Monday, November 23, 2009

HoliDAZE

I used to fight panic attacks whenever the holidays crept up. Silly, useless, unworthy stresses. Money was tight... time with families would be stretched... growing up and the battle to feel "so adult"... watching cracks charge through a surface that I'd spent all year covering up...

Maybe it's having Miller. Maybe it's miscarrying before him and finally allowing myself to feel disappointment. Maybe it's simply finding a home in the man I call my husband... whatever the cause, I no longer let the stress of the holidays own me.

Instead I crave it. I crave the longing to see my family and watch cheeks pink from the glow of a fire. I crave the frenzy of finding the right gift to communicate how special sincere hugs can be. I crave the regret after sharing butter, chocolate, wine and less sleep.

A day is only 24 hours. And this year I plan on stretching those hours, those stresses, as long as possible.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Mmmm, Coffee...

It's only been 2 nights. 2 nights comforting a crabby baby every hour from 11pm to 8am. But those 2 nights have been exhausting. Maybe he's sick. Maybe he's teething early. Whatever the case, by 2:30am I'm loudly sighing and ready to let him cry alone on the back patio.

Daylight creeps in and he's nothing but smiles. How quickly he forgets and forgives that I called him a jerk at least 4 times a few hours earlier.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Happy 4 Months


Miller went to his four month checkup today and took more shots like a champ. His pediatrician even gave the go ahead for him to start solid foods. Be prepared for messy cuteness in your blog reading future...

soaking up the sun

A trip to the zoo, apple pie and rocking out. Is there a better way to spend a weekend with visiting relatives?

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Another delicious soup recipe if I do say so myself

Evan and I finished off a baguette and a bottle of wine with this bad boy last night. Quite comforting now that the temperature is a chilly 72 degrees. Enjoy!


kick in your mouth corn chowder:

on medium heat:
melt 2 T unsalted butter in a large pot
add 1 diced white onion & 2-3 cloves crushed garlic; saute until onions are soft
add 1 small bag of frozen corn; salt & pepper
add 4 cups chicken or veggie stock
add softer veggies like zucchini or diced "al dente" cooked potatoes (optional)
simmer for about 15 minutes
in blender, food processor, or with a hand blender process about 50-100% of the soup until it's the consistency of your liking. (we did it about 75%. just enough to be creamy yet still had whole bits of veggies throughout.)
while stirring, add about 1-2 cups of cream (milk, half & half, heavy cream; whatever your personal diet and thighs allow for.)
add 1/3 t red pepper flakes, 1/3 t dried parsley, 1/4 t cumin, 1/4 t paprika (preferably smoked, but regular hungarian is fine), 1/8 t coriander, 2 t chopped fresh basil; salt & pepper to taste.
simmer for another 15-20 minutes until all the flavors are infused.
(optional) garnish w/ green onions and chopped bits of bacon.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Traditionally Autumn

For the third year in a row we headed north to San Luis during the fall with our dear friends Andrew, Summer and Jack to appreciate some apple orchards, good bbq, world famous clam chowder and cheap happy hours.
It's interesting that all my favorite traditions involve food and drink...

Besides looking at my San Luis Obispo pictures, what are some of your favorite fall traditions?

Friday, November 6, 2009

What's your current love (obsession)?

I have been in love (obsessed) with Lisa Leonard jewelry and her beautiful blog for the last year and a half. Luckily (unfortunately), another blog I love loves her too and is offering readers a discount for the month of November. I'm not sure I can justify purchasing something for myself so close to Christmas, but maybe you can. Until then, I'll just have to be satisfied with adding it to my Christmas list for Santa (Evan).

What's on your list this year?

Monday, November 2, 2009

Halloween

If Miller is anything like his parents, it's only a matter of time before he's protesting what we want him to wear on Halloween and probably every other day of the year.
Luckily, we dressed him twice this year to make up for years to come.

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