... And Other Adventures

Four Years

2012-05-25T14:31:00.000-05:00

Today is my wedding anniversary. We have been married 4 years, together 12 years. That is four years of falling asleep every night next to my best friend.

In my mind, when I look at us, I still see us as we were when we first met back in 2000 - Just two smitten kids in their 20s sitting on a Ferris wheel with the world at their fingertips. How far we have come.

We have been stretched and challenged in ways that I never would have imagined. Marriage has not always been easy. But we also have enjoyed unexpected blessings as well. I feel that we are in our best year of marriage yet.

Marriage is tricky that way. It is not a straight path. It has highs and lows, good years and bad years. It can be confusing to determine who best suits you as a life partner. What initially brings people together is often not the same as what keeps them together.

For me, marriage really came down to this simple question - Who do you want to share your best and worst moments with? Who do you want there when you finally land that big promotion or see that that double line on the pregnancy stick? And who do you want there to be by your side when life throws you a curve ball in the form of a health scare, a lay-off, or burying someone dear to you.

For me, that question simplified everything. And David was always the answer to that question. He is the one that I want to hold my hand during life's ups and downs.

How much I would love to go back to our wedding day on gorgeous sandy beach in Tulum, Mexico surrounded by our friends and family. That day, May 25, 2008, was one of my most favorite days in my entire life... only trumped by the day that our daughter was born.

Sometimes, I feel so inadequate to deserve the unconditional love that this man gives me. This man who tells me that he adores me on a regular basis. But that is what marriage is all about. Everyday, I strive to be the woman that I see reflected back in his eyes.

So to my beloved - you are everything I hoped for in a soul mate and more. I would say YES all over again.

My daughter's literary education

2012-05-16T08:30:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, I am passionate about books. So far in my life, I am lucky to have found so many like-minded people that share in my literary obsession, one such group being my book club.

Last week, I hosted book club here at my house and we had a great time discussing Fifty Shades of Grey. VERY enlightening on so many levels!

One tangent conversation that came up that evening was about the books that we want our daughters to read when they get a little older. When that question came up, it was like my mind went in hyper-mode and just started spitting out all of these great options. And the funny thing... it hasn't stopped. I find myself brewing on that question while sitting in traffic or folding laundry. So many options, all of them so exciting.

Here are a few must-haves for Little B's literary education:

The Elementary Years

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Judy Blume
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Bobbsey Twins by Laura Lee Hope
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

The Teenage Years or Older

Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
A Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Exodus by Leon Uris
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

So tell me, what books do you want to be on your daughter's bookshelf?

Right now.

2012-05-14T20:00:00.000-05:00

Right now I'm...

Watching: The Bachelorette. I know, I know! It's a train wreck that I just can not avert my eyes from.

Craving: Nutella. Big surprise there.

Hoping: that Little B's fever will break tonight Other than the fever, she seems to be feeling okay, but it still makes me anxious.

Listening: to David on the monitor as he reads a bed time story to Little B. It makes me smile.

Thankful: that I have Fridays off. There is just too much to get done in the 2 days that a normal weekend gives you.

Avoiding: house work.

Feeling: hopeful.

Needing: a really fun night out with my man.

Enjoying: the new iPad that I got from work.

Wondering: when these dang allergies are going to go away. Sometimes I feel that I could solve world peace if I could just get these darn allergies to go away.

Reading: Game of Thrones (still). In my defense, it is a very long book and I can barely keep my eyes open for more then 5 minutes at the end of the day.

Wishing: that we could go away on vacation. Spain, Napa Valley, a private island beach all come to mind.

Okay. I have procrastinated long enough. Time to go clean the kitchen. It must be done.

Things I've learned from my mama

2012-05-11T16:56:00.002-05:00

Now that I have a little girl of my own, I find myself being a lot more self-reflective on my relationship with my own mother. I think about what she has taught me and how she has helped to shape who I am today. I want to pass along those same traits and gifts to Little B that my mother passed on to me.

So on that note and in honor of Mothers' Day, I share with you the things I have learned from my mama:

Shoes are an investment.

