vineri, 30 martie 2012
joi, 29 martie 2012
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.
miercuri, 28 martie 2012
luni, 26 martie 2012
:: 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.
- 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?
vineri, 23 martie 2012
Buying organic can often be cost prohibitive. Believe me, I get it. We always buy organic when it comes to milk, but we pick and choose with everything else based on price and quality of what is available. Fort Worth has not quite caught up with green/organic trend. It is hard to eat all organic when budgets are tight. But this chart makes me more determined to swap out our conventional spinach and tomatoes with the organic versions no matter what. Look at those iron numbers!
joi, 22 martie 2012
miercuri, 21 martie 2012
marți, 20 martie 2012
I am finding that Sundays have become my baking days. For us, Sundays are slow and casual. And after a morning spent on the couch in my pajamas sipping coffee and catching up on my reading, I usually find myself being lured into the kitchen to try out some sort of baking inspiration that I have been brewing on all week.
This past Sunday was no different.
While Little B was taking her afternoon nap and David was absorbed in March Madness, I savored my quiet, calm moments in the kitchen. It is a time to let my thoughts wander while my hands stay busy. I love that busy calmness. It kind of seems like an oxymoron. But it represents balance to me. The right side of the brain takes over so the left side can rest a bit from all its decision making and such.
On this particular day, I was craving bready comfort food. The weather outside was windy, overcast and gloomy, yet warm and muggy all at the same time. It made me think of that line from Great Expectations.
The weather could not decide what it wanted to be. Winter was arm-wrestling with spring and it was proving to be a close match. In an attempt to fit the mood, a recipe for Earl Grey Honey Almond Muffins was forming itself in my brain. With Earl Grey representing winter and honey representing spring, this was a recipe where the two flavors could be paired together in a fantastic way.
I decided to give it a try.
This past Sunday was no different.
While Little B was taking her afternoon nap and David was absorbed in March Madness, I savored my quiet, calm moments in the kitchen. It is a time to let my thoughts wander while my hands stay busy. I love that busy calmness. It kind of seems like an oxymoron. But it represents balance to me. The right side of the brain takes over so the left side can rest a bit from all its decision making and such.
On this particular day, I was craving bready comfort food. The weather outside was windy, overcast and gloomy, yet warm and muggy all at the same time. It made me think of that line from Great Expectations.
It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.
The weather could not decide what it wanted to be. Winter was arm-wrestling with spring and it was proving to be a close match. In an attempt to fit the mood, a recipe for Earl Grey Honey Almond Muffins was forming itself in my brain. With Earl Grey representing winter and honey representing spring, this was a recipe where the two flavors could be paired together in a fantastic way.
I decided to give it a try.
Earl Grey & Honey Almond Flour Muffins
2 cups finely ground almond flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp finely chopped dried Earl Grey tea
2 eggs
1/4 cup olive oil (or butter/oil of your choice)
1/4 cup honey (add more if you like a sweeter muffin)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp finely chopped dried Earl Grey tea
2 eggs
1/4 cup olive oil (or butter/oil of your choice)
1/4 cup honey (add more if you like a sweeter muffin)
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.
Best enjoyed while still warm with a small pat of butter.
I think muffins turned out very well. I am happy with them. Next time, I will probably add a bit more honey and swap out the olive oil with butter just to see what happens. But until then, I think both winter and spring would be very content with the results.
:: Do you ever wish on fallen eyelashes? I do. I don't want to miss out on the chance that there still may be a little magic out there for the taking.
:: Rocking out to Florence + The Machine yet again. Love them.
:: I shoot all my photos with a Nikon D40 and the auto focus on my lens is fritzing out me regularly now. Drives me bonkers. My birthday is coming up soon and I am toying with the idea of asking for a new lens to celebrate my 35 years of life... any recommendations?
:: I think my husband is bit disappointed in me. He can't understand why I do not have the slightly interest in basketball and all this March Madness hoopla. I have told him time and time again... I don't acknowledge sports that I have absolutely no chance of ever playing well. That's what he gets for marrying someone who is just over 5 feet tall on a good day.
:: One week later and this time change is still kicking my butt. Goodness.
:: I love America's Funniest Home Videos, especially when they do the loosely themed montage of random hilarity. Ballerinas on skateboards, babies hiccuping, and good old fashion fall on your face moments (where no is seriously hurt of course)... that stuff just never gets old. And I LOVE that those montages can make my very stoic husband laugh with his whole body. Cracks me up every time.
luni, 19 martie 2012
vineri, 16 martie 2012
joi, 15 martie 2012
I am itching to do something fun for St. Patrick's Day. I mean, after all, we are talking about a girl that has been officially trained in the art of making shamrocks out of the beer foam at the top of your favorite pint of Guinness or Harp. Thank you Aunt Katie and the North Texas Irish Festival! Unfortunately, it is a wicked awesome skill that I can only bring out once a year.
