The Queen's Feast

10 months- yikes!

2012-01-20T12:52:00.000-05:00

Well, it is nothing short of embarrassing that I haven't posted in 10 months. It isn't that there hasn't been anything to post...it is more that I just haven't had the time (nor the inclination, if I am being completely honest).

So here is a preview of things to come....

My pinterest obsession

Tootie's new school

Our travels

Our weight loss journey

My mediation retreat

Adventures in Buddhism

and much much more....

Our Year Start Planning Meeting

2011-03-28T19:32:00.001-04:00

Despite how it looks we got a LOT of work done.....seriously. I love my team and being able to see them once a year just isn't enough.

Our planning session at the Jekyll Island Club:

Check out who we ran into on our bike ride...

The Jekyll Island Club:

Work Groups on the veranda:

Lunch at the Crane Cottage:

Work sessions:

Our Strengthfinder Workshop concludes:

Crane Cottage:

The bike ride:

The beach:

The Jekyll Island Club:

After the work is done:

If we didnt' do what we do, we could open a restaurant!

Sing along after dinner:

Riverside Zoo

2011-03-20T14:06:00.002-04:00

We had a great trip to the zoo yesterday. Tootie's favorite were the Flamingos....because they are pink.

My latest quilt....

2011-02-01T18:51:00.001-05:00

This is the quilt I made for Suz and Chad at Christmas. This is my second hand quilt and I have to say I really enjoyed making it. I learned to quilt by hand first and then moved on to machine. One of the nice things about quilting by hand is the portability. I took this with me everyehwere for about 4 months.

PEO Party

2010-12-11T16:04:00.002-05:00

Every year my PEO Chapter gets together for dinner and a star ornament exchange. We had a great time and I was so proud of how polite and courteous Nora was.

The Thanksgiving Table...

2010-11-29T13:42:00.001-05:00

Here is the table for Thanksgiving. You cna also see our newly redecorated dining room. I am so loving the orange!

The Wizard of Oz Party..

2010-11-14T23:03:00.000-05:00

Every year, Tootie's party is based on her favorite book from the previous year. This year was the Wizard of Oz.

The gift bags: stickers, ruby slipper cookies, bookmarks, lollipops, wizard of oz, silly straws, courage medals, rainbow candy, rainbow sun catchers, and bubbles:

The cookies:

The rainbow cake:

Our next door neighbors:

Opening the gifts:

Paul as the Wizard:

The Tin Man:

Pin the heart on the Tin Man:

The Roar like a lion contest:

The Soberons:

Grandma came as the Wicked Witch:

"Uncle Henry", The Scarecrow, and the Wizard:

The lion and the "Yellow Brick Road":

Our Family:

The "Wizard's Balloon":

Oh No, the cake fell on the witch!

Tootie is FOUR!

2010-11-04T15:00:00.000-04:00

Tootie's birthday week started off with her climbing into bed with me Tuesday morning and announcing "MAMA! I am four now!" She then demanded I comment on how long her legs are now that she is four.

Sigh.

The next request was to go to Target and "Buy some four-year-old stuff". for her birthday dinner, Tootie chose Red Robin. No surprise there.

The birthday girl

Grandma's present- SKETCHERS! (How Tootie knew that they were Sketchers is beyond me.)

Our gift to her- a blue ballgown for dress-up.

Meeting Red....

The "coup de grâce": after devouring this she promptly fell asleep.

Her Celebration of Life at Montessori school:

Fall

2010-11-04T14:52:00.000-04:00

Although there are things that annoy me about our house, the view is not one of them.

Lovely Thoughts on Daughters...

2010-11-01T11:09:00.000-04:00

12 Rules for My Unborn Daughter- Tuesday, November 17, 2009

By Walter Lamond

1. When on a dinner date, order the steak.

2. Never make fun of your brother in front of other girls.

3. Let him take your coat. That’s the moment he’s been waiting for.

4. Don’t sleep with your bra on. So I’ve been told.

5. Yes, your skirt is too short.

6. Having an accent does not make him more sophisticated.

7. Learn to sew your own clothes. You’ll become a better shopper.

8. If you want to look older, try plastic surgery.

9. Keep a bottle of Champagne in the fridge and ice cream in the freezer.

10. Ride a bicycle.

11. You don’t need to do anything to prove you like him. Ever.

12. Dance with your father. And not just on your wedding day.

Jack Kerouac's Rules of Spontaneous Prose

2010-11-01T11:04:00.002-04:00

1. Scribbled secret notebooks, and wild typewritten pages, for yr own joy

2. Submissive to everything, open, listening

3. Try never get drunk outside yr own house

4. Be in love with yr life

5. Something that you feel will find its own form

6. Be crazy dumbsaint of the mind

7. Blow as deep as you want to blow

8. Write what you want bottomless from bottom of the mind

9. The unspeakable visions of the individual

10. No time for poetry but exactly what is

11. Visionary tics shivering in the chest

12. In tranced fixation dreaming upon object before you

13. Remove literary, grammatical and syntactical inhibition

14. Like Proust be an old teahead of time

15. Telling the true story of the world in interior monolog

16. The jewel center of interest is the eye within the eye

17. Write in recollection and amazement for yourself

18. Work from pithy middle eye out, swimming in language sea

19. Accept loss forever

20. Believe in the holy contour of life

21. Struggle to sketch the flow that already exists intact in mind

22. Dont think of words when you stop but to see picture better

23. Keep track of every day the date emblazoned in yr morning

24. No fear or shame in the dignity of yr experience, language & knowledge

25. Write for the world to read and see yr exact pictures of it

26. Bookmovie is the movie in words, the visual American form

27. In praise of Character in the Bleak inhuman Loneliness

28. Composing wild, undisciplined, pure, coming in from under, crazier the better

29. You're a Genius all the time

30. Writer-Director of Earthly movies Sponsored & Angeled in Heaven

Time for another inspiration post...

2010-10-18T10:30:00.000-04:00

Things I am loving right now... and of course I can't remember where I found these.

Our Trip to Denver...

2010-10-03T22:23:00.001-04:00

Here are some photos.... more to come!

Enjoy!

Tootie showing me a chicken feather at the Littleton Historical Museum

Quilt at the Museum

The museum is a working farm...this was in the garden:

Moo.

The farm:

Tootie liked the rams:

The Denver Zoo:

The "Miracle Round" as Tootie calls it:

Beau and Tootie love Polar Bears..

And I love Tootie:

So does Beau:

Playing with the Puppets at the Denver History Museum:

I love that he is such a dork.

Lifting an anaconda replica. I thought Beau was going to crap himself.

The new Amazon exhibit was great.

Tootie loved the carnial dress-up section the most.

After the museum we found a little BBQ joint- delish!

The Denver Aquarium with Zoe, Tootie's cousin.

Beau, Dad and the kids checking out the fishies...

Feeding the Sting Rays:

Tootie was not impressed:

Zoe and Tootie reading at the coffee shop after the Aquarium:

Beau and Tootie:

Me and Tootie:

Thinking...

2010-09-30T21:53:00.000-04:00

This is great not only for the topic but also the graphics!

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/05/28/4383993-for-geek-week-the-empathic-civilization?ref=nf

Tallulah Belle

2010-09-22T18:24:00.002-04:00

....now outweighs my four year old...by 15 lbs.