Both my mother and I have small feet. I wear a size 5. My mom wears a size 4. Finding shoes that don't light up when you walk or have pink glitter on them can often be a challenge. Our quest for "big-girl" shoes is often a highlight of conversation between us. Because of that, my mother has taught me that shoes are an investment. Whenever you can, splurge on well-made classic shoes that you can hold on to for decades. I have lived by this principle for as long as I can remember and it has served me well. Plus, shoes never make you look fat and they can give you that extra boost of confidence that you need before walking into a hot date/job interview/important meeting.

It is better to have one really good friend than many just-okay-friends.
I remember her telling me this when I was in middle school and did not get invited to a certain slumber party that I really wanted to be invited to. Instead I invited a "good" friend over for our own little slumber party. We had a fantastic night that quickly made me forget about that other party. That one line sentiment has kept with me through out the years. I think about it a lot when I ponder over who my friends are. I know who my really good friends are and therefore I don't sweat it when other potential friendships don't work out. I have the friendships that I need. Any additional ones are just more icing on the cake.

My love of books.

Books can offer answers to any of life's problems. Whether you are nursing a broken heart, feeling unsure about the ways of the world, or wanting to escape to a far away place, a book can guide you. My love of old bookshops, library cards, and the excitement as you read the first page of a new book have all been bestowed upon me by my mother. Growing up, we had weekly trips to the library where I was never told "NO" to any book that I wanted to check out. Nothing was forbidden. Her only requests were that I was to ask questions of anything I did not understand and to treat my books with care. I am intent on passing this love of books on to Little B as so far she is whole-heartedly adopting it as her own. I am hoping that our love of books is something that we can share together for the rest of our lives.

Know who you are and embrace it.

The summer that I was 12 or 13, I was on a mission to get a gorgeous bronze tan. I sat out in the sun every afternoon just hoping that the sun would transform my pale, milky skin into the bronzed skin of a Greek goddess. Well, as I am sure you have guessed, my wish did not come true. My mom pulled me aside and firmly gave me facts of life... I was never going to be tan, or tall, or have the long full-bodied hair featured in shampoo commercials. BUT I would always have gorgeous doll-like skin, I would never have to worry about dating a boy shorter than me, and my hair was the perfect sun-kissed color that people paid a lot a money to have. She taught me which colors to wear to show off my pale skin and blue eyes and what clothes looked best on a petite figure. To this day, as I watch these horrible floral prints and skinny jeans making a come back, I think about her words and proudly stick to the fashions that make ME look fantastic.

Don't try to be someone that you are not.
Very similar to one listed above, this lesson is more from the perspective of attitude and personality. It is easy to get lost in the crowd or to adopt the opinion that is most popular to those around you. But this lesson was best taught to me in the workplace. At the beginning of my career, I was surrounded by men. Often I was the only woman in the room. It was sometimes tough and I would question how I should handle certain situations. Adopt the more male perspective of my peers or stick to my initial perspective? I quickly learned that I needed to let all of that kind of thinking go and just focus on my own perspective and opinions regardless of female or male. Often my own opinions let me see a solution that others did not immediately see.

Learn at least one really amazing culinary dish so well that you could do it in your sleep.

My mom always stated that you needed to know this in case your in-laws or your husband's boss ever dropped by on short notice. I don't necessarily see it in that same light, but I do appreciate the sentiment. It is an ego boost to know that you can "whip up" something delightful in a relatively short amount of time without a lot of stress. It doesn't matter if the only other dish you know how to cook is eggs. So long as you have 1 show-stopper meal, you are good. For my mom, her dishes are London broil and lemon meringue pie. For me, these days it's probably roast chicken, Parmesan truffle risotto and cinnamon salt brownies.

I am lucky enough to be surrounded by many strong women in my life, the strongest being my mother. It is my hope that someday Little B can look at me and say the same thing.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you out there!

