Popular Names

10/05/2010

Last week I found out that I’m getting a NIECE in February. I’m so excited! I hope to have a daughter of my own someday but the next-best-thing has got to be having a niece! Baby names have been a topic of discussion lately and I always like to whip out the Social Security Administration census list to check the popularity of a name. I guess it’s because I have an unusual name, but I have always been fascinated with names. I’ve had a running list of potential names for my future kids YEARS. Can anyone relate?

The reason I check the SSA list is because often people think they’re choosing an uncommon name and the name is in fact coming up in the trends. There is nothing wrong with having a common name, of course. But in case you are wanting your child NOT to have friends and classmates with the same name, here are some of the current trendy names to avoid:

Jayden, Isabella, Emma, Olivia, Sophia, Ava, Madison, Chloe, Mia, Aiden(+other spellings), Logan, Addison, Alexis, Ella, Grace, Lily, Alyssa, Elijah, Madelyn(+other spellings)

The most popular boy names are still pretty classic like Jacob, Michael, Alexander, Joshua, Daniel

Wikipedia also has a good list of popular names broken out by ethnicity and accounting for varied spellings.

My brother- and sister-in-law decided on a beautiful name for their daughter. It was #278 on the SSA list last year. And hey! I just noticed: my name made the list last year for the first time ever! #922.

Leave a Comment » | Family, Other | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Weekend Update

10/04/2010

This Weekend I …

• went to my favorite Mexican restaurant with my husband, his brother and our sister-in-law

• watched the ultrasound video of our little baby niece

• made lasagna at midnight with Jason

• took lasagna to our friends and got to see their precious, teeny 5 day old Matteo

• spent the afternoon in the Tennessee hills at the home of the musician Jason will be touring with through the fall

• helped Jason finish installing bamboo floors in his studio

• went to church and lost track of time

• had a lunch date with my sweet husband

• put on “Wild Pacific” and took a much-needed Sunday nap (felt GLORIOUS afterward!)

• pulled my favorite winter hat out of storage (it got cold yesterday!) and headed out to our neighborhood coffee shop with Jason (in our pus) for hot chocolate and some website design

It was a wonderful weekend!

2 Comments | Art, Art: graphic design, Art: interior design, Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends, Family: Jason | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Phone Photo Friday

10/01/2010

1 Comment | Art, Art: gardening, Art: God's creation, Art: Phone Photo Friday | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Solar Beat

09/30/2010

If our solar system made music, this is what it would sound like. Maybe. I like it though. I find it very relaxing to listen to and mesmerizing!

Click here to see it in action.

Leave a Comment » | Art | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Man Gifts: Greenhouse & Smoker

09/28/2010

I’m having [another] crazy busy week between work & freelance. Blah, blah, blah, everyone is busy… I know! I’m sorry for the lame excuse for light blogging. Here are a couple of quick photos of some new things around the ol’ mid-century modern ranch.

My parents and I bought Jason a greenhouse a couple weeks ago. He was quite surprised to see it out on the back patio when we woke up on his birthday. It’s out in the yard now ready to over-winter some of Jason’s tender tropicals.

This was like a birthday present from God for Jason. He’s been wanting a smoker for years but they’re pretty expensive ($150-250 for a big one like this) and no one ever seems to sell used ones on craigslist. We were riding our bikes home from a coffee shop run a few days after J’s bday and guess what our neighbors were selling at their yard sale? For $20! It needs cleaned up/fixed up but Jason can’t wait to use it… rack of ribs, smoked salmon, jerky …

Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: Cooking, Art: gardening, Family, Family: Jason | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Back to Back

09/27/2010

Remember ask a kid when you would stand back to back with your friends to compare height? That’s what I feel like I’m doing with our Japanese Flowering Plum tree and our banana tree. They’re planted close together and they’re really competing for height this year.

The interesting thing about this competition is that the banana tree dies back to the ground every year. After 6 months or so it’s about the same height as our 3 year old plum tree (which is also growing quite fast).

Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: gardening, Art: God's creation | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Phone Photo Friday

09/24/2010

“Are those ‘fall’ leaves or just dead from the heat leaves?” my friend Brienne asked. True, it was in the 90’s when I took this photo yesterday ont he first day of fall. But cold weather will be here soon enough and I, for one, am enjoying this little burst of record heat.

Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: Phone Photo Friday | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

First Day of Fall: Almost scarf weather!

09/23/2010

Despite the calendar saying it’s the first day of Autumn, it’s still in the 90s for a few more days here in Nashville. (I’m not complaining; I love the heat!) However, fall is here and scarf weather is on it’s way! My patient and gracious mother taught me how to knit on Sunday afternoon. She had to fix, unknit and reknit for me many times but I’m happy to report that after 4 days, I’m getting it!

My scarf is now 4″ long! Only 43″ more to go! At this pace, I should be done around the beginning of November. Just in time!

Remember, I’m using this pattern from Pickles.

1 Comment | Art, Art: crafts | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Wise Words

09/22/2010

“Fear is what keeps people from being truly creative.” – Jason Ahlbrandt

Leave a Comment » | Family, Family: Jason, Other, Other Things: Wise Words | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Poster Portrait

09/21/2010

I wrote about Jason’s great-grandpa Carl back in July after our trip to Naples and our visit to the lot where his house used to stand. We both really loved this portrait of him. His horned-rim glasses, his raised eyebrows, the pencil behind his ear, the stubby cigar he’s smoking, the strap across this shoulder … it’s all part of the story of this character that I only know about through second-hand stories. Jason considers Carl to be an inspiration for various reason (explained more in the original post) and he wanted a poster of this portrait to hang in his studio as a reminder of his great-grandpa and as a reminder that if we keep working hard maybe we’ll get that mid-century modern beach house in Naples we’re dreaming of…

Anyway, I just wanted to share this really good deal I found. This 20″ x 30″ photo poster was only $7.28 ($17.12 with shipping) through Vivyx with their first time customers special offer! Most other sites are sound $21-30 for a poster this size. Score! Plus we found a frame for it at Michael that was originally $29.99 but was on sale for 40% off plus another 25% off with coupon. Came to around $12. Bonus!

2 Comments | Art, Art: interior design, Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends, Family: Jason | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »