a place to share...

One day at a time.

2012-02-13T01:06:00.000-08:00

we needed a weekend with absolutely no plans... no big adventures... no home improvement projects or complicated meals. just lego mind-storming {jacob}, a difficult research paper {ryan}, downton abbey season 2 {all... yes, we're *all addicted. even lil' hailey}, hunger games {yours truly... gotta finish the book tomorrow!!! ...hosting book club this thursday... & still scrambling to FINISH... no idea what i'm serving........}, and of course- valentines for hailey.

i knew heading into to february that it would be non-stop from beginning to end... from the superbowl party, all the way to jacob's birthday (with a million things in between). we're halfway through... and movin' right along. doing the best we can to to keep our sanity intact, while longing for the {calmer} month of march. taking it one day at a time.

 {happy love-week :)} 

{finger-painted homemade sticker & candy buttons~ simple, yet made with lots of love... & kisses}

xx

Culinary magic.

2012-02-08T08:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was cloudy & rainy. I did my first personal training session (upper body only)... and I left literally shaking. And the scary part is, she went easy on me- only one rep of everything (as opposed to the three that I can expect in the future). The kids had an early-out day- which meant, I only had a short window of time to figure out what to make for dinner, and get what I needed. I needed something simple, healthy, but of course tasty... Let me rephrase that. ..."tasty," as in something that the kids will EAT.

I found just the recipe- one that fit the bill in all of the above categories... and made my house smell delicious.

It comes from one of those newly accumulated cookbooks that I mentioned at the start of this 'new recipe project.' An Invitation to Indian Cooking, by Madhur Jaffrey. I was truly excited to crack this book open. Ever since I made a simple Indian dish over a year ago, I've wanted to try more... to taste more... to learn more about this irresistible cuisine. The simplicity, the flavor, the variety- I'm utterly intrigued. Basic ingredients such as lentils, peas, potatoes, cauliflower- are transformed into exceedingly delicious (and healthy!) meals. Who knew that lentils could taste so good????? And often, with only a few spices- and at an extremely low cost (a huge plus).

Thanks to Naina, I've been able to try a few more exceedingly delicious recipes, and thanks to Bruce, I was led to what is referred to as 'the final word on the subject' of Indian cooking. And I can't wait to cook my way through it.

dal [split-pea] soup
*from an invitation to indian cooking, by madhur jaffrey

[including her excerpt because I like it :)...]

My mother used to make this mild-flavored "split-pea" soup. The only spices in it were cloves, peppercorns, and turmeric. It was served with lemon wedges and homemade croutons.

serves 8 (as a side- but we had it for dinner, & there were no leftovers)

1 1/2 cups green or yellow split peas, washed
6 cups chicken broth
24 black peppercorns
15 whole cloves (tied in cheesecloth along with the peppercorns)
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
1/2 - 3/4 tsp salt (more if broth is unsalted)

garnish
8 lemon wedges
croutons made from 6 slices of slightly stale bead and enough vegetable oil to cover 1/2-3/4 inch in a 10-inch skillet (I used sourdough- and much less vegetable oil)

Combine the split peas and chicken broth in a pot and bring to a boil. Remove scum from the top.

Add the spices in the cheesecloth, the turmeric, and the salt. Cover, lower heat, and simmer gently for 1 to 1 1/2 hrs. or until peas are tender. Remove cheesecloth from soup, squeeze through a strainer, using the back of a spoon, or put it through a food mill. If the soup seems too thick, add a little water.

Serve in bowls, garnished with lemon wedge. Pass around croutons on the side.

croutons
(These can be prepared ahead of time.)

Remove crusts and cut slices of bread into 1/2 in. cubes.

Heat oil in skillet over medium flame, and put in a third of the croutons. Fry for 3 or 4 minutes, turning them around, until they are golden brown. Lift out with slotted spoon and leave to drain on paper towels. Prepare the rest of the croutons in two more batches, and leave to drain.


*COOK'S NOTES

I wanted to try our new blender out, so I blended the soup instead of pressing it through a strainer, or food mill. It thinned the soup out a bit too much. I'd recommend the strainer, food mill, or blending only 1/2 of the soup so that it retains a thicker consistency.

Not sure what my menu will consist of for the rest of the week, but one thing's for certain. I will not let the week go by without trying Stephanie's roasted tomato caprese salad (her description has left me craving it for an entire week). Make sure you visit her later today to learn how to make one of the best sauces known to culinary arts...
a balsamic reduction.

30 hrs. later...

2012-02-06T21:15:00.000-08:00

STILL

IN A

FOOD

COMA.

{& that was just the first course.}

Renewal.

2012-02-03T06:32:00.000-08:00

We've made it through the dreaded week. Mammogram's DONE, results IN (all good!), annnnnd......... "re-wiring hell" is OVER. Thanks to my husband, our music will soon be all in one 'all-access' spot, and we can now stream our way through Downton Abbey...

So, in the midst of uploading cd's, downloading songs, stringing hearts, & bakin' beans, this (see above image) is pretty much how the 1st 1/2 of our weekend will be spent.

{except it most likely won't be iced coffee in my cup :)}

xoxo

Iced cinnamon lattes.

2012-02-01T01:35:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to report that the "load" got a little lighter- only 2 days in.

I simply made a decision to focus on what I CAN control... what I can do lighten the mood- the load- the agenda...

Instead of taking my grandma home on Sunday- or even Monday, I asked her to stay a few extra days. She was happy to do so. Not only has she provided company, she's helped with cleaning... organization... essentially- everything on my daily to-do list, and much, much more.

So, today, I decided we needed a little treat.

Today's tried & true recipe... 

iced cinnamon latte

* slightly adapted from giada's kitchen

4 servings

4 shots of espresso (about 1 1/2 oz each)

1/4 cup cinnamon simple syrup (or less)

1 1/3 cups low-fat milk

ice

Combine the espresso, cinnamon syrup, and milk in a small pitcher. Fill 4 large, tall glasses with ice. Pour the latte mixture over the ice. [easy-peasy]

cinnamon simple syrup

makes 1 cup

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

4 cinnamon sticks

In a saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce the heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved. Take the pan off the heat, and cool the syrup. Any extra cooled syrup can be saved in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

{since she was here, I was able to to make a 4:30pm workout (yay for not having to wake up at the crack of dawn!)... which gave more of a reason to drink-up (caffeine boost pre-spin class can't hurt, right??)... but also to *lighten it up a bit}

And such a treat it was. Both the latte & the company :).

Sounds like Stephanie had a treat-filled afternoon as well... Visit her a little later today to find out more (& of course- to get yet another scruuuumptious recipe... a roasted tomato caprese salad. mmmm.).

Tread carefully.

2012-01-30T00:18:00.000-08:00

Somewhere in between my crazy past life & the present- still crazy, but a different-kind-of-crazy life, I went through sort of a "hermit" phase. I didn't want to be tied to anything... to the computer, to my phone, to staying on top of trends... movies... pta calendars... I rarely (pretty much never) checked email, barely answered my own phone- and texting?? Forget about it. Just wanted to watch my few favorite shows, immerse myself in the kitchen, & spend time with the ones I love. Didn't have a need to get the latest n' greatest device... social networking was far from the scope of my daily to-do lists. I mean really far.

Well, I'll be honest. I kinda liked it. Just me & my little family... my dinosaur computer... & my hot pink RAZR.

But it wasn't until I started blogging (or actually- reading other blogs) that I fully grasped just how BEHIND I had gotten since I'd parted ways with my 'work laptop'... my treo... my real-life-social-network. As I've shared here- in a way- I'm not in any hurry, and have no plan to be ahead of each & every [or any] curve. Yet, at the same time, we've been playing the game of catch-up {pretty heavily}.