Missing my herb garden

2012-05-10T11:03:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have been following for a while, you know that we are currently living in a rental house. It is weird going from owning your own home to living in a house that is not truly yours. And for self-proclaimed DIYers, it is extra weird to not be able to change a paint color, install a solar tube, add a back porch cover or build a garden bed. While I know this is a temporary setup as we get adjusted to our new city, I am really, really missing my garden right about now.

How spoiled I was before to be able to walk out my back door to grab a tomato, a pepper, chard, or a sprig of rosemary or basil. And while I am making the best out of it with my potted plants scattered all over the back porch, it is not quite the same. Many of my favorites just do not do well in pots.

I especially did not realize how much I relied on my herb plants in my cooking. I use them all the time! More specifically, I use basil, rosemary, parsley, chives and mint all the time. The mint and parsley are doing okay in their pots. The basil could go either way. And the rosemary and chives just flat out gave up. So I will try again until I get it right... or at least until we move.

What are y'all planting in your gardens this spring/summer? Any fabulous potted plant gardening tips you’d like to share with me?

Meal Planning Monday

2012-05-07T10:15:00.000-05:00

The last few weeks have consisted of some quite excellent eating. We are doing our best to manage our dinner rush time efficiently.

The crockpot is getting a workout and I am able to squeeze in a little extra bit of prep time on the weekends to ensure that we are eating nice dinners as a family. Of course, it helps that my husband shares the workload and is often already beginning the cooking process by the time I get home from work. We are like a well-oiled machine, he and I.

Here is our menu for this week.

Grilled Pizzas :: I will be dressing my pizza in my most favorite way of all time. Roasted beets, goat cheese, and Arugula, drizzled with honey, olive oil, and salt and pepper. The best sweet and salty combination ever!

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos :: The perfect weeknight meal. You throw everything into the crockpot in the morning and then just walk away. Plus it makes for great leftovers to be used in lunches or to throw into the freezer for a later date.

Sausage and Veggie Pasta :: We make ours with Italian sausage, finely sliced zucchini, red bell peppers, mushrooms and whatever else we can find in the fridge. Easy and quick to make, it is also a good way to get Little B to eat her vegetables.

Grilled Fajita Skirt Steak with vegetable skewers and smoky black beans :: I am hosting book club at my house on this evening and have a lot of different dietary preferences to take in account. This meal will be delicious, easy, and make sure that there is a little something for everyone. Plus it goes great with the big pitcher of sangria that I am planning to make.

Jalapeno butter salmon and rice :: Jalapeno butter is something that my mother introduced me to many years ago. Jalapenos, garlic, cilantro, butter, salt and pepper melted over fish or chicken - Amazing! I usually make enough jalapeno butter for the current dish, plus a little extra to pop into the freezer for a future meal.

More "menu of the week" posts for additional ideas and recipes.

If you've made anything you'd like to share, please do!

What I'm loving...

2012-04-30T19:00:00.000-05:00

:: Best Birthday Date Night Ever. My amazing husband took me out Saturday for the best birthday date that a girl could ask for. Amazing steak, bacon wrapped shrimp stuffed with gouda, too many glasses of delicious Malbec and conversation that made me feel like the most loved woman in the world. It was awesome. It is not very often that we can sneak away for a night of full luxury, but it is that fact that just makes it all the more special. Thank you, David. You are one of the great ones.

:: Fifty Shades of Grey. Whew! We are reading this book for book club and holy smack is it steamy. It has been getting a lot of buzz recently from the media; and after reading it, I must confess that I don't understand what all the fuss is about. But if you are looking for a little extra spice, well... the book may give you some ideas.

:: Wearing sassy business shoes. Most of the time, my days are spent in flip-flops or TOMs. But now that I'm no longer working from home and am back in an office setting, it is so fun to dust off a few of my favorite high-heeled shoes. It is like an instant confidence boost every time I put them on. Love that!

:: The Killing on AMC. We recently watched the first season on Netflix Instant Queue. The second season is currently showing. If you are not already watching this show, you should be. This moody, Seattle-based crime thriller centers around the murder of Rosie Larsen, a high school student who is seen briefly at the beginning of the episode as she attempts to flee from an unknown assailant. As with many of AMC's top shows, the writing is fantastic and the characters have depth. Outside of that I can't explain what makes this show so great. It just is.