Tootie's Progressive Fashion Sense...

2010-09-22T18:23:00.000-04:00

My child, without a doubt, has her own sense of style....

Tootie's New "grown-up" Bedroom

2010-09-13T11:37:00.000-04:00

A few months ago, Tootie walked up to Beau and said, "Daddy, we have a problem". When Beau asked what the problem was, he was informed that Tootie's room was in the wrong color. When we moved in, I panted her room a deep blue with cartoon koi all over the walls (it matched her crib bedding). So, what color does she want now? Pink and Purple. Oy. Below are the final results of our month long redo. Beau did the crown, chair rail and even the taller floor boards. Everyone seems to be happy with the results.

Perspective.

2010-09-08T12:54:00.001-04:00

I am LOVING these....
http://www.leandroerlich.com.ar/works.php?id=25

My fear...

2010-09-03T10:17:00.002-04:00

...is that this will start to happen with Tootie. I don't feel prepared to battle with body image issues...especially from a 4 year old. It just makes me want to cry that our precious girls (and boys) are grappling with this issue earlier and earlier.

http://www.mommywords.com/2010/08/pre-schoolers-dream-of-being-princesses/

Lunch ideas...

2010-08-27T14:22:00.008-04:00

I have found that tootie is MUCH more likely to eat "cute" food. So, here are a few of the meals I have put together recently...

Mini bagels with strawberry cream cheese, raisins, red decorating gel and purple sanding sugar:

Whole wheat noodles "nests" with mini mozzarella balls:

Tootie's First Ballet Class...

2010-08-27T14:19:00.005-04:00

She loooooved it and wants to go every day instead of every Saturday.

Tootie's Fourth B-Day Inspiration Board...

2010-08-27T13:31:00.009-04:00

Here are a few inspiration photos I have been using for Tootie's birthday. I am so excited about this party. She recently finished reading the "Wizard of Oz" with Beau and it became the theme for this year. I am so excited!!!

Talluluah

2010-08-27T13:25:00.008-04:00

Here are a few pictures of Tallulah (or Lulabelle as I call her). She is 5 months old and FULL of energy.

The Forties...

2010-07-19T20:23:00.004-04:00

I love everything about the forties...hair, makeup, clothes, music...

We went to a baptism yesterday and I decided to go all out retro. Victory curls and everything.

Rude!

2010-07-14T13:52:00.000-04:00

This is a repost from Maggie at Mighty Girl. I have such a girl crush on her.

As a society, we’ve decided that flatulence doesn’t exist. If everyone followed basic etiquette guidelines, none of us would need to worry about passing gas in public. The thing to do if you have a digestive indiscretion is to pretend your intestines never tried to join the conversation.
So you see, etiquette is on your side. Perhaps you don’t care what an oyster fork looks like; you don’t own saltcellars; you don’t rise from the table when your girlfriend leaves to powder her nose. Regardless, one day you’ll fart in public. And when you do, it’s comforting to know there’s a game plan.
Good etiquette is effective even in small doses. Your manners, like most acquired skills, needn’t be impeccable to produce appreciative murmurs, only marginally better than the next guy’s. Fortunately for you, the next guy is the one over there, picking his teeth with a credit card.
For now, let’s forget about finger bowls and concentrate on kindness. What follows is my four-step system for becoming a more considerate person.
Step 1: Avoid giving inadvertent offense
Gossiping isn’t rude in itself, just tricky. In private, you can break out genealogical charts to describe particularly juicy entanglements. ‘His father remarried his mother’s half-sister, who then had an affair with him.’ But in a public place, you may not mention names. Let me show you why. See that man sitting behind you? He’s married to the woman whose adultery you’ve been discussing, and he seems to be crying. However, you still have to finish your burger. So that’s uncomfortable.
It’s no one’s business whether your wife’s hair is its natural color or whether your father just became eligible for the senior citizen discount. It’s certainly not your business to inform outsiders. There’s so little intrigue anymore. If you insist on spoiling someone else’s secret, at least make it worthwhile. Wait until you’re alone with your confidant, lean in, lower your voice, and whisper, ‘You know Tiffany’s breasts weren’t always quite so…outstanding.’
One doesn’t mention that overweight people could stand to lose a few pounds, nor does one tell underweight friends that they look sickly. Those who make a practice of this will eventually meet a young woman who has a glandular condition or has just undergone chemotherapy.
Don’t give potentially insulting gifts to others. These include items that you want them to have — cleaning products for your messy housemate, cookbooks for your take-out-ordering husband, or self-help books stating that your smart friend is making stupid choices. Topping the list of rude gifts are live animals, which the recipient must then care for, or worse, worry over after flushing the goldfish in hopes it might reach a nearby lake.
If you wonder whether you should go to a funeral, you should. One attends funerals not only to show respect for the departed, but also to support those who are mourning. Skipping them because you’re squeamish is childish. Rest assured that friends who are in no emotional state to feel generous about your ‘sensitivity’ will remember your absence.
You shouldn’t always attend weddings, however. You may have received an invitation, but if you have reason to believe that your inclusion on the guest list caused a fight between the bride and the groom (say you slept with one of them recently), you should graciously decline.
Step 2: Stop imposing on others
Always respond to invitations promptly so the host can get a headcount. Once you’ve accepted an invitation, the only reasonable excuses for reneging are communicable illness or an unexpected event that takes obvious precedence. (Elopements or funerals count, opportunities to go on dates or to complete delayed work projects don’t.)
On airplanes, the people with books or headphones are using them to avoid interaction. Please don’t try to draw these people into conversation by using their social shields as conversational bait for your opening line. ‘Hey, great book!’ or ‘What are you listening to?’ can only be met with a tight-lipped smile.
Step 3: Learn tricks of the trade
When staying as a guest in a friend’s home, it’s polite to bring a host gift. Upon leaving, strip the bed linens and remake the bed with the coverlet so the room doesn’t look messy while sheets are being laundered. If you wait longer than two weeks to write a thank you note after your visit, etiquette demands that you pretend to have been held up in a full body cast in a hospital with no pens.
When you see someone with spinach in his or her teeth, an open fly, toilet paper on the shoe, or a visible slip, it’s smart to discreetly inform this person of the problem, because all of these situations can be remedied. For less fixable problems (a stain, a rip), pretend not to have noticed.
When you must pass people sitting in rows, turn your body away from them and your head toward them. This helps you avoid the awkwardness of being face-to-face with a stranger in close quarters, but allows the seated party to make eye contact with your face instead of your bum.
The easiest and most considerate way to give your seat to someone who seems to need it more is to vacate it as you see the person approaching, walk a few steps away, and gaze absently into the air.
Step 4: Be better than the next guy
There are certain indiscretions that have become so commonplace that hardly anyone notices anymore. If you can manage to be polite where most people are careless, you’ll reap lots of goodwill with very little effort.
When you borrow things—books, small sums of money, coats—return them without being asked. Forgoing this courtesy leaves your friends in the ludicrous, but justifiable, position of fuming over a $2 debt or the loss of their first-edition copy of The Hipster Handbook.
Unsolicited advice on hairstyles, TV habits, cigarette addiction, or relationships is rude. These people already know that their stylist got carried away with the buzz clipper, that they should get out more, that smoking is killing them, and that their girlfriend—though pretty—isn’t as bright as she could be.
Don’t ignore companions in favor of answering your cell phone. If you must take a call, excuse yourself, leave the room, and make it snappy. Better yet, don’t plan social events on evenings when you’re expecting important phone calls.
It’s not polite to push your beliefs on others unless you’re holding a picket sign large enough to give fair warning that they should avoid you. In this spirit, one doesn’t properly discuss the population explosion at the mention of a friend’s pregnancy, and one doesn’t inform a lunch partner of ‘exactly how much fat is in that’ or the process by which the meat came to be on his or her plate.
Finally, one of the rudest things a person can do is to call someone else rude. Therefore, no matter how dramatic your faux pas, anyone who points it out is the real jerk.