Catching up on movies, music, books, people, phones, gadgets, beauty products, you-name-it. This weekend, our [Ryan's] mission was rewiring- reconfiguring- streaming... I won't bore you with details, but I will say- IT'S A MADDENING PROCESS. Will I be ever-so-happy to fiiiiiiiiinally watch Downton Abbey- OH, I mean to STREAM Downtown Abbey from our television... to access our music on one central nework??? Of course I will. But part of me really, really misses those dinosaur-computer-pink-razr-days... the days in which I believed a "BLOGGER" was some scary movie character (not really, but you get the point)...

Maybe it's the fact that I decided to watch a couple of thought-provoking, intense, George Clooney films- two nights in a row... maybe it's the re-wiring hell... the impending mammogram... the billion things on our calendar in the approaching month... the new workout time of 5:30AM... but things are feelin' a little "heavy" around here at the moment. Maybe I'll stick with ~~wine coolers~~ Family Ties for the next couple a' nights. Just to stay balanced.

{oh, but in all seriousness- those movies were excellent.}

Life upgrade.

2012-01-27T01:12:00.000-08:00

So I saw this tweet from Pippa @sousstyle a couple of days ago, mentioning a new series on her fabulous site {for the "new generation of homemakers"}, titled- Organize the Chaos. Always up for a little organization advice- I clicked on the link, read the article, tracked down the "acrylic shoe bins" mentioned within, and excitedly sent her this reply...

She ever-so-sweetly replied back- totally *getting* my shoe bin fervor. It got me thinking about products that I either have- or intend to get- that will inspire me to stay on top of organization & cleaning. Okay. Maybe I was a bit far-reaching with my proclamation that these shoe bins will be #lifechanging, but she was spot-on in her response... It's a life upgrade! Then I guess, in a small way, they would in fact be life changing.

Here's a few items that have or will (sure of it) improve [upgrade] the quality of my life in the realm of cleanliness...

...stacking shoe bins

Have I mentioned our [southern california] limitation of square footage?? ...aka- SPACE?? Nuff said.

...bon ami tangerine thyme dish soap

I'm very sensitive to harsh, abrasive cleaning products (both my skin, & nose!). I love Bon Ami cleanser, & when I saw this new packaging- plus the scented dish soap I had to buy it. (anything to make dish-washing a little more "fun")

...cleaning system mop bucket

...a "life changing bucket" according to this article (a trip to the container store is clearly in order)

...mrs. meyer's scented soy candle      

I must say- if you're into baths, this is the perfect 'bath-time' candle... small, not wobbly, & can be closed up & stored right in the cabinet for the next rare occasion that you actually get to enjoy a candlelit bath. But, as for cleaning...

Mrs. Meyer's say it best:

Sometimes it feelsgood just to have a nice candle giving off some extra fragrance while you'rebusy with your chores... It's in a cute jelly jar that you can reuse as a juice glass orhold your marble collection.

[wow. so many uses for one candle?!... purchased mine @ target]

...a great audiobook (such as this one)

...to keep your mind from thinking angry thoughts amidst scrubbing the toilets

...or on a slightly more positive note (because it is Friday after all)- to keep you inspired in the midst of chaos :).

{any "life-changing" tips/products you've discovered? let us know below...}

Gameday prep.

2012-01-25T08:23:00.000-08:00

After leaving the corporate world, I shared with my cousin that my primary goal was to ~~move beyond CLUELESS in the kitchen~~ learn how to cook... not just the basics- the "whole enchillada" (as my grandpa used to say).

She suggested that I immediately set my dvr to record 2 shows. Giada's & Tyler's. Why not Ina as well, some may wonder? Who knows. I sure didn't. I don't believe I had ever seen a food network program, and surely didn't know any of its featured chefs. It actually worked perfect. Although I loved them both, Ryan (who often watched too) resonated more with Tyler's style of cooking, and I, with Giada. But really, who am I kidding? He enjoyed watching Giada just as much as I did. I'm sure of it. ...Then again, what guy wouldn't?? Anyways, I'm digressing.

She also gifted me with a subscription to Fine Cooking. She mentioned that this was her absolute favorite food magazine... the only one that she keeps in it's entirety (each and every issue)- in tact for future reference. And I couldn't agree more. The recipes are written with incredible detail (but not so much that you feel like you're reading a camera instruction manual). The focus is always on technique, rather than style. Tips, substitutions, and strategies are always included. The recipes range from simple ways to use a specific ingredient to- open, adaptable, complex, and sophisticated. {Case in point- I'll forever rely on my 2007 Thanksgiving issue to get me through the day.}

Unfortunately, I no longer receive the magazine. I refuse to allow myself to sign up for any new subscriptions- until I can unbury myself and/or work my way through the existing PILES. {& this is not a magazine to offer discounted-i-beg-you-to-renew rates... otherwise, I'd have been sucked in to renewal long ago}

That said, this week's new recipe is a prime example of the necessity of our 2012 resolution. And besides that... Superbowl is quickly approaching, my friends. And we all know that it's really all about the food. Right? Right.

{we usually 'fancy it up' a bit- one year, a greek-themed menu, last year, grilled pizza galore... this year- we're goin' old-school. hot dogs n' beans (& all of the usual suspects- chips, dips, carb-fest-salads...). so of course, I had to test the beans out, and they were in fact "the best" baked beans I've ever had.}

{"best-ever"} boston baked beans

* slightly adapted from the best of fine cooking, tailgating 2010

yields about 7 cups

1 lb navy beans, yellow-eye beans, or other dried white beans (I used navy)

1/4 lb salt pork, rind removed in one piece and reserved meat cut into 1/4-inch dice

1 medium onion (5-6 oz), cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 tsp finely chopped garlic

2 tbs dark molasses (not blackstrap) (I used grandma's original, as dark version was not a/v)

2 tbs pure maple syrup

3 tbs heinz chile sauce or tomato ketchup (I used chile sauce)

2 tbs dijon mustard

1 tbs worcestershire sauce

freshly ground pepper

1 tbs apple cider vinegar

Sort through the beans to make sure there are no little stones and then put them in a large bowl or pot. Add enough cold water to cover the beans by 2 inches and let soak overnight. (Alternatively, put the beans in a 4-qt saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover by 2 inches and bring just to a boil. Remove from the heat and soak for 2 hrs.)

Drain the beans well, tilting the colander instead of shaking it to gently extract the water and protect the beans' skins.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350. Heat a large dutch oven or other heavy 5 qt. pot over medium heat. Add the diced salt pork and cook to a crisp, golden color, letting most of the fat render, about 10 minutes. Add the onion and garlic and cook until it begins to soften, about 5 minutes.

Add 4 cups water, the molasses, maple syrup, chile sauce or ketchup, mustard, worcestershire sauce, and pepper to taste. Stire well to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Add the drained beans and the reserved pork rind and wait for the boil to return. Cover the pot and transfer to the oven.

After the beans have been in the oven for 10 minutes, turn the heat down to 300. After 1 hour, check and add water to keep the beans barely covered. Check again every hour. You may need to add up to 1 cup water for navy beans and 1 1/2 cups water for yellow-eye beans, but be wary of making them too watery, especially near the end of cooking. The beans are ready when they're very soft and tender yet still retain their shape, 2-2 1/2 hrs. for navy beans; 3 1/3 hrs. for yellow-eye beans.

Remove the beans from the oven and discard the pork rind. Add the vinegar and season the beans with more pepper, if desired. Stir the beans gently; as you stir, the starches will be released and the baked beans will become lightly thickened. Don't overmix when they're this hot. Let them sit for at least 20 minutes before serving. They can also be cooled completely, refrigerated, and then gently reheated.

*the only adaption that I made is that I did not add any salt to the beans (the pork salt provided enough salt), therefore I omitted the option/addition of salt from the above recipe.

LAST, BUT SURELY NOT LEAST...