But with our crazy upcoming weekend, I just don't think a "Luck of the Irish Bash" is in the cards this year. But that has not stopped me from daydreaming about it. So I pass along a little inspiration for your own St. Patrick's Day fete.
But with our crazy upcoming weekend, I just don't think a "Luck of the Irish Bash" is in the cards this year. But that has not stopped me from daydreaming about it. So I pass along a little inspiration for your own St. Patrick's Day fete.
Do you have any awesome plans to celebrate the Irish spirit in you?
miercuri, 14 martie 2012
Do you make your own yogurt? If you haven't at least tried it yet, I would highly recommend giving it a whirl. You can learn all about how to do it here.
It has become part of regular routine in our house. I make it about once a month. We mostly use it in our smoothies, but recently we have been enjoying it for breakfast with a little maple syrup and vanilla mixed in. So good.
It has become part of regular routine in our house. I make it about once a month. We mostly use it in our smoothies, but recently we have been enjoying it for breakfast with a little maple syrup and vanilla mixed in. So good.
marți, 13 martie 2012
Aren't impromtu dance parties in your living room the best?!
When you feel the urge to dance, it is best to not fight it and just let it loose.
Sorry for the bad lighting in the first video. As I mentioned, these killer dance moves weren't really planned.
When you feel the urge to dance, it is best to not fight it and just let it loose.
It makes me think of that quote in Dazed And Confused where the guy sitting in the back seat of the car is talking about how he doesn't want to law school anymore. And when his friends ask him what he does want to do, he replys, "I wanna dance." Love that scene!
Sorry for the bad lighting in the first video. As I mentioned, these killer dance moves weren't really planned.
luni, 12 martie 2012
:: The anticipation of knowing that ice cream season is right around the corner. I am already brewing up new concoctions of flavors in my mind. Blueberry mint sounds kind of interesting.
:: An upcoming week full of sunshine and fun outings.
:: Impromtu living room dance parties.
What are you loving this week?
vineri, 9 martie 2012
As I sit here typing this, buckets of rain are falling from the sky. At my fingertips, I have one of my favorite mugs filled with steaming coffee and lots of cream, along with a bowl of maple vanilla almond yogurt. Madeleine Peyroux, Carla Bruni, and Rachel Yamagata sing their soulful songs to me courtesy of Pandora.
I am groggy, yet content. I stayed up way too late (yet again) reading Outlander and a wee lil' one was pulled into our bed after a nightmare in early morning hours. I see lots of coffee in my future.... plus wine, good food, rambunctious conversation and more late evenings staying up way past my bedtime.
Girls Weekend officially begins this evening. I am so excited. I can't wait to see each person show up on my doorstep and hug them as if I have not seen them in a lifetime, for that is what it feels like. This is going to be an awesome weekend.
I know that one the greatest gifts of my life is my friendships. I have the best friends. I feel so lucky that I have this strong group of very different women to support me and rally me on no matter what life throws my way. And I love that I get to reciprocate on that support and rallying as well.
I often get asked about my friendships and how I have managed to keep all these really close relationships. And quite honestly, I never really know how to answer that question. Friendships have always been easy for me. It is one area that I am really lucky in.
But after thinking about that question over the years, I realize that I have finally have an answer to it. Whether a friendship is new or has been around forever, the secret to maintaining and growing it is simple... You show up. Period. That's it. You show up.
You get the idea.
How you show up is of course dependent on your proximity, availability, and such. But there is always a way to show up even if you can't physically be there. That is where delivered pies, care packages, text messages, and loving voice mails come in. Even blog posts can be an ode to a friend.
So that's the secret. The details of what happen after you show up don't really matter. The fact that you showed up is what is important. That's what friends remember.
So on this magical Girls Weekend, celebrate with me. Call a friend that you have been thinking about. Send a text message to your old high school buddy the next time you hear that crazy song that y'all rocked out to as sixteen year olds. Take cupcakes to your friend down the street just because.
I am groggy, yet content. I stayed up way too late (yet again) reading Outlander and a wee lil' one was pulled into our bed after a nightmare in early morning hours. I see lots of coffee in my future.... plus wine, good food, rambunctious conversation and more late evenings staying up way past my bedtime.
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Source: maduke.tumblr.com |
I often get asked about my friendships and how I have managed to keep all these really close relationships. And quite honestly, I never really know how to answer that question. Friendships have always been easy for me. It is one area that I am really lucky in.
But after thinking about that question over the years, I realize that I have finally have an answer to it. Whether a friendship is new or has been around forever, the secret to maintaining and growing it is simple... You show up. Period. That's it. You show up.
A friend gets dumped... You show up.
A friend has a baby... You show up.
A friend has a bad Tuesday... You show up.