More things I LOVE!

2010-06-24T20:54:00.009-04:00

Once again, I have NO idea where I got them...I just throw them in a file. I really need to start documenting urls.

Akward.

2010-06-21T19:43:00.001-04:00

If only I had this guide when in high school....sigh.
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/03/awkward-situation-survival-guide.html

oh la la!

2010-06-18T09:50:00.011-04:00

I love Julia Childs. I loved her even before all the recent hype. I have her cookbook and read through it at least once a week. I treat it more like a novel than a cookbook. But, I think that isn't uncommon for people who love to cook.

Earlier this year I decided to tackle the epitome of french cooking...boeuf bourguignon.

According to Wikipedia:

Beef bourguignon (especially American English, pronounced /ˌbiːf ˌbʊərɡɨnˈjɔːn/) or bœuf bourguignon (especially British English, pronounced /ˌbɝːf ˈbʊərɡɨnjɔːn/[1] or French pronunciation: [bœf buʁɡinjɔ̃]), also called beef Burgundy and boeuf à la bourguignonne,[2] is a well known traditional French recipe. It is a stew prepared with beef braised in red wine, traditionally red Burgundy, and beef broth, generally flavoured with garlic, onions and a bouquet garni, with pearl onions and mushrooms added towards the end of cooking. Traditionally the meat was larded with lardons, but modern beef is sufficiently tender and well marbled that this very time-consuming technique is rarely used anymore. However, bacon cut into small cubes is still used to produce the initial cooking fat and added to the dish at the end.

The recipe take up 4 pages in the book and hours to prepare...I was immediately hooked.

We went all out for ingredients...

... European butter, prime cuts of meat, fresh vegetables and herbs and as much organic as possible.

I can't even tell you how delicious this was. The depth of flavor was amazing- well worth the time investment. I am including the recipe below and can't encourage you enough to try it.

WTF?

2010-06-17T21:12:00.003-04:00

When I think refinancing, I think Gandolf.

Holiday Gifts...

2010-06-16T09:27:00.001-04:00

I know this is a sickness, but I am already starting to think about christmas. We are trying to make as much as we can for gifts, so that means starting early. This is what we did for TootToot's teachers and Beau's coworkers. It is Cowboy Cookie Mix- fun and easy to put together. Both Beau and I have some stuff in the works for family and friends this year, too. The trick is getting it completed before the holidays!

(Here is link to how to put together the cookie mix:http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/cowboy-cookie-mix-in-a-jar/Detail.aspx )

Savannah.

2010-06-14T09:32:00.001-04:00

More about Savannah.... mostly the food!

We stayed a new hotel in Savannah called AVIA. It was lovely. Only having been open for about a year it was nice and clean and very modern (with a slightly Asian feel). Our room had floor to ceiling windows that overlooked one of the squares. It was perfectly located for walking almost anywhere.

http://www.aviahotels.com/hotels/savannah/

For lunch we decided to walk over to the Olde Pink House - yum! This is an old mansion that was converted into a restaurant. It has over 14 dining rooms and each one is decorated differently. We had a wide assortment of delicious treats- lemonade mixed with vodka and grenadine, oysters, grit chips with local cheeses, shrimp and grits and everything was wonderful. It is a bit pricey, but it was fun.

http://www.americascuisine.com/georgia/savannah/TheOldePinkHouse.aspx

Between lunch and dinner we walked around, drank, and walked, and drank and ended up in the hotel bar- which is nice and comfortable. We ordered drinks (shocker) and a cheese tray. It was a nice light snack to hold us over to dinner (and to keep us from getting to liquored up).

Dinner was pickup from Vinnie Van Gogo's- arguably some of the best pizza I have ever had. We did cheese and jalapeno/pepperoni. We sat out on the back patio of the hotel right by the pool.

http://www.vinnievangogo.com/

The next morning we walked down to Breakfast at B Matthews. Beau and I discovered this plan last year when we were there for the wedding. They have amazing food and the atmosphere is charming. It is small place but they have indoor and outdoor seating which is nice. They make their own biscuits- who can turn that down. The biscuits were in the oven when we were there so they gave us some hot ones to take away.

http://www.bmatthewseatery.com/

Another gem we discovered when we were there last time was BD Burgers. Seriously, the BEST BURGER EVAH!!! People, they make their own buns!! FRESH! Check out the website for some burger porn. There is always a wait, but there are a ton of stores around there to poke around in while you wait.

http://www.bdburgers.net/

Dinner on our last night was by far the best meal we had. The hotel where the wedding had been held also has a fantastic restaurant, 45 Bistro. The bistro had catered the wedding and the food was really wonderful- but let me tell you, it was sooooo much better to eat off the menu! We started off with drinks and attacked the appetizers with zeal. We had carpaccio and escargot. Both were well seasoned and delicious. The salads were also fresh and tasty. For an entree I enjoyed the quinoa encrusted grouper (seriously the best fish I have ever had). The duck prepared two ways was great (and I am not a duck fan). Beau played it safe getting the steak. Although the steak was good, he enjoyed the other dishes more. Dessert rounded out the meal and left us all totally stuffed....but happy.
http://www.marshallhouse.com/dining_45bistro.shtml

The morning we left, we decided to try the breakfast buffet at the hotel. It was Easter Sunday so we were concerned about crowds elsewhere. The buffet was surprisingly good. Usually hotel buffets are dry toast and picked over pastries, but this was amazing. Cooked to order omelets, eggs, french toast, pancakes, shrimp and grits, and waffles. Fresh smoked salmon complete with capers, red onions and cream cheese. There were a ton of pastries selections as well as cheeses, fruits, cereal and other wonderful treats.

And get this, all the walking we didn't gain a pound while there. Shocking, no?

Renfrows.

2010-05-29T14:29:00.004-04:00

We went over to Matthews today to check our Renfrow's hardware. I have been planning to go over there for over 2 years and had never gotten around to it.

It was pretty darn cool. Located on the main drag of downtown Matthew's, it is exactly like the small town hardware store you might remember from childhood. Organic seed packets as far you can see, baby chicks for $3, push lawn mowers, cast iron skillets, canning equipment, a huge assortment of odds and ends for god only knows what.

It was well worth the drive and I managed to pick up a few goodies, too!

http://renfrowhardware.com/

I heart Elizabeth Gilbert

2010-05-20T16:30:00.001-04:00

http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Elizabeth-Gilbert-Talk-from-O-Magazines-10th-Anniversary-Video

Hellew.