Head over to see Stephanie's scrumptious recipe... from the one & only Ina Garten~ butternut squash salad with warm cider vinaigrette... definitely a step up from the mayonnaise-based salads I'll be devouring in a couple a' weeks :).          
               

Switching gears.

2012-01-23T10:45:00.000-08:00

The weekend was a mixture of magic & misery. A Friday afternoon sushi bar date with Jacob... a Saturday afternoon of homework (Ryan), fighting (kids), & laundry (yours truly)...

Sunday? Well, the "plan" was to drop the kids off at my grandma's, & enjoy a little lunch/movie date with my over-worked-worn-out husband. But seeing as though Saturday wasn't exactly a family-fun day, I knew we needed to switch gears a bit. So, we woke up, had our favorite 'in-a-hurry' breakfast, drove to a far-away movie theater (with the intention of going here afterwards- an incredibly magical place that justifies an entirely separate post) to see a movie we could all enjoy... one that was sure to help us get our weekend back on track. It worked.

Yet unfortunately, others (possibly the entire city of Brea) had the same idea of visiting the new ice cream parlor, so we switched gears once again. But now we're on a mission to go back- sans the "around-the-block" line... And I'm also still on a mission to see "my" movie. From your comments, maybe it's one that should be viewed solo... maybe this afternoon? (laundry can always wait.)

p.s.

Speaking of magical movies, & nostalgic ice cream parlors, do you remember Colorforms??? I'm on a total old-school kick lately (another future post) when it comes to toys- and in result, my kids are re-experiencing my childhood in ways far beyond ice-cream... whether they like it or not. (at least it's a 'modernized' version :))

p.p.s.

In full disclosure, we ended the night with a few episodes of Family Ties (yet another "future post"). It's official. I'm forever trapped in the 1980's. (and I'm holding my family hostage)

Weekend advice {from me to me}...

2012-01-20T07:39:00.000-08:00

"Pour yourself a drink,

put on some lipstick,

and pull yourself together."

-Elizabeth Taylor

... and then go see this movie.

Got a feeling it'll be good for the ~~slump~~ soul in a refreshingly raw, raunchy sorta way.

{But first, I get to pick Jacob up early for 'minimum day.' Time to just hang out- solo- (with either kid) is a rarity these days, but increasing necessary... and also "good for the soul" :).}

Images via (top to bottom) 1, 2, 3

The collective mood.

2012-01-18T07:55:00.000-08:00

It's so interesting, this social media world. Blogger... Twitter... Facebook... I've been connected to all three for over a year now, and one of things that I find most interesting is the 'collective mood' that is so transparent on any given day, week, month, season... even time of day.

I guarantee. Monday's vibe is a mixture energy and lethargy. Some folks rearing to go- refreshed and ready to take on the week. Some lamenting the fact that Sunday is long gone... and Friday will not arrive for another 5 WHOLE DAYS. Now, Friday on the other hand brings a slew of exclamation points, happy faces & "Likes"... a communal sigh of relief- far less bitterness, cynicism, and sarcasm. And Saturday? An all-around happy vibe. People looooove their Saturdays.

...a general sense of peppiness in the mornin'... sluggishness in the midday... and by evening- an overall state of repose. Fascinating how we all lead very different lives, but at the same time- we're all 'walking the same walk.'

January is an interesting month. Starts off with so much potential. So many people to see. Places to go. Things to DO. Posts & tweets galore of all of the above. Yet, in a matter of weeks, the vibe changes. Not for everyone. Some are still in their euphoric New Year state of mind. But for others {including myself, as well as many of my daily reads, twitter friends, FB pals...}, a bit of restlessness has set in. Maybe it's just the winter blues- or a desire to make Big Changes (with not a clue as to where to start, or simply a lack of time & resources). Lots of thinking, a little bit of wallowing (I'll admit), and unfortunately not enough doing.

Yep. That's where I'm at this week. As I work myself out of ~~my pajamas~~ the slump, and start tapping into all of that "early January potential"... I've armed myself with lots of cleaning supplies, a handful of books to read/films to view, and most importantly- a stack of really simple recipes. And the one I'm about to share is actually on the cover of the current issue of REAL SIMPLE (a great one btw, & still in stores!) so it's simplicity goes without saying. But better yet- it's hearty, delicious, and kid-friendly. And who doesn't love a chicken pot pie... especially one that can be literally "thrown together" in a matter of minutes?? Without further ado~ this week's tried & true recipe...

{slow cooker} creamy chicken and mushroom pot pie

serves 4

8 oz cremini mushrooms, stems trimmed and halved if large
4 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 8)
1 sheet puff pastry (half a 17.3 ounce package), thawed
1 cup frozen green beans
1/3 cup heavy cream

In a 4-6 quart slow cooker, mix together the mushrooms, carrots, onion, flour, thyme, bay leaf, and 1/2 cup water. Pleace the chicken on top; season with 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.

Cover and cook until the chicken and vegetables are tender, on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.

Thirty minutes before serving, heat oven to 425. Using a 4 1/2 inch cutter or other circular object, cut the pastry into 4 circles [no need to roll it out beforehand]. Place on a baking sheet and bake until golden, 8-10 minutes.

Ten minutes before serving, add the peas, green beans, cream, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the chicken mixture and stir to combine. Cover and cook on high or low until heated through, 5-10 minutes more. To serve, place the chicken mixture in bowls and top with the pastry rounds.

*COOK'S NOTES

I used only 3- which was plenty- bone-in chicken thighs, discarded the skin before I placed the chicken in, shredded the chicken after adding the green beans, and returned to pot as I added the peas.
I used fresh green beans and added them in about 45 minutes before serving (as opposed to 10).
I used milk instead of cream, since I had it on-hand. Worked fine, but not as "creamy". Imagine that. :).
DO AHEAD: Pastry rounds can bemade up to 1 day ahead. Wrap airtight and store at room temperature.

Once again, Stephanie & I are on the same wavelength... in terms of "not wanting to get dressed" AND this week's recipe (mushroom cream sauce with garlic chicken cutlets~ with the cream sauce being the *star* of the show). Thankfully I have chicken in the freezer... & this time, I most definitely will not omit the cream :).

Bold moves.

2012-01-16T03:01:00.000-08:00

maybe it's just because those pre-show interviews exude such a tense, forced, uncomfortable vibe, but it wasn't the bold yellow dress, or the stunning red lips that really caught my eye.

it was the gals that were a little less elegant... a bit more casual. beachy waves, or even a pony tail in lieu of long perfected locks. yes... it is a BLACK TIE event. i get it. but sometimes a little rule-breaking/bending is required.

toning it down a notch (or 10) could be just as bold as a striking red or mustard yellow.

which is why she was my favorite red carpet pick. flawless. but in a 'less-is-more' kinda way.

Image via

did you watch? thoughts?

A crush.

2012-01-13T02:37:00.000-08:00

Watching Beautiful Girls for the first time [thanks to Amy] last weekend reminded me that I've yet to tell you about my total infatuation (that developed early on, but has yet to fade) of this boy. Dangerously close to "perfection."

{...and since it's remained undocumented for so long, I felt the time was right to share. Happy Friday =)}

Image via

Lovely lemon cupcakes.

2012-01-11T07:29:00.000-08:00

{our lil' meyer lemon tree}

As I confessed here, I've got a "slight" cookbook obsession. As if I didn't have enough, I accumulated even more over the holidays. Suuuuuure, I have enough books to cover all bases- from feeding picky eaters- to becoming a domestic goddess, but then a new one comes along... with new promises, new chefs, new recipes, new strategies... Oh, and don't even get me started on my magazine problem. And the pile just keeps getting bigger... and BIGGER.

The thing is- I love 'em. All of them. Love reading the accompanying stories, tips, variations, menus, approaches... Love the pictures... the styling... not to mention- the actual recipes, and of course- the end result (... the food!!).

