morning 10 am. My daughter is lightly snoring--still (see Gabriel's party).

The weekend was enough to tucker out my sleep resistant little babe. And even though I hate to be one of those "so busy" whiners (we all have friends like that), we were, actually, really busy.

A few highlights in the Saturday + Sunday = blur:

1. Balancing a 10 kilo (22 lb.) cake on my lap while my husband tried to avoid potholes and I got drunk on chocolate fumes.
2. Four birthday parties and one wedding (our) anniversary. We made all the activities but one. Some of them it seemed we were saying hello and goodbye simultaneously. So Happy Birthday Lucas, Danielle, Gabriel, and Antonio. Sorry for eating and running. Or not eating and just running. Honey, thanks for understanding that after our dinner date I had to frost cupcakes until 4 am.
3. Coisas da Doris had record sales for the opening of the Alice in Wonderland mega-installation. Couldn't make it this weekend but it is in the plans for next. Congratulations Doris! You are quite the mad-hatter...

I realized that things may be just a wee bit out of hand when I found myself shoving all of my receipts and paper bits into my purse to organize while riding in the car from party to party (time not wasted). And what about the Oscars? What about the Oscars????

I was drooling on my pillow along with Georgia: the soles of my feet aching a happy contented exhaustion from playing too hard. Did I sit down this weekend?

Yim huledet sameah Gabriel! יום הולדת שמח

Georgia's buddy Gabriel turned one. And since he already has his very own frequent flier card (many kilometers logged visiting family in the South of Brazil and in his Mommy's hometown of Israel.), we thought an "air" theme rather appropriate. So G and I baked up the necessary sweets and even sewed up some clouds.

The day was as perfect as the sky was blue. It was a delight working with Mani-oca--undeniably the most charming party location in town. I've never tasted such a scrumptious kid's menu in my life. (What was in that grilled cheese?) But, most importantly, it was an event where the kids had fun. They went home smiling and spent. I'd say all, most definitely, slept through the night (= pleased parents).

Happy Birthday Gabriel! After yesterday evening, I think you are officially Georgia's new best (boy) friend. (I'm pretty pleased with the night's sleep, too.)

And a big thanks to I and G. xo

Wide Awake

What we did in our PJ's on Friday at midnight: tested the helium tank I rented for Gabriel's birthday party on Sunday.

Georgia looks really tired, huh?

I am really going to have to nix her afternoon naps from now on...

Home for me.

Can't you just smell the kitchen?

The shirt off his back

My husband isn't a metro-sexual. Thank god. He doesn't much worry about the brand of his clothes. And his showers aren't long. But there is, however, one thing that he is rather fastidious about: his work shirts. He is a stickler about this part of his daily uniform. His button-downs must be well-ironed, well cut, and of quality cotton. The stripes, checks, and solids hang stiffly in rows of (mostly blue) in his closet. They are rather iconic in our household. They remind me of my husband and Georgia of her Daddy. Just seeing one in the laundry room results in a high pitched squeal, "Daddddddeee!"

But the shirts don't last long. It seems my husband spends a lot of time with his elbows on desks and conference room tables, resulting in holes around his funny bone. When he went to toss the latest checkered victim in the "get rid of me" pile, Georgia again lovingly squealed, "Daddy." I was bummed. This particular shirt happened to be our favorite. I didn't want to see it go. And that was when the idea came. I could please Georgia and do something "green." Recycle. And that is when Daddy's shirt became Georgia's blouse.

And now my little girl carries a part of her Papai around with her all day. "Daadddeeee!"

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland exhibition to open at Coisas da Doris on Friday.
The cookies are dressed for the (Tea) Party.
I'm delighted to share space with such talented artists from throughout Brazil.
March 5th through May 5th.
Don't miss it!

A Working Weekend

I don't have any park or club, playing or lunching photos this weekend. Because I pretty much worked straight through the days that end our week. But I can still offer some random thoughts. In fact...

1. I am developing a callous on my right thumb from squeezing a frosting tube. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I told you that it is prickly numb....like when your foot falls asleep under the table and you pinch it and don't feel a thing.
2. I don't have to worry about child labor laws. Georgia (perhaps in observation of the circles under my eyes), offered to help me work. "Mommy, Georgia-Work." So I set her up with her own frosting tube and a cookie--right next to me at my work station. My hopes of a cookie decorating child prodigy were quickly squelched. "Mommy, Georgia-Eat." Bye-bye cookie. Her employment lasted less than three minutes.
3. Saturday was my record breaking "time-away-from-Georgia" day. Felipe and I switched roles. It was his record breaking "time-with-Georgia" day. Naturally, I fretted unnecessarily. Honey, you did a great job babysitting. But I am not willing to switch roles...
4. I promised myself I would get to bed before 2 am tonight. I might actually even open a book. On the "light" reading list: Elizabeth Gilbert's new novel.