2010-05-18T20:27:00.002-04:00

Okay, once again posting has been sporadic. I have been going through some big (and exciting) stuff lately and posting is the last thing on my mind. If you want to find out more about what I have been up to go here:
http://1to2tablespoons.blogspot.com/

In the meantime, here are some things I am LOVING!
Enjoy...

Savannah.

2010-04-17T21:41:00.001-04:00

Savannah is a very special place for us. We have been there a few times and love it. Last year Suz and Chad got married in one of the squares. We went back a few weeks ago to celebrate their first anniversary.

Here are a few pics...

Almost Famous.

2010-04-12T20:05:00.004-04:00

Tootie-Lou is the one in the pink polka dots....

The Hunt.

2010-04-01T22:18:00.002-04:00

Here are the pitures from today's Easter Fun at Montessori....Toot Toot's shirt was my latest knitting project.

Enjoy!

Le Sigh.

2010-03-29T13:16:00.000-04:00

Well, as embarrassing as it is, I have gone ANOTHER month without posting.

Hopefully there are still a few of you who check the site occasionally...although I can't blame you is you don't. Eventually the rats stop pressing the bar for food if food never arrives. Was that too random of a reference? Any other psych majors out there?

Anywho. things that have been happening in Casa Be...

The TootToot and I went to see my sister in Boise and had the best time. We first flew to Phoenix to pick up Momo and then the three of us flew to Idaho. My Dada was also in town which was great.

Beau has been working his tail off, but it seems to be slowing down.

The shower is still in a state of disrepair, but I am optimistic is won't be long now. I promise to post pictures as soon as it is done.

I have been working on the garden, we have parsley, tomatoes, lavender, rosemary, basil, thyme, strawberries, broccoli and squash. I am also going to plant some more roses.

And now for your viewing pleasure...pictures from our trip:

Weirdness

2010-02-16T14:46:00.003-05:00

Have you ever really paid attention to the weirdness around you? Or the weirdness that you yourself cultivate? Here are some examples:

My husband REFUSES to use less than two Kleenex at a time.
More often than not, when I pick up TootToot from school her shoes are mysteriously on the wrong feet.
I have a "sewing face"...I make the same face every time I sit and sew at the machine. It involves biting my upper lip.
TootToot WILL NOT go to sleep without her blankets being placed in the exact same order.
I prefer to put trash in a grocery bag having over the back door knob instead of in the actual trash can (Drives Tim NUTS).

More Inspiration....

2010-02-15T18:12:00.012-05:00

Things I have found lately...
This reminds me of Alice in wonderland for some reason:
I love how these painting look like miniature windows:

Isn't this the cutest barrette? I think I might have to try making these:

A rug that is crocheted out of rope...so unique!

Using bowls inside of drawers...I want to try this in my craft room:

I am really into owls lately...

I LOVE this shower:

Despite my best efforts to convince Tim that we could do this, he remains positive it would not be possible for us to cut a cast iron tub. sigh....

this I am planning on doing in our bedroom, such a great idea instead of bedside lamps:

Roller Girl.

2010-02-13T17:10:00.000-05:00

The other day TootToot donned all of her bike safety gear and ran around the garage. I think someday she will be a Roller Girl. Oh, did I mention she did this nekkid? (please note the strategic placement of the star as a "privacy patch" I think she will appreciate that when she is a teenager.)

Sharpie.

2010-02-13T17:07:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, TootToot took a Sharpie to our loveseat, chair and carpet. I was not amused.

Happy.

2010-02-06T22:46:00.005-05:00

For anyone who has met me, you most likely know that I am a happy person. I have a more or less positive outlook on life. I have no idea why, it has just always been that way. I have been reading a lot of Pema Chodron and Thich Nhat Hanh lately and it has provided some insight.

Buddhism encourages you to put your focus on the present moment. Especially recognizing your happiness with simple everyday things. I think this is why I feel like I have a unlimited source of joy....because every moment in your life is filled with wonder, happiness and gratitude.

Just sitting here, I can look around and smile at the picture of my husband and me when we got engaged or the photo we had taken of the Toot Toot when she was 2 months old. I can see my voicemail log book and see that all my calls have been returned. I know that there is a comfortable bed waiting for me upstairs. I can think about my sister and her new son getting to know each other.

When you slow down and recognize these blessings, no matter how small, how can you not feel happy? When I really let myself think about all these things, that joy almost threatens to burst out of my chest.

I hope that I will always remember to slow down and be.

(here is one of my favorite sites...it helps me remember that it is sometimes the small things that can make your day http://itmademyday.com/)

Fanciness.

2009-12-13T17:13:00.001-05:00

The TootToot has discovered a new way to adorn herself...fanciness. "Fanciness" can be defined as any number of accessories piled upon her person.

In the past this has included:

Costume Jewelry from her Great Grandmother

Plastic High Heels

Flower glasses

Clip on earrings

Bracelets...lots and lots of bracelets

Ponchos

Big Ol' Fake Rings

Knee Socks with Skirts

Hello Kitty Watch

and the list goes on.

Some days she says "Mama, I need to wear my fanciness." So, off she goes to school looking like this:

Gardens.

2009-12-13T09:08:00.001-05:00

On Friday, we went to the Botanical Gardens here in Charlotte. They were having the annual Lights in the Garden and it was beautiful. All the different gardens were lit up and Santa was there for pictures. Our favorite, however, was the band...Charlotte Waites. They are a Medieval/Renaissance group that was performing traditional Christmas tunes. They were wonderful and Nora was so enthralled, she sat there for a good thirty minutes without moving (except to clap at the end of each song). They asked her to come up and ring the jingle bells for a couple of songs...she LOVED it.
Here are a few pictures from the evening...

inside a big red Christmas tree made of lights

the arbor...with lights that look like grape vines

Looking at a toy soldier made of lights

that is a HURDY GURDY!!! I have heard about them for years and had no idea what it looked like

Jingle Bell ringing with the band

SkippyJon.

2009-12-11T12:51:00.001-05:00

As embarrassing as it is, I am finally getting around to posting about the TootToot's birthday.
Which was over a month ago.

ahem.

Each year we select a theme based on her favorite book of the previous year. This year was SkippyJon Jones. He is a Siamese cat who thinks he is a Chihuahua. It is pretty funny.

We decorated the house like a Mexican Fiesta and, true to the story, had lots of beans. Black beans, refried, jelly, french...and the list goes on. We had a taco bar and for dessert, I made a cake to look like a sombrero. Ole!

Nora received some wonderful gifts, but the big hit was the pick Jeep from her grandparents. If this is any indication of her driving style later in life SHE WILL NEVER BE ALLOWED TO GET A LICENCE!

As a favor, everyone got to take home a homemade chocolate bandito mustache lolly. We had a ton of fun posing for pictures with those.

BOO!

2009-11-02T21:37:00.001-05:00

Halloween 2009 was great. We had our annual Dead Person Ball and the costumes were AMAZING!

The Colorado Ball Fiasco and Tim and I dressed as Dorothy and Sophia from "Golden Girls".

Two Janis Joplins and an Octoberfest/ vampire couple.

Billy Mayes...complete with OxyClean.

Don Ho...