:: Every night just before bed, Little B asks for The Music. This translates into a loud singing session where David, Little B and myself are soulfully bellowing out Adele songs that are playing in the background on Pandora or YouTube. Little B loves it. We are each handed a crayon to serve as our microphone. And let me tell you, Sister can wail. She knows to close her eyes tight on the important notes in order to emphasize Adele's passionate words. It is quite hysterical to watch. But I love that it has by accident become a nightly family tradition.

Thirty Five

2012-04-28T12:00:00.000-05:00

The two most important days in your life are...

the day you are born,

and...

the day you find out why.

~ Mark Twain

Another year has come and gone. These past 365 days have been a whirlwind of change. A new city, a new home, a new diet, a new job, new friends and now a fresh start as I get ready to embrace another year of life living.

As I look back on the ebb and flow of this past year, I recall where I have achieved and where I have failed. Thirty four was an incredibly tough for me. One of the rougher years of life. Lots of loss, stumbles and heartache. But it is with a thankful heart that I count my blessings that outnumber the troubles. For it is through the trials and tribulations of life that self discovery is made. I made it. I am still breathing. I appreciate what I do have even more. And I am hopeful for the dreams yet to come.

When I think about my day of birth, I have never been the type to be sad about getting older. I am not bothered by the thought of more wrinkles or the understanding that I should start stocking up on Spanx. I don't miss my childhood or my twenties or even my early thirties. For each of these times in my life represents a chapter, the next one better than the last. Instead I take the viewpoint of "Whew! I can't believe I have made it this far!". Birthdays are like bragging rights. Another year to tuck under my belt of life adventures.

With year thirty five, I have been given the gift to do something with my life. And though I often have no clue as to what that something is just yet, I will live it purposefully day to day.

So hello to thirty five. What is the first adventure that you have planned for us?

Fort Worth Botanic Garden

2012-04-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

A couple weeks ago, we stumbled across a magical place right smack dab in the middle of the city - The Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

We have been twice this past month. The first time it was just us girls going to see the amazing butterfly exhibit. But the place is so extraordinary that we headed back a few days later with David to just get lost wandering their extraordinary gardens. There is so much to see.

We smelled flowers, were surrounded by hundreds of butterflies, and walked under the most beautiful tree canopy. And as I can personally attest to, it is perfect place to take a kid with energy to burn.

The best part... depending on where you go and what you do, many of the gardens are free. Love that! I may keep that in mind the next time I need a quick zen moment.

Fiercely living life

2012-04-23T19:22:00.005-05:00

Whoops! I forgot to blog.

Life is busy in that full, busting at the seams, life living sort of way. Really good, but really crazy.

New job.
New school.
A quick trip to Austin.
New friends.
Old friends.
And my birthday coming up this weekend.

So please forgive my absence as I fiercely live life.

I will be back to business here soon... with lots of greatness to share.

Photo via Mary Ruffle

Exciting week coming up

2012-04-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

This next week is going to be full of a lot of exciting beginnings for us. New job, new school, new routine.

Little B is starting at her new preschool. She is nervous and excited all at the same time. We talk a lot about all the new friends she is going to make and how her teacher is so nice. We have done a tour so that she can see where she will eat lunch and where she will hang her backpack. A new purple lunchbox is easing her into this transition as she can not wait to show it off to her new teacher and friends. I am so proud of her. I can tell that she is consciously being so brave. She keeps telling me that she is going walk in to her classroom and say, "Hi friends!" That's my girl!

And I am starting a new gig with my first Fort Worth client, Pier 1 Imports. Woohoo! I am very excited about this opportunity as I am hoping it will open many doors for us. My first day is on Monday and I feel a lot like Little B... nervous and excited all at the same time. Maybe I should get myself a purple lunchbox to calm my jitters.

Aren't change and transition always that way? A mix of emotions all swirled up together. Exciting and anxious. Hopeful and cautious. Exhilarating and intimidating.