So, in order to justify my growing library of cookbooks, I'm making a commitment to pull them off of the shelf (as well as- off of the pinterest board or the magazine pile or the bookmarked list)- and cook up a storm :).

...most likely more than weekly, but I'll share at least one a week... and guess what? Stephanie's doing the same. And this week- she made cupcakes as well... specifically- "a ridiculously sinful oreo cupcake" recipe (that my husband will die for). Do you want to join us? Nothin' too formal. In fact, we may post on different days... at different times of the week... But I started this blog as a place to share (literally), so the more sharing- the merrier. Not only will we pass along great recipes, but we'll discover some amazing cookbooks in the process. Just what I need, right?

First up-

Meyer lemon cupcakes.

...& they were GOOD. Too good.

lovely lemon cupcakes

*adapted from organic and chic (one of my new favorite baking books, discovered here)

makes 26-28 cupcakes

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened

2 cups sugar

grated zest of 4 Meyer lemons (heaping tbsp)

3 large eggs

1 tbsp vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup Meyer lemon juice

simple lemon glaze (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350 (mine is a convection so I heated it to 325). Line muffin tins with liners.

Cream the butter, sugar, and lemon zest on medium-high speed for 3 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl.

Add the eggs, one at a time, stirring until mixed. Then add the vanilla extract.

In a medium bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together. Set aside.

Mix the buttermilk and lemon juice together in a small bowl. Set aside.

With the mixer on low speed, alternate adding the dry and wet ingredients in three separate additions, beating until combined.

Pour the batter into the cupcake liners (3/4 full). Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Remove from the tins and let cool completely on a wire rack.

Once they are fully cooled, top with the lemon glaze...

simple lemon glaze

{you may need to 1 1/2 this, depending on how much glaze you prefer}

2 cups powdered sugar

3 tbsp lemon juice (I used Meyer)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl.

Once the cake has cooled, spoon the mixture on top of each cupcake, using the back of a spoon to drip down the sides in the direction you desire.

*disclaimer: the whole premise of this book is to utilize organic ingredients, hence the name "organic and chic"... I did not, so I left the 'organic' part out of the recipe.

[Oregon] state of mind.

2012-01-09T02:53:00.000-08:00

Hi there.

Been a while, hasn't it? We got back from Oregon late Wednesday night, but the mellow, laid back vibe that this state- our trip- embodied is still lingering. Not good, seeing that real life resumes bright & early this very mornin'.

Finally unpacked Saturday night, preceding a bottle of wine & not 1, but 2 movies. Back to back. That never happens.

Kinda daunting, getting back into it after all this r&r, but pretty exhilarating at the same time. A new year awaits.

An open road.

Work to be done. Pleasure to be pursued.

I'm ready.

But first- I thought I'd share a few pics... An entire week with Ryan's grandparents, an abundance of trees, and simple, natural beauty in every direction... just what we needed.

{one big trip with lots of little trips in between.}

...an overnight stay with family.

...a rainy drive to the coast.

...for clam chowder, fish n' chips, & grandpa's favorite- oyster stew.

...a trip to the museum.

...to the produce market.

...and of course...

...to wine country.

{rain or shine}

...tasting into the wee hours of the night.

(well, until sundown anyhow)

Arrivederci {Listography 2011}.

2011-12-27T22:58:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday, Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.

Well, we're down to our final list.

...and I can honestly say- list-making (of the 'personal variety') is no longer a stressful process.

We've reflected.  We've prioritized.  We've shared.

Although some came [way] easier than others, we tackled our fear- and best of all, we did it together.