The food....

Bob Ross, painting his "happy little trees, and the spider lady.

Red Riding hood, the Wolf and Minnie Mouse....Sacajawea and Kangaroo (aka Nora)

Mary (I can't find my picture of her with Jesus)

Nora singing Karaoke (she kicked butt on Queen's "We Will Rock You". I am serious.)

Seattle II.

2009-10-30T16:05:00.003-04:00

More Pictures....

Seattle.

2009-10-29T13:12:00.001-04:00

I know I will need to write about the trip....but I am tired. So, for now, all I will say is it was awesome. I loved seeing the family, especially my thither.
And now for some pictures:

Eh.

2009-10-22T14:59:00.003-04:00

I am a sucky blogger.

I had such aspirations at the onset....

I wanted to be the first blogger to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

I wanted to have movies based on my witty and touching blogs. I figured Angelina Jolie could play me.

I wanted my blog to bring sound to the deaf and sight to the blind.

Instead, on the RARE occasion I do blog, you are subjected to veiled poop references and restaurant reviews.

Eh. C'est la vie.

Amelie's.

2009-10-03T18:51:00.009-04:00

I am a francophile. I always have been. I love the french language, french cooking, french toast, french anything. So, when I found out about the new french bakery in town I was a little excited (truth be told I jumped up and down.) Beau and I made it up there a few weeks back and sampled some of their pastries, which were DELICIOUS, but I fell in love again this past week when I ate lunch there.

Suz and I had a BFF day (more on that later) and I convinced her we should eat at Amelie's, not that it took that much convincing. :)

When you first step into the building, you can't help but immediately press your nose up against the two glass cases full of the most beautiful pastries, macaroons and mini cakes.

Once you stop salivating like Pavlov's dogs, you notice the menu with wonderful things like fresh soups, salads and tartines. Do not be afraid of the french word "tartine"...it is the equivalent of an open sandwich.

Both Suz and I settled on a tartine and a cup of the tomato and crab soup. I ordered the portobello and leek tartine (below), while she had the ham and Gruyere.
Although we were mid sentence when they placed our food in front of us, we didn't speak another syllable until our plates were clean. IT WAS THAT GOOD! I swear, my mouth is watering just thinking about that meal.

*drool*

Sorry, let me get back to the story.
The soup was wonderful and full of unexpected touches. Crab in tomato soup is a bit unusual by itself, but they combined it with lemon zest and capers. The zest added a real brightness and the capers were briny and very well matched with the rest of the soup.

We, of course, also got some sweet treats to-go that were so good we almost got into multiple accidents while Suz tried to shift her car AND eat.

Aside from the wonderfully classic yet creative food, the decor in Amelie's is worth seeing. I suppose it is best described as Parisian Flea Market. Lots of fabulous re-purposed stuff. And, for any of you cooks/bakers out there, you will lust after the main chandelier. It is a collection of stainless steel utensils and totally amazing.

So, moral of the story?
GO! GO NOW...especially since they are open 24x7. Yes, ALL DAY EVERY DAY! Hooray!

Opinion.

2009-09-23T19:56:00.009-04:00

Okay, here it is. This is what happens when I pick up a sample of paint and don't have TV to distract me.

What do you think? Seriously, I can take it. Is it weird?

(we are planning on tiling the slate to look a bit darker. The gray isn't working for us)

TV.

2009-09-20T08:39:00.004-04:00

After a year of talking about it, we finally did it. We cancelled the cable. It was scary.
I had lived without TV for a year or so back in 2003. Well, almost without TV. The PBS station came in just fine...most of the time. I actually liked the lack of TV because it forced me to do other things.
Beau and I have been debating about cancelling for well over a year. It was costing us over $80 a month and we knew we were wasting HOURS a day watching crap. Despite these two very valid reasons, we were still hesitant to do anything. I swear it felt like taking the training wheels off a bike! What if we couldn't find anything to do? What if Nonie cried all the time because she couldn't watch Dora? What is something cataclysmic happened and we didn't k now about it because we DIDN'T HAVE TV?

Then logic kicked in...
We ALWAYS have things to do. Painting, knitting, woodworking, cleaning, reading. The list goes on forever.
Nonie has DVDs and an entire room of toys. I am sure we can find something to entertain her.
We don't' watch the news. Both of us get all our information form the Internet.

So we did it.

And we LOVE it.

We are getting so much done around the house. things that we have been putting off for years. Surprisingly, the other thing that has happened is that Nonie is so much more focused and less whiny. It might be the age/developmental stage she is in, but there is a noticeable difference.

Who would have guessed?

Butterfly.

2009-09-13T09:48:00.012-04:00

Yesterday we went to the Butterfly exhibit at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. For those of you who haven't been to DSBG, it is beautiful and a perfect place to pretend you are a "real" photographer. Here are some of the pictures I took...

Ribbon.

2009-09-10T20:43:00.006-04:00

Here is another project that cost $2 for a spool of ribbon. I used an old shirt of mine that I loved but didn't wear anymore. I cut it into the shape of the lamshade, retrimmed it with ribbon and now I have a whole new lampshade! I am so proud of this becasue I had been searching high and low for a funky lamshade.

Hooray for repurposing old stuff!

Accents.

2009-09-10T19:46:00.004-04:00

This is my latest decorating project. It was a really fast and easy way to add some fun little accents to the room. The picture is actually hanging from the wall, but I taped the ribbon to the back and hung it over a nail to make it look like it was holding up the picture. I used an old rhinestone brooch to cover the nail (it is just hanging off the nail so if I want, I can swap it out). This took me maybe 10 minutes and only cost $2 for the ribbon.

I love it!

Obsessed.

2009-09-09T20:47:00.006-04:00

The other day while flipping through the channels (this was before we cancelled our cable) I can across a show called "Obsessed". Apparently, the title refers both to the people on the show and the people watching the show because I watched it for 5 STRAIGHT HOURS. I seriously couldn't tear myself away.

The show follows people who suffer from OCD as they go through therapy. It was fascinating to see all the different manifestation of OCD....exercise, hand washing, verbal tics, sound aversions, and some of them I can't even begin to explain.

The weird thing was I realized that most of the people I know have a touch of the OCD in one form or another. The difference is for the average person their compulsions don't get in the way of life. We may prefer something one way or another, but it doesn't HAVE TO be that way in order for us to function.

For example, this is how I PREFER M&Ms....

but, I would eat these even if they were not in color order.

Result?

Me = weird, but not OCD.

Fashion.

2009-09-02T15:00:00.000-04:00

I caught this fashion "don't" a couple of days ago.

Mr Blackwell would not be pleased.

Project.

2009-09-02T10:11:00.004-04:00

My latest sewing adventure was creating curtains for Nonie's school. They have a "giving tree" painted in the front hallway. On it, the teachers put up paper leaves with things they need for the classrooms written on them. At parent' orientation I noticed that this was on the wish list. I made the curtains and then Lori made matching cushions for the floor (the ribbons can be removed and the shade rolls down. You can also tied the ribbon across the middle of the curtain vertically....it makes a neat hourglass shape.). I think they turned out pretty well considering I made the pattern up and have never sewed curtains. Now I might have to do some for my house!

Country.