It is enlightening watching my girl deal with her emotions as she gets ready for a big moment relative to her life. In some ways, we are so different. She is shy and reserved at first where I am not. But in other ways, we are so similar. How she talks it out. How she calms her fears. Where she chooses to put her focus. As her mom, I do my best to help her navigate her own path through this change. Lots of listening and the careful nudge here and there. She is going to do great!

So wish us luck this next week!

Happy bluebonnet season!

2012-04-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

Texas is at its most perfect during springtime. That is when everyone falls in love with this state. Gorgeous sun, mild temps, and warm breezes on the patio. But the yearly presentation of wild bluebonnets tops my list of favorite things.

Fields and fields of blue swaying in the breeze. It is breathtaking. Seeing them just makes a person happy.

So of course, we celebrated by the annual Texas tradition of snapping a few family photos amidst of sea of blue.

That first photo is my all-time favorite. It captures her grin and personality so perfectly. And that last photo... well that photo tells me that I either need to never white again or go get a tan immediately! Maybe both.

Happy bluebonnet season!

Our Easter weekend

2012-04-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was made up of everything that a perfect spring weekend could have.

romping around in the bluebonnets

dinner with family and friends

white sangria

sleeping in

a daddy & daughter park date

cinnamon muffins

exploring the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens

cute Easter dresses

chocolate chip cookies

staying up way too late

How was your weekend?

From my kitchen: Lemon Poppy Seed Almond Flour Muffins

2012-04-10T07:15:00.000-05:00

I am in quite the muffin kick these days. Right up there with Easter eggs, tulips, and open-toed shoes, there is just something about spring that I associate with muffins.

Hot out of the oven brushed with just a little bit of butter... is there a better way to start a gorgeous spring morning?

Plus, I like the versatility of muffins. Using whatever you have on hand at the moment, muffins are forgiving and get along well with all sorts of tasty food combinations. Apple cinnamon, Earl Grey and Honey, blueberry, zucchini nutmeg, banana nut... the list goes on and on. Love that!

But today I was craving lemon. That bright pop of yellow fit my spring time mood. And what goes better with lemon than the good ol' poppy seed. So without further fuss, let me introduce you to Lemon Poppy Seed Almond Flour Muffins.

Lemon Poppy Seed Almond Flour Muffins

2 cups finely ground almond flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp poppy seeds

Zest of 1 lemon

1-2 tbsp lemon juice
2 eggs
1/4 cup butter (or oil of your choice)
1/4 cup honey

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Combine wet and dry until well incorporated. Pour into lined muffin tins. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350F (or until golden brown).

Makes about 6 muffins.

Menu of the week

2012-04-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

My sensitive tummy issues have popped back up again. Ugh!

So this week, I am doing my best to refocus my efforts on healthy, yummy food that is grain-free, soy-free, and dairy-free. That is a challenge during a busy week, when it would be so easy to rely on ready-made convenience food. But that is not an option for me right now. So I persevere with this week's menu.

Here's hoping for a calm tummy.

Monday: Sole Meuniere on a bed of spinach
Tuesday: Turkey legs, roasted potatoes, and sauteed mushrooms
Wednesday: Garlic, rosemary pork with roasted cauliflower mash with truffle oil
Thursday: Grilled salmon and pan-roasted brussel sprouts
Friday: Eye of round steaks with roasted red pepper and basil salad

The Hunger Games movie

2012-04-05T10:00:00.000-05:00

The Hunger Games movie. Did you see it yet!?

The casting was perfection. Lenny Kravitz as Cinna. Awesome! Woody Harrelson as Haymitch. Stellar. Don't even get me started on Stanley Tucci. And Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. So good.

I thought the movie was so well done. They did leave out a few parts that were in the book, but I understand why. It must be so hard to cram that much detail into 2 hours.

I can not wait for the next movie to come out. I can't believe that are making us wait a year and a half, though. That just isn't right.

Good Day or Bad Day?

2012-04-04T15:07:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was a crazy, crazy day.