(yes- I'm talkin' to you Emily & Danielle =))

~~~

Our final list.

"List how you would like to spend time whenyou’re a senior citizen."

Actually, it's not too far off from my very first one...

... full circle.

Thank you for sharing in the list-making fun this past year. Your comments, input, and interest have made it that much more fun, and I really appreciate it.

...and with that, I'm off. Off to the beautiful state of Oregon, for a much needed week of r&r. See ya in 2012!

Wishing you...

2011-12-23T07:32:00.000-08:00

Up on the rooftop... Click, click click... {Listography 2011}.

2011-12-21T00:25:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday, Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.

"List your wishlist."
   

Shopping is finally done. Santa has done "his" very best to accommodate without caving in to every request- because some of their wants don't exactly match up with our wants- or at the very least- with the limited amount of available SPACE. It's a mind-wracking process, this gift-giving. Not to mention, answering the "what should I get your kids... and/or you?" questions... trying to make sure that the santa list remains separate from our list... from their list... Whew... I'm beat. At this point in the game, there is no wishlist. Well, there's always a wishlist. But nothing that compares to what I really, truly want- need.

I simply want to create space to enjoy it all. ...to dig in to the cookbooks... to play the heck out of the boardgames... to fill the frames... tackle the crafts... to get out of "busy-mode" for days-weeks-months on end, and appreciate what we have, to relish it... before adding more to the plate, or the place I should say.

{visit Danielle & Emily to see their list, & if you have one of your own, please share the link, or leave a comment :)}

Suggestion box.

2011-12-18T22:32:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve has always been our 'big family celebration,' whereas Christmas day, the group breaks up, allowing each family to do their own thing- to celebrate with in-laws, friends, on their own... The night before Christmas, we all get together at my grandma's house... aunts, uncles, cousins, and some relatives you see only on this very eve. When my grandpa was with us, we'd exercise the utmost patience- waiting until the day's end (midnight) to open our gifts. And plenty of gifts there were... no secret-santa-name-drawing program in place... no 'kids-only' gift rule... As everyone has gotten ~~hastier/lazier~~ older/wiser, the start time has moved up, the midnight tradition has dissolved, & the whole gift-giving affair has become a bit more streamlined & little more methodical... a little.

Quite a few years back, a new tradition was born. A box is set out for each family. Everyone brings a little gift to add to the boxes. However many boxes there are determines how many gifts you bring (14 boxes = 14 candles... ornaments... dishes...). Gift-opening mayhem still exists. Presents galore still sit under the tree- mainly for the kids (which for our family- you remain a "kid" until you're living on your own &/or married), but each family unit has a set- or a box- of little gifts to take home & open up on Christmas morning, in the comfort of their own home.

Half of our gift remains the same each year... a 1/2 lb. of Christmas Blend (thanks to my Starbucks hook-up, or husband rather). In my working days- when handmade/homemade gifts were out of the question- the other half consisted of some type of Starbucks ware- a mug, a cd, an ornament... something coffee related. Now, we go the homemade route. A couple of years back, we made jars of vanilla chai tea mix & triple-orange pecan biscotti. Last year, it was shortbread.

This year? Not a clue. Any suggestions??? What are some of your favorite 'baked good' or other homemade {holiday or everyday} recipes?

Please share.

Pretty please.

...with sugar- & sprinkles- on top.

Rolling right along.

2011-12-16T07:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a little crazy to say the least. I signed up to make taquitos for Hailey's girl scout party- which was directly before I needed to leave for the book club party- in which I decided to make Italian meatballs. And of course I had to double the meatball recipe- and quadruple the sauce recipe (because we need food for the weekend, right??).

After rolling, rolling, and ROLLING meatball after meatball, taquito after taquito, you can just imagine what ~~I smelled like~~ my kitchen looked like when Ryan walked in and literally saved the day... seeing as the vodka still needed to be packaged, presents wrapped, book choices for the coming year decided upon- and of course, I still had yet to shower.

But in the end, it all worked out, and we're armored with leftovers- and cranberry orange vodka- while we tackle the wrapping, the card-sending (and picture taking- yes, we're a little behind), & the last minute shopping. I hope Hailey asked Santa for a hammock {&/or maid} for Christmas, because I could surely use a few [hundred] naps come January.

Hope you sneak a little rest into your weekend =).

xoxo 

Dog days {Listography 2011}.

2011-12-14T06:40:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday, Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.

{I guess we're sticking with the animal theme this week...}

List the pets you've adopted.

Literally adopted?? Or figuratively?

I'm gonna go with the latter, seeing that I've never officially adopted a homeless pet. I mean, as a kid, we took in strays- and newborns of friends (or just strangers sitting in front of the market)- ~~offering~~ begging us to help 'em out. We didn't actually fill out any adoption paperwork, but close enough, right?

In that case, let's see how many names I can remember (you'd think I'd be able to remember them all here, but sadly, some were more like "foster-pets")...

Kitty. An orange cat who mauled me when I slept. Literally- mauled. (probably a good reason as to why I'm not so fond of cats) ...got infected with rabies, and sadly (even though she mauled, I still loved her!) had to be put to sleep.
Bowser. Our family pet- lived with us until a very old age. I don't remember when/how he was adopted into our home, but I do remember him being a happy-go-lucky loveable dog. Unfortunately, my prevalent memories are not so cute, as he- how do I put this?? He had some health issues as he got older- some not so pretty moments for either of us.
Bullet. A pit bull... Memory is fuzzy here regarding the time-frame, and even the name, but I know for a fact that we had a pit bull, and although he was very sweet, in times where he felt threatened, the aggressive tendencies came out- loud and clear. In result, we eventually had to put him to sleep.
Bandit? Can't remember... but I know we had another adoooorable little white puppy- that looked just like a baby seal. After Bowser died, we went for a long stretch with no dog. My brother begged, and begged, and even plead his case in the form of a letter. My mom eventually gave in. But very shortly after, he ran away, never to be found.
Mugsy. In light of our heartbreak- we got our next long-term family pet, a black lab/part golden-retriever. Playful, energetic, friendly, a little too playful at times... all the qualities you'd expect in a lab :). Lived a nice long, happy life.
Flower. A cute little black & white dog that we took in at an older age... And she smiled!
Sparky. This was my brother's dog, but he lived with us for quite a while. The most well behaved dalmatian known to man- or to animal. And believe me. I know this firsthand...
Marty. Ryan (before we were married) "adopted" a newborn dalmatian. Very cute- until it grew older, and became CRAZY. When we got married, we lived in a little apartment- which was clearly not the right home for our very hyper dog. I cannot tell you how many times I ran down a busy Pasadena street chasing after him. ...or how many items were peed on, chewed on... With a newborn on the way, and no plans for a big yard anytime soon, we made the decision to put him up for adoption (and he was adopted that same day!).
Kona. And last, but not least- our current [one-and-only] pet... a chocolate lab. A little crazy at times... definitely some rough 'puppy moments', but she's mellowed out a bit (no longer in destroy-our-yard and/or home mode). She loves people- and hates being alone, has not one aggressive bone in her body, is pretty well trained, but at the same time- is a total puppy trapped in a big ol' dog's body, and she loves us. And we love her.

Definitely one of those more-for-me-than-for-you lists. It was sorta fun to think back on though! Have you adopted many pets? If you have a post, link up below (my last week with Mr. Linky... before Listography ends, and before he expires!)... or of course you can share with a comment :).

Keepin' it fresh.

2011-12-12T01:36:00.000-08:00

It was a busy weekend, filled with Christmas-y activities & to-do's, a few good meals, a couple of Belgium beers [enjoyed during a much-needed night out with friends], AND a new holiday tradition to add to The list.

... discovered pomanders last year over at Michelle's place, & was sort of mesmerized by the idea of decorating & curing an orange, while at the same time perfuming & freshening the air... what a lovely, simple activity! And NO stress... NO fighting children... NO digging my way through the craft store to stock up on supplies... Win, win, & WIN.

{*next up (also from Michelle's post)... a little less simple, but equally lovely & mesmerizing... window stars}

happy monday =).

Understated style.

2011-12-08T22:58:00.001-08:00

In my daily endeavor of getting ready, I don't necessarily aim to look sexy. If I'm being honest, just aiming to look like I'm not wearing pajamas or stepping out of a gym is a large feat as of late.

Lots of solo time this week, chipping off the ol' to-do list. In other words, "comfort" first. Cute ~~second~~ last.

But really, who says you can't have both? And along those same lines, who says sexy has to be tight... low-cut... un-comfortable?? Maybe I'm just enabling myself to carry on with the "seasonal lovefest" of baked treats, hearty dishes, and spirited beverages, but there's a definite appeal to a little more subtlety, a little less flaunting... a bit more flowy, a tad less stretchy. Simple, soft, slouchy, maybe even over-sized. Yes please.

{images...clockwise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

The final days {Listography 2011}.

2011-12-06T22:52:00.001-08:00

Each Wednesday, Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.

Image via

Well, we're in the final month of Listography.

A mere 4 lists to go.

I wouldn't classify this as the most interesting topic, but seeing that I have only about 5 MINUTES to write this... I'm okay with that. Because- "well, they can't all be winners, can they??"

{a few of my "least favorite animals"...}

cats

bats

unsolicited critters...

rats

opossums

skunks

raccoons

not a huge fan of birds, esp...

pigeons

seagulls

I'm sure there's more, but I'll leave it to you to take it from here... (share with a comment, or link up @ Emily's) :).

A list.

2011-12-05T05:02:00.001-08:00

Lastyear [coincidentally, at this very same time… the Monday following the firstweekend of December], I wrote a postmentioning how I was trying to stay afloat… FOCUSED {spirited} in spite of the looming cloud of holiday-to-do’s. Well, it all sorta went downhill from there. The holiday blur, as I refer to it, hazedright on in- as it does each & every year. As much as I feel “on top of it” heading into December, it neverfails. A few days in, & the calendarslowly gets swallowed up. The to-do listmounts at lightning-speed pace. CHEER issubtly (or blatantly) muted by STRESS.

I’vebeen thinking about this… about the holidays... about why this continuesto happen and how to End. The. Cycle [beforemy kids are grown adults for gods sake]. Then Thanksgivinghappened. And it sealed the deal. “Traditions” need to change. In spite how it may sound, I really do lovethis time of year. There's so much that I cherish…and want to create the space toexperience those with my kids… my family… my friends. But when I reeeeally think about it- in a dead-honestway- for the most part, many of the traditions (must-do activities/events/projects)that are plotted on the calendar fall into the category of obligation… &not necessarily obligation imposed by others, but also by ourselves. Doing what we do because it’s what we’vealways done. Doing what is- or what we assume is expected. Not because it works for us… makes sense… issomething that we love.

Of course, the other “stuff” is sometimesnecessary and important. Obligation ispart of life, & is entirely okay! ButI don’t want it to continue taking the place of- or overshadowing what mattersto… what works for us. Because the holidays are then just one bigSTRESSOR and filled with frustration, exhaustion, and resentment. And activities that we would otherwise enjoy- look forward to- are instead when-is-this-going-to-be-over-so-I-can-get-back-to-the-LIST.

Stephanie (who is in the same frame of mind- & who I utterly admire btw :)) had the simple, yet brilliant idea of making a list. Not a have-to list, but a want-to one. A 'carefully curated' (as she says) list that includes only [ONLY] those activities/ideas/crafts/foods... that we truly love, that we truly want to be a part of- to create- to experience. So that when that stress starts to creep its way in... when our auto-pilot say-yes-to-everything-mode turns on... when we begin to feel like we're losing control/focus/spirit... we have something to turn to- to remind us of where we want to be. To keep {& make time for} what works & simply let go of- or adjust- what does not. To create space for new.