So I'm off. Monday starts a new week--even though there wasn't much recreation or rest this weekend. But whose complaining? Not me.

Ana hearts chocolate.

When I asked Ana what kind of cupcakes she had in mind for her birthday she said, "chocolate, always chocolate."

May your birthday year be just as richly sweet, Ana. Parabéns!

Baptism Day for Beatriz

Bea was baptized on Saturday. And like Georgia, she is a part of a multi-cultural family. Her Daddy is Brazilian and her Mommy is European. They live in Switzerland.

Much to the delight of her Brazilian grandparents, Bea traveled to São Paulo to celebrate this sacred day.

How lucky I was to participate. Not only did I get to do the sweets. But I did the salty (luncheon), too. We chose a delicate angel and celestial theme.

If you met Bea, you'd think it was the perfect choice.

Maria is seven.

Maria turned seven. And she wanted a Hannah Montana party. So her dear mommy, Ana, rented a real live Brazilian Hannah Montana impersonator to animate the festa.

What more do you need for a Hannah party? Since I can't sing (or lip synch), I decided to offer some cupcakes and cookies for Maria (and Hannah). What musician doesn't like a sweet note or a new guitar? Add some flowers, stars, and butterflies...and there you have it. Feliz Aniversário Maria! Hope you sang and danced all of Ms. Montana's greatest hits on your celebration day.

Slim Pickins'

nationalgeographic

There are slim pickings in my refrigerator this week. Potentially delicious meals that lost their appeal in Tupperware. Leftovers again. At the moment, I'm a wife too busy for gourmet meal presentations. This week, it's zap it in the micro and beepity-beep. We are eating without place mats and the napkins are paper.

So like my husband who stares vacant (or sad?) eyed at those plastic boxed mysteries, I'm staring at this white screen wondering what it is I can post in a breeze and still be entertaining. I'm a blogger too busy for intricate post productions. This week I need to borrow from youtube.

You see I am lost in an all consuming maze. I turn the corner to Alice and that Rabbit. "Oh my whiskers...it's late, it's late..." I look behind me and see Hannah Montana. Is her guitar purple? Overhead angels are wafting by...can clouds be chocolate? My right thumb is semi-permanently indented from the frosting tube. And I've let my girl eat way too many sprinkles.

My life is stuck in a theme. Should I worry that I envision turning everything into a cookie cutter...including my daughter. And, hey, why not my husband? Am I neglecting my family? How can a wife/mom/small "business-starter-upper" do it all and still have her eyebrows tweezed?

I certainly haven't the answer for this multi-tasking maze. I'm just doing. And in case you feel like spending the day in my theme park, I am taking photos for you to see....so bear with me. I'll get there. I think.

Shimmy

I want it all.
The clothes. (especially the pink pants)
I would dance afoot talcum powder and roll in the sand.
Happily.
So Lovely.

Courtesy of Lou Dillon for Vanessa Bruno.

Welcome Bernardo!

I received a text message from Bernardo's Grandma Lili at 2:16 am, announcing his arrival: 2.72 kilos and 47 cm!

The maternity ward in Brazil deserves a whole other post--but lets just say that I live in a very social (and family oriented) country.
Hence cupcakes for the hospital's lenient (and always full) visiting hours
Bernardo's first of many festas!
Parabéns! Muito saúde e amor!

Birthday wishes!

Happy Birthday Querida Joana!

I was working on your birthday surprise today. A chocolate cake in a teacup..a floating heart....
At first the cup and saucer were both white.
But I realized something just didn't seem quite right. (pardon the rhyme)
I remembered how you call everyone Flor (flower)...
A quick switch of the saucers yields an imperfect (yet perfect) set.

A wonderfully sweet year for you, my dear friend.

PS: You share a birthday with one of my favorite Aunties! A. Cindy...I'd mail you a treat in a teacup--if only I could! Happy Birthday...

In a bubble

We spent our weekend in a family bubble (at times, quite literally)--oblivious to the outside world. Here are some of our trivial discoveries:

1. Georgia realized that her fingers looked like raisins and not from the massive quantities of dried prunes consumed but from the time spent bobbing in the club pool.
2. Our child can pucker her lips like an insolent supermodel when not floating in the club pool.
3. Twenty-two month old girls are capable of packing their own bags when the destination is jumping into the club pool.
4. Being on top of the water (in a giant bubble) ranks up there with swimming in the club pool.

Another summer weekend has pleasantly passed. Sunday blues were delayed as we gained one hour changing our clocks for Fall. But soon enough our bubbles will burst.

Hope you all lost yourselves in a happy weekend bubble. Nighty-night.