We started our day just like every other day. Coffee, breakfast, running out the door to work, and cramming in some last minute errands before lunch. But once the noon hour hit, it all changed.

Storms clouds grew darker and darker by the minute. The rumble of thunder kept getting louder and louder. Soon after that, hail made its presence known by threatening to break through the windows. And then came the sirens.

Oh goodness.

Nothing fills this Texas girl with more terror than the holler of a tornado siren.

I grabbed our box full of emergency items, woke up my girl from her nap, shuffled her and our dog into the bathroom (most interior room of the house) and hung out close to that room for the rest of the afternoon. Sitting in a bathtub, I spent the time checking the weather updates on my phone and texting back and forth with David (who was hunkered down in the boiler room of his company's building) and the rest of my friends and family spread out across the metroplex.

Little B and I were very lucky. The many funnel clouds and tornadoes were to the north and east of our house. So we knew rather quickly that we were fine and in the all clear. However, at that point my worry then became so focused on my friends and family that were still in the path of the storms. And what made it even scarier is that many of them in offices did not even know what was going on until I had called or texted them. There were 3 separate storm areas and I had loved ones in all of them.

I can't really explain how I felt watching live TV and seeing a tornado come out of the sky and touch down. Seeing the flying debris and tossed 18-wheelers and knowing that you are watching the scene unfold in real time is surreal. I felt like my heart stopped when a tornado narrowly missed a huge school.

This was the real thing. This wasn't a weather man being overly dramatic about a little bit of hail. This was serious.

But isn't it crazy how quickly a day can change from good to bad back to good?

All of my friends and family are safe and sound without a scratch on them. Amen!

In the midst of such as wild and crazy day, I had a fantastic day for my career. While hunkering down in the bath tub, I got a phone call out of the blue that presented me with an work opportunity that I am crazy excited about.

While there is destruction scattered across the metroplex, I have not heard of any fatalities. Amazing! That is a miracle in itself considering the number of tornadoes that touched down.

So with all that happened yesterday, was it a good day or a bad day? I think it all comes down to perspective. My vote is for good day.

On friends and laughter

2012-04-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

When talking about friendship, I used to think that loyalty was the most important element. And while it is still a mandatory trait that I require from all those who are close to me, I think there is one more trait to go on that must-have list... the ability to make another person laugh.

I believe that when a person laughs they are in their truest self. And I am not talking about fake laughing or courtesy laughing. Heck no! I am talking about the kind of laughing that leaves your sides aching, your cheeks fatigued, and your soul replenished. A laugh like that can change a grumpy day into a fabulous one.

A true friend is someone who can make you laugh whether you are having a good day or the crappiest of days. And the best part of it is that you don't have to be the wittiest or have the best joke. No, it can be as simple as reminiscing over a long-ago memory, watching a funny movie, or my all time favorite - perfecting the not-on-purpose-clutzy-move (I am king in that arena).

We all have those kind of friends... the ones that can make you laugh like no other. Where every time you see them, you usually end up giggling about something. Those are the people that I want in my life. And that is the friend that I strive to be for my loved ones. For laughter can take the sting out of a broken heart, a lay-off, a fussy baby, or a rainy day. It may not cure the ailment in that exact moment, but it will for sure aid the healing process.

Who doesn't need more laughter in their life? I sure do. I thrive on it. I feel most like myself when I am laughing. And laughing just feels so damn good!

So on that note, I am off to find my laugh for the day. Which friend should I call first?

A girl and her camera

2012-04-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

My little mini-me. We are the same in so many ways. And whatever I do, she wants to do too.

So in order to keep her from sabotaging my camera, I gave her one of her own. It is an old film camera that I had back in college. Holy smack... is that camera considered vintage now? Oy, I hope not.

Anyways, I don't think a day goes by that I don't pull out the camera to snap a few photos. Usually I am taking pictures of Little B, a recipe I'm making, or even just a few shots to play with the light. And true to form, my little mini-me follows along to do the same.

She hasn't quite figured out how it all works, but she understand the general hold-it-up-to-your-face action. I think we may have a budding photographer in our midst.