~~~

The things I love about the holidays...

dim lights... white candles... mellow holiday songs
small get-togethers
making santa's cookies with the kids
disneyland
old-fashioned christmas lights
packaging treats {red twine... silver bells... metallic sharpies... fancy ribbon}
"ugly" christmas pajamas
picking out the just-right tree
leon
chipmunks christmas music & mulled cider while we decorate*
...mulled wine while we decorate
eggnog (in all forms inc. but not limited to ice cream, latte, cocktail...)
homemade christmas cards with the kids (BUT, only if time/circumstances allows)
cozy scarves... tall boots... all kinds a' sweaters
family wine country day trip
christmas day at my mom's
panetone bread pudding
grandma's ham
christmas movies (from yogi's 1st christmas to Edward Scissorhands to Scrooged)
kisses under the mistletoe
coffee made by the hands of my children... before they get to open their presents
cranberry orange vodka

* Notice I did not actually list "decorate the tree." After 10+ years of marital/parental/sibling discord over how- & how many- the lights are strung, how ornaments are placed (I'll take the blame for being a freak about the lights, but Jacob has a "thing" with how Hailey does [or does not] place the ornaments), how much breakage occurs, ... Let's just say (and I just finished meeting with a group of gals who strongly concur) that the tree-decorating-process brings out our true personalities... the good, the bad, & the ugly. Hence the NEED for "happy chipmunks tunes & mulled WINE."

Make sure you visit my pal Stephanie, and read her list as I am on my way to do the same. I'm absolutely sure that my list will grow a little longer after I read hers. She is responsible for last year's new tradition of "Leon" after all =).

Art & craft sale.

2011-12-02T06:39:00.001-08:00

{Watercolor painting by Rebecca Janes}

The windhas died down, school back in session (to their dismay after their unexpectedfree day), & I have a billion + things to do before the big day of treeshopping & holiday decorating bright & early tomorrow morning (whichdespite how it may have sounded after yesterday's post- is not yet done(!)… Leon& the destroyed poinsettias are as far as we've got).

Before Iget started on the LIST, I wanted to take a moment to spread the word about anupcoming art and craft sale that a friend of mine is hosting (along with a few other artists).

Rebecca creates beautiful watercolor paintings and cute little handmade/hand-sewn animals. What I like most about the watercolors is that you have the ability to choose a photograph, provide it to her, and she will then transform it into a beautiful painting. I am in the process of choosing a picture myself, and I can't wait to let her work her magic. Not only is this an affordable way of incorporating more art into our home, it allows us to be a part of the creative process... in choosing an image that is personal, meaningful, and pleasing.

Here are some examples of the "before" photograph, and the "after" watercolor...

{I love how she leaves some of the details out and highlights (oradds) others in- to capture the true essence of the scene, or moment in time.}

And here are a just a few examples of the animals! She has many, many, many more to choose from!

Theboutique will be held this Sunday (details below), and following the event, items will be available to order online- including watercolor gift certificates... What a great gift!!

Here's the 411.

What: Boutique 

When: Sunday Dec. 4th from2-4pm

Where: 434 CrestviewPlace Monrovia, CA

* Allitems will be for sale & special orders willbe available.

* Following the event, items can be ordered at the website...

 http://www.stbarnabascenterforspiritualencouragement.org/

{hope you check it out!... & see ya monday!}

The elf clause.

2011-12-01T08:02:00.001-08:00

Through roaring winds... toppling trees... threatening travel conditions...

Leon made it on our cozy little shelf.

Safe & sound.

{& in other news, advent calendars have been cracked open, poinsettias placed fancifully on the porch (only to have been ripped apart by Miss Santa Ana), & the glendora school district was declared officially closed.

now that's a first.}

Happy December =).

*p.s. "Leon" is noel spelled backwards. in case you were wondering.

Hot for teacher {Listography 2011}.

2011-11-30T00:43:00.001-08:00

Each Wednesday, Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.

{I was not hot for any of these teachers.  Just wanted to lure you in :)...}

(...remembered the mean one. Mrs. KING.)

...yes, some ineffective, mean-spirited, burnt-out folks, but overall- so many influential teachers.  teachers that were passionate.  dedicated.  teachers that poured their heart & soul into each & every lecture.  my poor memory is not a reflection of this.  maybe i need to start taking ginkgo biloba?? {kidding.}

If you happen to have a post (or want to write one) on this topic, link up @ Danielle's. Or share with a comment!

Lessons learned.

2011-11-28T11:32:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving 2011.

What can I say?? Well, I can't say that it went as smooth as one would assume after glancing through these photos. Just keep in mind... these were the "before" pictures~ the calm before the storm. It wasn't all bad. The turkeys were tasty. The entire meal was delicious. The house was autumn-y. Lots {& lots} of leftovers (which is always a good thing). The week (plus) of prepping with my grandma - priceless. How could you not love a grandma that thoroughly cleans your oven, and then "preserves" it by covering it with tinfoil?? :)

Truth is, tradition is extremely important in my book. So important, that sometimes I need to be beat over the head in order to realize that that some traditions need to be tweaked a little [or a lot] here & there as time goes on. Some tossed out all together... To create space for new. When it comes to the holidays (or family, in general), we tend to make our decisions based on what works for the larger group. To do what we do cause that's how it's always been done... what [we think] is expected of us. Yes, I realize we are grown-adults, but as I mentioned- change doesn't always come easy- even if it is clearly a change for the better.

The night wasn't a disaster. No family blow-ups. No kitchen 'mishaps.' It was simply a whole lotta work, with very, very little time to enjoy the week prior... the weekend after... the kids being home from school... the meal for that matter... and certainly no time for "thankfulness." There's other factors involved, but needless to say, this is one area that is in need of tweaking.

I realize we're all bit "over" Thanksgiving at this point, but I'd love to hear about your traditions, since I'm in the market for some new ones myself (& I've got a whole year to think about it).

{speaking of new traditions and executive decisions, this post is a must read for anyone in the same boat as myself}

{the menu, the tin-foil, & my favorite decor... the artwork}

{the grown-ups' table}

{the kids' table}

Good & plenty {Listography 2011}.

2011-11-22T22:09:00.001-08:00

                          
Each Wednesday,  Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.

... what we're thankful for...

{me}

oh, i have so very much to be thankful for. family. friendship. health. life. love. feeling esp thankful for these two... my heart & soul. 

{her}

trees

food

air

turkey 

animals

people

indians 

pilgrims

sky

light

toys

shelter

vegetables

fruit

family

friends

{him}

family

friends

God

homes

dog

food

holidays

books

{if you have a 'thankful' link, please share below :)}

...happy, happy thanksgiving- and remember:  SAVE THE CARCASS!!

PAUSE.

2011-11-20T22:26:00.001-08:00

{thanksgiving countdown ~ continued from here}

Grocery shopping- CHECK. Unloading of my grandma's hefty accumulation of Thanksgiving "supplies" (boxes and boxes)- DONE. Starter cocktail researching/testing- YEP. All else- HERE WE GO.

But before we do... we're taking a little break to celebrate.

Because it's his birthday.

And aside from that, he's the love of my life.

{headed to disneyland for corndogs, christmas lights, & smiles... happy birthday ryan, & happy tg week to all of you =)}

The unwritten rules.

2011-11-18T14:09:00.001-08:00

{in the midst of thanksgiving prep, my grandma's christmas shopping, preparing jacob for another campout, and the usual laundry... therefore was not planning on writing a post today. but i just couldn't resist sharing, as it is ever-SO relevant (and btw- we are the hosts) :).

If you want a good laugh (not to mention a potential rule-bending pie recipe ~ READ THIS.

(yes, mom... & grandma. I'm talkin' to you)

Native soil {Listography 2011}.

2011-11-15T21:09:00.001-08:00

Each Wednesday, Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.

(born & raised in the Sierra Madre canyon ~ the house in which my mom & her husband still reside)

{"List what you remember about your childhood home."}

It was cozy.

Quiet.  Really quiet. 