2009-08-26T09:10:00.011-04:00

I am bored with our house. I suppose that is natural having lived here for 2 1/2 years. We decorated almost immediately upon moving in and although I loved it at the time, I am now bored with it. It is all so... well... matchy-matchy, you know? Black, soft green, dark brown and beige.

I have been obsessed with adding in some color and antique-y type touches. Beau teases me that I am going country....to which I indigently reply "It is not country, it is vintage farm house". Ahem.

So here are some of the things I am lusting after....

using a screen door for your pantry

I don't' like the wallpaper style, but I love the idea

using an old door as a headboard...cute!

Tree.

2009-08-17T22:16:00.003-04:00

This weekend we celebrated Beau's grandpa's 80th birthday. The theme was "Family Tree" so I decided to paint him a version of his family tree. It was fun to try and integrate the different aspect of his life...the farm he grew up on, the fact that his first wife (Beau's grandma) loved yellow roses, his time in Denver, etc. I love the idea of creating murals based on people lives. It is such a nice way to celebrate, don't you think?

Nutella.

2009-08-17T21:53:00.008-04:00

Tonight, Nora and I made cookies. I decided to try a new recipe for Nutella Oatmeal Cookies. (As usual, I have NO idea where I got the recipe. I found it on a scrap piece of paper in my recipe box.)

The cookies are delicious. They are heavy on the butter so they flatten out a good deal in the oven. The result is a cookie that is crunchy on the edges with a nice chewy middle. Yum.

Nutella Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup plus 2 tbsp all purpose flour

1 tbsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup butter, room temperature

6 tbsp Nutella

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup quick-cooking oats (not instant or regular)

Preheat oven to 350F.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silpat mat.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, cream together butter, Nutella and the sugars until mixture is fluffy.

Beat in the egg and the egg yolk, followed by the vanilla extract.

Working at a low speed or by hand, gradually blend in the flour mixture and the oats.

Drop teaspoonfuls of the batter (1/2-inch balls) onto prepared baking sheet, leaving at least 2-inches between cookies to allow for spread.

Bake for 10 minutes, until cookies are set.

Cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes.

Store in an airtight container.

** Post note: looks like the recipe is from the Baking Bites blog**

Scribble.

2009-08-11T17:37:00.001-04:00

I love this site.
http://www.zefrank.com/scribbler/

Apologies.

2009-08-04T09:35:00.002-04:00

I am sorry for the last of posting. I just haven't been feeling it. I promise to get something up today or tomorrow.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

(Don't plan your day around it or anything.)

Breath.

2009-07-29T22:31:00.001-04:00

Beautiful.
http://www.flixxy.com/okinawa-churaumi-aquarium.htm

Wordle.

2009-07-24T15:21:00.002-04:00

Alice.

2009-07-24T11:20:00.003-04:00

Ohhhh, I am so excited!!
http://www.filmofilia.com/2009/07/22/alice-in-wonderland-teaser-trailer/
The trailer is at the bottom.

Beautiful.

2009-07-21T07:07:00.003-04:00

forty-five thoughts for my daughter and my virtual daughters
By Francesca Lia Block. (via galadarling.com)

i always believed if i had blond hair, pixie face big breasts everything would be all right not realizing that culturally idolized beautyis not only fool proof but potentially dangerous
if you believe in your own unconventional beauty when you are young you will accomplish twice as much and suffer half so
turn off lightbulbs and light a candle
walk don’t drive
plant a tree
wear sunscreen
dancing is an antidepressant
kindness is the new status symbol
every day please try to eat something green and something orange that grow out of the ground
tell me how mad you are that your father and i parted i will always listen though i can’t ever take away the pain
expectations are for what you yourself create
they rarely work when applied to others
turn off the television
tv is a depressant
yoga is an antidepressant
don’t feel guilty about wanting pretty things
they would not be so alluring if you weren’t supposed to want them just don’t value them over compassion
use your words even when you are a grown-up and people no longer think it is entirely acceptable when you say, that hurt my feelings
if you can digest chocolate eat it sometimes
same goes for ice cream(i don’t really need to tell you those things do i?)
do your homework because it is part of the game but
don’t spend too much time worrying about grades
fall in love with someone kind who loves your bodyand your mind
if you have a dream that won’t let you go, that tickles your solar plexus, heed it
turn dark feelings into paintings or poetry or dancing
music is a kind of food
if you are sad talk to a happy woman who loves you it will always help
move your body when you are sad or angry
avoid the following:genetically modified ingredients parabens sodium lauryl sulfate mercury in certain fish neurotic thoughts about food(is that a contradiction?)
love your curls though they tangle your pale skin though it can burn in the sun your nose though it is broader than someyour sturdy legs and feet
forget barbie she does not possess imagination
remember you are a botticelli angel
the planet we live on is perfection
love her like a goddess
love yourself as her daughter
there is a planet full of different kinds of beauty
the idea that only one type of woman is beautiful is blasphemy
of everything i brought to the world in these forty-five years you and your brother are by far the most astounding
because of this i will always love your father
matter never vanishes, only changes
remember that when someone you love dies
your round head on my breast when you were bornis the memory i will keep with me when i leave this body
when i am gone i will still be near you
this is how i know: when you were born it was not a meeting but a reunion

Babies.

2009-07-18T20:38:00.004-04:00

Whenever we go anywhere Nonie has to collect all of her babies. Especially now that she is in the big girl bed, she has to have like 8 stuffed animals with her. I had to dig her out this morning.

I took these picture on Friday when we were getting ready for school. She insisted everyone go with us.

I can't really blame her since it is genetic. When I was growing up (okay, I still do this) I would ALWAYS have to take a bunch of books or sketch pads or something BECAUSE GOD FORBID I GET BORED FOR ONE MINUTE.

Ideas.

2009-07-16T08:17:00.012-04:00

I love the Internet. No, seriously. Like a deep undying love.
Here are a few things that I have found that are inspiring me. My apologies in advance because I have NO idea where I collected them.
Enjoy.

Celebrate.

2009-07-14T20:48:00.006-04:00

We journeyed down to Florida for the last time over the fourth. As of this time next week the in-laws will have sold their house in Florida and be on their way to their new house exactly 9/10 of a mile away from us. We are very excited. Here are some pictures from the festivities:

Nonie in her towel toga.

This is Nonie's classic big lip. Whenever she is sad or upset you have about a 30 second warning while the big lip unfolds.

Nonie decorated her grandparent's house for the fourth.

She is such a fashonista.

Bounty.

2009-07-13T19:24:00.005-04:00

I never anticipated the joy I would have when cooking and serving my own homegrown food. Nor did I know how much BETTER it tastes.

Tonight I made baked chicken that had been stuffed with fresh mozzarella (from our local Italian butcher) and homemade pesto (we have a ton of basil in the garden. I poured some- get ready for it- HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE under it. I have been wanting to make sauce this whole summer and we finally had enough tomatoes. Okay, almost enough tomatoes. I had to supplement some canned organic crushed tomatoes.

As a side, I made Squash Carpaccio. I used the mandolin to slice zucchini and summer squash super thin and layered it with finely minced red onion, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and fresh herbs. It was topped with just a sprinkle of grated Parmesan and it was fricking amazing. I don't think I have ever had raw squash and it is so much better than cooked!