Menu of the Week

2012-04-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

photo by Martha Stewart

Monday: Sauteed zucchini with lemon and mint
Tuesday: Skirt steak fajitas (Paleo style)
Wednesday: Grilled salmon, green salad and roasted potatoes
Thursday: Honey mustard slow cooker pork ribs and broccoli
Friday: Asian lettuce wraps

What are y'all eating this week?

Little Moments: mommy's little helper

2012-03-30T13:47:00.001-05:00

From my bookshelf: Divergent

2012-03-29T13:14:00.000-05:00

Divergent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

If you are looking for a good book to fill the void of Hunger Games, I have found a great one for you!

It seems like dystopia themed books are all the rage theses days. And while many of them seem unoriginal, repetitive and lacking in any real character development, Divergent is one that has been able to separate itself from the pack.

It’s the story of Beatrice Prior. She who lives in a world that is divided into five factions:

Abnegation (the selfless)

Candor (the honest)

Amity (the peaceful)

Erudite (the intelligent)

Dauntless (the brave)

Currently, she’s resides in Abnegation, the in the one she was born into. However, she is quickly approaching Choosing Day, where each sixteen year old will decide what faction they wish to devote their entire life to. Before that, Beatrice must submit to a simulated aptitude test in order to see which faction she would fit into best. Her results are ambiguous and definitely not normal, which makes her very dangerous (for reasons she does not understand) to those in charge. In order to protect herself, she must keep her results to herself and choose her own path. Leaving her faction means leaving her family and she’s left to make a difficult decision.

The story just gets better and better from that. It is an easy quick read with lots of action and characters that you actually care about. It is part of a series by Veronica Roth and I can not wait for the next one, Insurgent, to come out in May.

Who said book nerds aren't cool?

2012-03-28T11:44:00.001-05:00

To all my fellow bookworms, this is just too good to not share.

B*tches in Bookshops

Odds & Ends

2012-03-26T11:25:00.001-05:00

:: I am so happy that spring is officially here. We are enjoying highs in the low 80s and soaking in as much sunshine as possible. For someone who considers herself to be solar powered, this makes me very content with life.

:: Just finished this book. In the same vein as Hunger Games, but yet completely different storyline. I loved it!

:: I am kind of love and hate this site all at the same time. I love that it presents such beauty on the subject of motherhood. But I also hate that it also comes across a bit too staged for my taste. As I am sure most moms can attest to, motherhood is made up of a mass chaos of beautiful, sometimes difficult, crazy hot mess of awesome moments. I would prefer to see a gorgeously real photo of one of those moms trying to potty train her 2 year old or get her precious little one to stop shoving peas up her nose. Beauty can be found in those moments too.

:: 100 best first lines in books.

:: Drinking a lot of ginger peach tea by Republic of Tea. Did you know that you can buy this tea in the bulk section for much cheaper than those little canisters with the individual tea bags? Of course you did. You are so much more pulled together than me. That's why we are friends. But I am still pretty dang excited about my find.

:: Obsessing a little bit over this blog. I want to spend an afternoon in her kitchen whipping up deliciousness while trading ideas on what to do with our CSA vegetables.

:: On my list to read: An Everlasting Meal

:: Sometimes when Little B gets super cranky, I pull out the camera and start taking pictures of her. She hates it when I do that. But it makes me feel better. Don't worry... she usually comes around and starts taking pictures with her little pretend camera. She is so my little mini-me.

:: I am craving peaches in a bad, bad way. And with peach season so many months away, I am not quite sure what to do with myself. I see a peach crisp in my future (using frozen peaches, of course). Not exactly the same thing as biting into a fresh peach still warm from the sun, but it will have to do. Sigh.

Menu of the Week

2012-03-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

Monday: Taco salad and peach almond flour crisp
Tuesday: Steak and sweet potato fries
Wednesday: Lemon Parmesan risotto
Thursday: Grilled salmon on a bed of spinach
Friday: Night out with the girls - Hunger Games!!! David and Brooke will be having a daddy/daughter pizza date.

What are y'all eating this week?