Little, but just big enough. 

It had a hippie-Native-American-artsy vibe.

"Indiscreet" art hanging from the walls (baring NO resemblance to the homes of my conservative-private-school friends) which I begged my mother to temporarily remove prior to my their arrival. 

Wood & neutral tones. 

A fireplace (loved when we got to 'have a fire').

A room on stilts, an antique tub, a water bed (not mine), a floor heater, a dusty basement, & LOTS of steps.

Always clean, revamped often, well-decorated...a cherished, inviting space (thanks to my hardworking mom). 

An old wooden hot tub. (no, not a spa. not a jacuzzi. definitely not a swimming pool. a hot tub)

Safe. 

BIG hills & curvy streets (not the go-out-and-ride-your-bike kinda neighborhood).

Just us three, though the doors were always open.

I'd love to hear about yours too. Share with a comment or visit Emily to link up :).

Cream of the crop.

2011-11-13T23:03:00.001-08:00

My grandma's been here since Saturday, and the countdown to Thanksgiving has officially begun.  The menu decided... grocery list formed... turkeys purchased(!)... turkey stock prepared...  Such an endeavor for one single meal, but as I said last year - I couldn't be in better company.  

That said~ it's been a whirlwind weekend of planning, cooking, EATING... soaking in the cloudy afternoons, the mid-afternoon cuppa coffee, the flavors of fall.  I thought I'd share a few "flavors" in particular that we're currently loving.

pumpkin pancake mix {via tj's}. (a simply perfect mix of flavors)
acorn squash soup. (from Guy of all people, but seriously- my new favorite fall soup other than this)
sweet potato fries. (if you're gonna cheat, do it right... perfect s.p.f's- which is not easy to achieve)
maple whipped cream. (love, love, LOVE)
pumpkin spice lattes. (homemade. diy. fancy. coffee. cheap. pumpkin. brown sugar. whipped cream. nuff said.)

Let me know if you try any of the above- or if you have any fall picks of your own. Whether you're in the midst of planning, sorting laundry, off to work, sound asleep, or completely hungover from a wild & crazy weekend (although I have a feeling "those" ones are not spending their Monday mornings in my neck-of-the-web)... happy Monday =).

This little light of mine...

2011-11-10T22:21:00.001-08:00

Since the kids are out of school tomorrow, Hailey had some friends over today & we made cupcakes together. Each got to take a turn on the stool when it was their "job." They were so excited to step on up and measure/scoop/stir/push the button... you-name-it. They were in the spotlight- if even just for a moment, and they beamed with competency, focus, and pride. No different from what I witnessed earlier today, at Jacob's poetry reading. I was amazed at the depth, the passion, the heart that each individual possessed. Each stood up to the podium- just as those cute little girls stood up on that stool... & let their light shine.

{...easy to forget that they really do have wings of their own, but sure is sweet to see them fly}

{vanilla cupcakes with a little pumpkin pie spice added to the dry ingredients & tj's pear cinnamon cider in place of some of the milk... & a little champagne- to get this 3-day weekend started on the right track =)}

Today {Listography 2011}.

2011-11-09T01:54:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday, Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.

Yesterday, we helped Jacob with an assignment, in which he had to type and format several poems that he'd written into a notebook. It was a big project, and since he had to attend a boy scout meeting until 9PM, we were all up much later than our temperaments could handle. This past Friday, we dropped him off [in the rain] for a weekend camp-out, so he had barely any time to work on the heavy load of homework due this week.
...camping in the rain, Einstein-level math assignments, a constitutional convention speech (the dreaded public speaking assignments), not-to-mention a Rufus King costume which he has to wear- that we had to assemble (thank God my mom saves every single item of clothing, costume, or otherwise... can always count on her in these situations)- for the speech (& btw- who the hell is Rufus King??), a poetry reading... A lot of stress & too little sleep.

Not many happy moments happening in our household this week.

Yet, reading his poems gave me a chance to look past the frustration- the seemingly unappreciative teenager. To get out of his brain [and beyond the HORMONES], and step into his heart- which isn't always easy- or possible these days.

Here is one of his poems- written about his grandfather.

Standingby you
Buildinga snowman as tall as a mountain
Seeingyou make huge snowballs for me
Toonly find them punch you softly in the stomach.

Eatingnext to you
Justan ordinary breakfast
Withmountains of pancakes on my plate
Neverknowing that it would be the last we have together.

{We visited Ryan's father in February, a trip in which I wasn't aware that Jacob carried such vivid memories. In fact, he has never seen this photo- until last night- after we read his poem.}

{He died in November of that same year, at only 48 years of age. He slipped and fell off of a ladder while hanging Christmas lights. It was sudden and completely unexpected.}

So when I attempt to write out this week's list- "List what issues are foremost on your mind"- somehow it's not quite as easy as I originally thought it would be (always being one to carry "current/foremost issues" in the forefront of the mind). All of the "I need to do a-b-c-d-e-f-g-h-i.......l-m-n-o-p.......x-y-&-z" worries that ENDLESSLY PLAGUE MY SOUL are sorta put into perspective... where they belong.

What's really been keeping me up at night?

The daily grind is taking it's toll on our household- M-F- day after day- week after week. Knowing that I let frustration get the best of me ...that criticism took precedence over kindness ...that the unhappy outweighed the happy. And while "tomorrow is in fact another day," and although the "weekend is just around the corner," why wait until then??

[the link is at Danielle's this week]

Nirvana.

2011-11-06T23:54:00.000-08:00

Hawaii...

{when can we return???}

Let's get this show on the road.

2011-11-03T23:58:00.000-07:00

Image via

I've been in a sort of talk-less-do-more state of mind as of late. Vacations- time away from the daily routine- from the internet- shake me up a bit. My arrival home is always accompanied with a sense of being centered- back on track, and at the same time, a little unsteady- off-kilter. Off-kilter in a good way... in areas that needed a little rattling.

So easy to get buried under pins, tweets, likes, bookmarks, clippings of promises and plans... to make that recipe, to read that book, to organize that pantry, to host that party, to drink that martini... I can't do it all, and I won't even try. But as Walt Disney said, The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. Empty promises begone!!

Jeepers creepers {Listography 2011}.

2011-11-02T00:14:00.000-07:00

Each Wednesday, Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.

Being a total scaredy-cat, it is not in my nature to enjoy or even have a clue about grotesque characters and disturbing theatrics. But growing up with two huge movie buffs (mom & brother), I didn't have much of a choice... other than to bury my face in my mom's shoulder, cover my ears, and shut my eyes real tight.

{Here's just a few "favorite horror villains" (of MANY) that have left their [claw] mark...}

Nosferatu... the original vampire.

Image via

{I do love a good vampire flick, which is not to say this is one... more of a result of the current movie-buff in my life (son).}

Freddy... the dream stalker.

Image via

{One, Two, Freddy's coming for you...}

Chucky... the killer doll.

Image via

{I was never a big fan of life-size dolls with shiny skin and creepy eyes... this film didn't help.}

Jack Torrance... the definition of CREEPY.

Image via

{Heeeeeeeeeere's Johnny!}

The Thing... the shape shifter.

Image via

{Since I have no idea what "the thing" actually looks like, and since it is a shape shifter after all, I took the liberty to post this classic shot of my mom's heartthrob.}

I know, I know, I know there's so many more... so hit me with your best shot (a little adage to Pat there- sorry)... with a link below or a comment.

Spirit.

2011-10-31T12:42:00.000-07:00

In light of a lil' Halloween party yesterday, we got a chance to do a 'trial run' of costumes... before awaking at 6:00am this morning to do it alllllll over again for school. At least they're ready for tonight (aside from a few touch-ups of course)!

That charming mr. chaplin & adorable farmer gal make it all worth it though :)...