I am so proud of the meal and it is really inspiring me to plant a bigger garden next year. So, go plant some veggies! Even if you have to plant them in a pot or in a community garden...just DO IT! It is so worth the (minimal) effort.

Gratitiude.

2009-07-11T10:31:00.000-04:00

How do you raise children to be grateful? Is it a learned behavior? Can children even grasp the concept?

I have had the same New Year's resolution for the past three years-to write more letters. As with most resolutions this did not happen...until this year. I decided that I would start sending letters to the people who have impacted my life and thank them. Have you ever really thought back on all the people who have helped you get to where you are? It is a very humbling activity because you realize that you could not have gotten where you are without the help of friends and family. I have only checked a handful of people off my list, but I am still working on it. I hope that it will be a practice that I keep for the rest of my life.

As I have worked on my letters, the larger concept of gratitude began to intrigue me. Mainly, I wonder if true gratitude is something that you can't begin to appreciate until you are old enough to understand the world outside of you. Children (and let's be honest- some adults) only see how things affect them and everything is in direct proportion to themselves. This is a basic physiologic development. I think back and although I was appreciative of things while growing up, I didn't really have a deep down sense of gratitude. Maybe it boils down to whether or not someone feels entitled. I am not sure.

So, I digress back to the original question...is it possible to instill your child with a sense of gratitude or does it naturally develops over time? It is such an important value to me and I want to be able to raise Nonie to understand that life will bless you and life will challenge you. Either way, the lessons you learn have to be appreciated. More and more I have begun to feel that in order to be happy you have to recognize the small part you place in the grand scheme. But, like the smallest cog in a wristwatch, it won't run without your contribution.

List.

2009-07-07T07:30:00.004-04:00

I was inspired earlier this year by Maggie at Mighty Girl to publish my life list. Recently, Intel decided to sponsor her list (isn't that AMAZING?!?!) Here is my list....which is always in progress.

The List:
1. Scuba dive
2. Raft or tube in an underground cave
3. Visit the Paris catacombs
4. Grow veggies- DONE!
5. Do improve comedy
6. Finish my old scrapbooks
7. Speak French fluently
8. Learn proper knife skills
9. Explore Jr league
10. Show at a gallery
11. Become a good quilter
12. Teach some sort of class
13. Have one moment where EVERYTHING is put away
14. Write a children’s book
15. Attend a ball
16. Join PEO- DONE!
17. Sew a quilt on machine- IN PROGRESS
18. Sew a quilt by hand (full size)
19. Take singing lessons
20. Take Tim to London
21. Try a sensory deprivation tank
22. Map ancestry on both sides- IN PROGRESS
23. Try 20 new fruits
24. See the northern lights in person
25. Sell a painting to a stranger
26. Start composting
27. Start collecting rain water
28. Find or start a charity that I really believe in
29. Run a marathon
30.Do a motivational speech in front of strangers
31. Learn to take great photos

Project.

2009-07-06T20:51:00.000-04:00

Here is the latest project: Beau made the dresser, we bought the drawer pulls at Anthropologie and I painted it to match Nonie's room.

Beau also made one for the next door neighbor's daughter. We were thinking about approaching some of the local kid's furniture stores and boutiques about letting us put a couple samples out to see if there is any interest. I think Beau would LOVE to do this sort of thing as his full time job.

Tart.

2009-06-30T16:25:00.009-04:00

My favorite recipe lately is an heirloom tomato tart...perfect for all the beautiful tomatoes that are ripening in our garden. This recipe is delicious hot or cold (so feel free to steal bites out of the fridge).

Heirloom Tomato Tart

(I have no idea where I got the recipe....chances are I copied it down on the back of a receipt while sitting in the doctor's office waiting for an allergy shot)

Line a 9 inch tart pan with a refrigerated pie crust
Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 450 degrees for 8 minutes.
Remove foil and bake 5 more minutes
While baking crust, mix 1/2 cup light mayo with 2 tablespoons Parmesan
Remove crust from oven and layer slices of provolone, slices of heirloom tomatoes and mayo mixture.
Turn oven down to 375 degrees and bake for 25 minutes

(I like to begin and end with provolone because I LOVE that crusty melty cheesy top)

Fear.

2009-06-29T11:24:00.002-04:00

I have been thinking a lot lately about fear. Why we feel it, where it comes from and how we can move past it. I was talking to my mom the other day about how some people are fear based and some aren't. I think everyone has fear...the difference is how people work with it.

Some people are immobilized by fear, it stops them in their tracks. Then there are people who ignore fear and barrel through with a laser like focus on their goal. Maybe being someplace in between those extremes is the sweet spot. Pausing to explore what you fear is important, but you have to move forward. The pause is important so you can figure out if the fear is brain based or body based. What I mean by this is that fear is the body's way of warning you of danger...and in that instance you need to listen. However, we often confuse danger fear with our brain creating the feeling of fear that is more emotionally driven.

I find that often our fear is around failing, but I wonder why that is so bad? Why do we think it isn't okay for us fall down occasionally? Why do we avoid being imperfectly human? I look back on all the times that I worried about looking stupid, or making a mistake, or not being perfect and it makes me sad. I don't expect others to be prefect, so why do I expect that of myself?

Being a parent has really helped me move into being perfectly imperfect. None of us know what we are doing as parents (that is the big secret....you aren't the only one making it up as you go). We mess up and make mistakes and our kids love us anyways.

Mistakes are okay. Take those risks. Enjoy your imperfects!

Doctor.

2009-06-24T19:52:00.006-04:00

Last night after Beau got home we all went upstairs to finish up some laundry and chat before dinner. My daughter decided to play with her doctor set and starting chasing after Beau in order to "examine" him. As they were running, Nonie was screaming "TRUST ME, I'M A DOCTOR!!!!" over and over.

I can't remember the last time I laughed that hard. Especially when I turned a corner to find that Nonie had caught Beau and was taking his temperature....rectally. (Yes, it was a fake thermometer and yes she was only holding it up to his rear.)

I think the funniest thing what when she "removed" the thermometer, checked it and then said to him "Looks good".

That kid is a crack up.

Coffee.

2009-06-22T11:14:00.004-04:00

I am not a fan of cats, but I have to confess I am a huge fan of LOLCats.

With captions like this, how can you not be?

Hunting.

2009-06-21T19:16:00.010-04:00

My in laws were up this weekend hunting for a house. We are so excited to have them moving closer....but had no idea that the house they would find would be within walking distance! (Yes, that is a good thing!) We spent all weekend looking at new houses, resells, spec homes, gnome homes, good homes, bad homes, what the hell were they thinking homes....and yesterday we found it.

These houses were originally built about a year ago and were priced WAY too high. Luckily they repriced them to fit the market and they now fit Beau's parents budget.

Th Stairs...

The kitchen....

More kitchen....

The house is GORGEOUS and has just about everything they want: a three car garage, a master and guest room on the main floor, and the BIGGEST SEWING ROOM YOU HAVE EVER SEEN.....

Hooray!!

Kitchen Alchemy.