...black polish, Giada Halloween episodes, spooky pomegranate cocktails, all-things-pumpkin, CANDY, school parades, Charlie Brown, glow sticks... Love. It. All.

Happy Halloween!!

Reroute.

2011-10-28T00:56:00.000-07:00

With Ryan out of town the past few days- and me still in major catch-up mode, I've been pretty straight-faced and just plain grumpy. Getting on the kids to HURRY UP, to PICK UP THOSE SHOES, to FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS. Maybe a little necessary... lots of to-do's on my plate, lots of homework on theirs.

But, really, I need to lay off a bit, and LIGHTEN UP. Put a little silly back into our step. A little creativity in our paths. Last night, the kids and I watched the Princess Bride. A perfect way to begin the 'lightening up' process. How can one not feel a little giddy while viewing this masterpiece?? Now that Ryan's home, we've decided we must watch it again... along with our annual Young Frankenstein viewing, and bits and pieces of the four Charlie Chaplin films that Jacob rented from the library (love how he gets all into his costume).

That should get us off to a good start- and ready for the big day of pumpkin carving, costume wearing, trick-or-treating, cornbread, & chile! Between the pumpkin patch and Trader Joe's, we're all stocked up :).

Happy Friday everyone!

Achy breaky heart {Listography 2011}.

2011-10-26T00:07:00.000-07:00

Each Wednesday, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.

This week's list is an interesting one. ... "List couples who you were sad to see break up."

I'm going with celebrity couples here, and in doing so, I'm a little split on this topic. On one hand, I'm actually a little sad anytime I hear of a long-term relationship ending... whether I know the couple personally or just via magazine covers and tweets. I come from a divorced family in which I've seen both of my parents start and end several relationships- firsthand. Whether a couple has been together several months or several years- it's never an easy process. Even when the ultimate decision is quick and seemingly effortless, it's usually preceded by much frustration, tears, anger... all the icky no-fun-at-all stuff.

That said- I just don't get celebrity relationships. Some- I don't buy into from the start. Others seem to be the real deal and 'together-forever' status and then sink that ship real quick with issues of infidelity, sexual addiction (really??)... And when I actually try to wrap my mind around it- I start wondering- are any of them for real?? I do believe that some have truly found a way to make it work, but seriously- if I put too much thought, effort, or concern into this topic, my brain starts to get a little numb and then I get all upset about people that I don't even know... and I need my brain sharp & emotions in tact, as I've got my own relationship to manage after all!

BUT.

These nonchalant feelings do not, by any means, translate into T.V. break-ups. Ross & Rachel, Sam & Diane, David & Donna...

But nothing compares to this sad, sad split.

Video via

Where do you stand on this topic?? Any parting-of-the-ways that left you especially distraught?

Emily's got the link my friends. Comment here or post there :).

{And on an entirely different topic... since I wasn't able to get my last Listography post done- and ~~I have OCD~~ it will drive me crazy if I have nothing to link, I'd like to note that my favorite vehicle was my very first car- a 1980 Honda hatchback (although that lime green Gremlin my mom sported us around in comes in at a close second)... a little white beauty (sadly suffered the same fate as Butch's).}

Image via

Incognito.

2011-10-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

Well. We made it home from Hawaii safe and sound.

A glorious 8 days of paradise.

I'd love to share pictures (and I will) but as is usually the case after returning home- I'm desperately trying to get my groove back- or simply get back into some sort of groove... one that doesn't involve a daily room [house]-cleaning, nightly mai tais on the beach, stored-away laptops, and empty agendas.

...but instead- grocery shopping, unpacking (yes, still), LAUNDRY, pumpkin purchasing, Halloween decorating, homework assisting (oh... the homework), boy scout events, girl scout events, LAUNDRY, costume parties...

Okay, I'll spare you the rest of my oh-so-interesting-to-do list, and simply say that despite the madness, it feels good to be back... to jump into Halloween-mode, and to reconnect- with my laptop, my reader (soon!), the dvr... And since I can't post Hawaii pics yet, here's a few from Saturday night's costume party to hold ya over :).

{a handsome security guard (aka- Ryan), a Butcher's wife (aka- my mom), & yours truly- a Mad Men wannabe}

{Costume inspired by Naina (dress & shoes- Ross; belt- Banana Republic)... If you're looking for a last minute costume idea & want to dress up as a 60's gal yourself- Ross has a fantastic selection of dresses (dresses that seem to hide all the the 'mai tai/macadamia nut pancake' indulgences... 60's dressing just may become a regular thing).}

Jumping the shark {Listography 2011}.

2011-10-12T01:48:00.000-07:00

Each Wednesday, Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.

#42 - List who you thought was the coolest growing up.

jumping the shark:
"outlived its freshness" where viewers feel "the writers have run out of ideas" and that "the series has [lost] what made it attractive. "These changes were often the result of efforts to revive interest in a show whose audience had begun to decline. {Wikpedia}

The best ~~babysitter~~ show around may have jumped the shark. But The Fonze surely did not.
[well literally- he did, but figuratively...]

The epitomy of COOL.

With only a couple of months to go, I can't help but wonder if "Listography" is headed down that dreaded path ... Nooooooo. Some hot topics coming up. Favorite car models... my former teachers... Okay, maybe not so hot after all. Either way, I will do my best to keep it FRESH, and your comments make it that much more fun. So, please ~ leave one below, or link up a post of your own!

...

Tomorrow morning, we leave for Hawaii. One week of Paradise, and I can't wait.

See ya next week :).

The root of the matter.

2011-10-07T07:07:00.000-07:00

We've had our raised garden beds for a little over a year now, and gardening ranks pretty high up there in the what-we-do-in-our-free-time category... yet you would never know that by reading this blog. Other than a few random mentions here and there, the posts have been few and far between.

Sure- it takes extra time to photograph... and edit... and formulate details to write about... But, in truth, our "pursuit of simplicity" has been anything but simple. Let's just say, our "raised gardening adventure" has given new meaning to the phrase, LEARNING CURVE.

One obstacle after another. A constant challenge to overcome. Never-ending Google searches. Desperate pleas for advice from our newly befriended ~~Armstrong employee~~ gardening guru. Thankfully, Ryan's taken the lead, and is determined to lead us into Garden Prosperity.

Despite the many failures, there's been quite a few successes too. And after a string of bad seeds - success tastes that much sweeter.

{let's start with the losses}

a dog that consumed all of our initial sprouts & an entire crop of newly ripened tomatoes- all at once
poor timing
over-planting
crowding
"wide & shallow" (as opposed to narrow & deep) approach
critters (thieves) eating away the fruits of our labor
slow- or no- growth, discolored leaves, rotting (not enough magnesium, calcium, nitrogen...)
improper placement (not enough/too much sunlight)
white flies, fungi, aphids
over/under watering
cheap soil

{now for the wins}

First and foremost, we started a compost bin a couple of months ago, and are on our way to excellent soil. Composting has been such a simple and satisfying process, I can't believe we didn't start sooner. With the exception of a few tomatoes & lots of peppers & herbs, we've cleared our summer beds away and planted for fall.

{on the menu for fall (so far): beets, radishes, carrots, parsnips, Italian red onion, red onion}

If you're considering starting your own garden- or switching from a container to a raised bed garden (like we did)- do not let this post deter you. Although I listed many, the main issue was our soil. We had to purchase A LOT all at one time, and were too quick to take the advice of a Home Depot employee's referral of "excellent yet inexpensive" soil (inexpensive- yes; excellent- no). Also, we let our confidence get the best of us, and set our sights a bit too high (too many seeds, too close together). Our current approach: Start small (more of one type of plant instead of a few of many- or in our case... a lot of many) and attain better garden soil.

An ongoing learning process for sure. Now that I've shared this much, I'll definitely keep you updated... (& more often :)). If you have any tips or stories to share, I'd [really, really] love to hear!