2009-06-20T07:45:00.009-04:00

As anyone in our family will tell you, I LOVE to cook. Seriously... capital L, O, V, E. I hunt recipes like I am on safari. It is no joke when I say that I have a huge kitchen cabinet completely devoted to cookbooks and the shelves are actually bowing in the middle because of the weight. I cut recipes out of magazines, copy them from food containers, search tirelessly on the Internet. I love finding new recipes. What I have realized lately is that although I love recipes, I really wanted to start making up my own. (But, I was scared because I don't really trust that I know what I am doing without the safety of a recipe.)

Over the past few weeks I have been trying to cook more on the fly. Looking at what we have in the pantry and making things around that. So far it has been going okay. Two highlights have been the grilled chicken with homemade pesto (the basil was from our GARDEN) served with spinach ricotta ravioli and last night I made up a recipe for black raspberry tart. We have a ton of raspberries growing wild behind the house so I put them on a sugar cookie crust with a light drizzle of glaze. It was pretty good.

Now I just need to learn how to photograph food because these pictures aren't so appetizing...

Family.

2009-06-18T08:59:00.007-04:00

Recently I started tracing back my family on the Ancestry website. It has been fascinating. I was lucky enough to not be starting from scratch since one of the ancestors on my mom's side had completed a HUGE mapping starting in 1916. That mapping even includes our Irish side that he researched while in Ireland.

It is funny how we don't start truly appreciating our history until we are older. Recently my cousin came into town and we spoke over dinner about the stories we were lucky enough to hear growing up, but that we also recognized how many stories were lost when our grandparents passed away. It frustrates me to think back on how much more I would learned if I had just listened a little better and a little harder. But, there were bikes to ride and barbies to dress up. Listening to old people talk just didn't sound as fun.

How lucky we are now to be able to capture so much more information to pass along to our kids!

I hope to be able to take advantage of the ancestry site's ability to compile stories, audio recordings and pictures. They even have the ability to compile it in a book! How amazing would that be to pass down. I also found this site where you can upload all the pictures and it will create a graphic of the family tree.

http://www.geneartogy.com/templatesmenu.php

I am excited to be able to start preserving this for the future. So, for anyone in the family, sign up for a free account on the link below and you can see what we have traced so far.

http://ancestry.com/

Booze and Bowling.

2009-06-14T07:31:00.019-04:00

Last night I went out with my BFF (Flooze) her husband (the Chad...as seen in the big wood photo on the right) and Beau. We had a great time at the Epicenter in uptown Charlotte. As per usual the festivities were kicked off with booze and food. We tried a new restaurant called BlackFin and were very happy with the "dining experience" (Nenny- insert root bear experience voice here).

We started with the booze...

Which was quickly consumed.

So, we moved on to dinner.

I had Lemon chicken with spinach and rice, Beau had prime rib with FANTASTIC garlic mashed taters. Flooze was the winner with a Jalapeno grouper over cheesy grits. The Chad had beef tips with maple glazed carrots.

Before:

After:
After dinner we moseyed over to Strikers, the bowling alley in the Epicenter. Well, it was everything Beau had said he wanted in a bowling alley- smoke free and full of yuppies. I was the suck for both games. Flooze was the big winner...but I don't count that since she used to be in a league.

Although we all liked the bowling alley they wanted one AND ONLY ONE of your shoes in return for a pair of bowling shoes. It was amusing to watch people trying to demand they take both or neither of their street shoes.

Overall it was a very fun night which we hope to repeat soon.

Leap.

2009-06-13T08:23:00.007-04:00

One of my coworkers approached me last week about making her daughter's graduation gift.

Let me back up...

About 10 years ago when I was working at my first "grown-up" job, I was lucky enough to have a boss who recognized the potential for integrating art and business and she hired a professional graphic recorder for our visioning sessions. It was a great way for me to learn all about the field of graphic recording and facilitation. I LOVED the work and have continued to use it at all my subsequent jobs.

Here are a couple of links if anyone wants to know more about that field:

http://www.makemark.com/images/portfolio/facil/facil_large_01.jpg

http://www.take-action.com/portfolio.htm

http://www.nancymargulies.com/business.htm

Fast forward to today...

She asked me if I would be able to do a journey map of her daughter's high school years. I said absolutely! The more I thought about it, the more excited I became. I could do relationship maps for weddings, college maps, moving maps, or maps for any sort of journey that someone could have. And how cool would that be to get a custom piece of art work based on your life?!?

So, I am working on a couple of pieces to use as examples on my (future) website. There really are no start up costs to doing this on the side...which is why I am leaping.

(the only challenge is cost....what would you expect to pay for something like this? I am thinking a 2x3 size)

Pieces.

2009-06-11T14:05:00.007-04:00

I recently took up quilting. I've been avoided it forever, mostly because of the precision involved. Anyone who knows me knows I am more of a... oh, how should I put this... broad brushstroke kind of person. Don't get me wrong, I can do detail; it is just that I tend to fall back on my ability to "make it work".

Oops, I splashed some paint there. Hmm, I think I will make that into a tree. Oh, I accidentally sewed the hem over on this shirt, let's just make it a pleat.

Needless to say, quilting was a bit scary because there is no "making it work". You are either exact or it is wrong.

I knew when I signed up for the hand quilting class that it would not only be a lesson in quilting, but a growth opportunity for me. I would have to be precise, I would have to fix mistakes, I would have to commit to following a pattern.

yikes.

Willa, my quilting instructor, was a wonderful women who has been teaching for years (and years and years). It was amazing to watch her quilt with a rocking stitch I had never seen before and the stitches..oh my lord, the stitches...they were tiny. You almost couldn't see them! It was as if the fabric was just naturally dimpled.

I finished my first quilt about a month after starting it. (Don't be too impressed..it is only a 2'x2' wall hanging. A full blown quilt would take a LOT more than a month.) It now hangs in our family room and I am always struck when I look at it the difference between those first tentative stitches and the small even stitches I created towards the end.

I am excited about continuing to learn about quilting. It is such a lost art. Yes, it is art. The process of selecting the fabrics and deciding on the pattern is more challenging that I ever would have imagined.

I know I have a long way to go but I am excited to keep learning.

Proud.

2009-06-11T12:40:00.007-04:00

I am bursting with pride.

For the first time ever we planted a garden. Not only did we plant veggies and flowers, but Beau built me some beautiful raised garden beds. Neither of us have ever done any gardening before. Okay, last year I did plant some miniature snap dragons, but I broke my ankle about a week later and they were horribly neglected. I assumed they would die, but they came back this year for more. Sadists.

We planted 9 heirloom tomato plants, one Roma tomato plant, 3 yellow squash, 2 strawberries, oregano, dill, cilantro, basil, chives and sage. So far everything is coming in beautifully. I ate the first of the tomatoes today on a whole wheat pita with feta cheese, oregano and cracked black pepper. About 7 minutes under a broiler and it was ready.

I think I am so proud because we have been working towards living a more simple and self contained life. Reducing waste, recycling, making gift instead of buying them and being happy with what we have. We have also been trying to reach out to our family and friends to create the sort of community that we have both dreamed of being a part of.

Focus?

2009-06-10T21:14:00.000-04:00

This isn't about anything in particular. It is about family, relationships, my love of cooking AND eating (and my consequential struggle with weight). It is about knitting and quilting, painting and reading. It is about toddlers and ambition, dreams and challenges.
It is about everything in my life.