A friend has an awesome Tuesday... You show up.
You get the idea.
How you show up is of course dependent on your proximity, availability, and such. But there is always a way to show up even if you can't physically be there. That is where delivered pies, care packages, text messages, and loving voice mails come in. Even blog posts can be an ode to a friend.
So that's the secret. The details of what happen after you show up don't really matter. The fact that you showed up is what is important. That's what friends remember.
So on this magical Girls Weekend, celebrate with me. Call a friend that you have been thinking about. Send a text message to your old high school buddy the next time you hear that crazy song that y'all rocked out to as sixteen year olds. Take cupcakes to your friend down the street just because.
joi, 8 martie 2012
I love Pinterest.
I learned how to transform my stinky kitchen (we forgot to take the trash out last night) to one that is straight out of a Williams Sonoma catalog.... so long as I keep my eyes closed of course.
Apparently, they keep the Williams Sonoma stores smelling so good with just a few simple ingredients. Who knew!
You slice the lemons, put them in a pot on the stove with a few sprigs of rosemary, a splash of vanilla (I used whole beans sliced down the middle), and water. When the water simmers down I just fill it up again.
And the whole concoction does double duty. When I was done with my simmering for the day, I dumped it down my disposal and freshened that bad boy up as well.
Breathing deeply has been easy around here. Sure beats the smell of old trash.
I learned how to transform my stinky kitchen (we forgot to take the trash out last night) to one that is straight out of a Williams Sonoma catalog.... so long as I keep my eyes closed of course.
Apparently, they keep the Williams Sonoma stores smelling so good with just a few simple ingredients. Who knew!
You slice the lemons, put them in a pot on the stove with a few sprigs of rosemary, a splash of vanilla (I used whole beans sliced down the middle), and water. When the water simmers down I just fill it up again.
And the whole concoction does double duty. When I was done with my simmering for the day, I dumped it down my disposal and freshened that bad boy up as well.
Breathing deeply has been easy around here. Sure beats the smell of old trash.
miercuri, 7 martie 2012
I went to college thinking that I was going to eventually become some sort of globe-trotting, internationally savvy business woman who could make business deals in multiple languages. I wanted my passport to be full of stamps and my conversations to include statements such as...
I took the red-eye and just got here this morning.
Por favor, llévame al restaurante en la esquina de Curzon y Salazar
I know the best little espresso place in Santiago.
So I studied hard and got a business degree with a specialty in international marketing. I did study abroad trips in Mexico and in Europe. I tackled internships during the summers. I interviewed like crazy my senior year. And when I graduated, my bags were packed and I was ready to see the world.
My first job out of school was at a software company with a lot of clients across North and South America. My travel bug was happy. I lived out of a suitcase, saw so many incredible sights, tried new things, tasted new foods, and met people that I could have only dreamed of meeting. My stack of postcards was growing each week. It was super fun... for about 2 years.
Then 9/11 happened. After that, it dawned on me that I was missing more weddings/birthdays/family dinners than I was attending. My fridge was chronically empty for I was never in town long enough to eat any food that would go in it. And my apartment was really more of a glorified storage facility.
I still enjoyed seeing new places and meeting new people, but I was burnt out. And travel was not fun at all after 9/11. Plus once you have seen the inside of a hotel room/airport/taxi, you have seen them all. I was craving time with the special people in my life. I was craving routine and home cooked meals. I was craving roots.
I made the decision to leave that job while sitting on the beach in Rio De Janeiro. While the scenery around me was breathtaking, what was the point if I had no one to share it with.
It is funny how life works out. Those brief two years definitely helped shape me into who I am today. Sometimes I think about what my life would have been like if I had made a different decision on that Brazilian beach so long ago.
Do I still get the travel bug? Absolutely. But now when I travel, I get to bring my favorite people with me. And that makes all the difference.
I took the red-eye and just got here this morning.
Por favor, llévame al restaurante en la esquina de Curzon y Salazar
I know the best little espresso place in Santiago.
So I studied hard and got a business degree with a specialty in international marketing. I did study abroad trips in Mexico and in Europe. I tackled internships during the summers. I interviewed like crazy my senior year. And when I graduated, my bags were packed and I was ready to see the world.
My first job out of school was at a software company with a lot of clients across North and South America. My travel bug was happy. I lived out of a suitcase, saw so many incredible sights, tried new things, tasted new foods, and met people that I could have only dreamed of meeting. My stack of postcards was growing each week. It was super fun... for about 2 years.
Then 9/11 happened. After that, it dawned on me that I was missing more weddings/birthdays/family dinners than I was attending. My fridge was chronically empty for I was never in town long enough to eat any food that would go in it. And my apartment was really more of a glorified storage facility.
I still enjoyed seeing new places and meeting new people, but I was burnt out. And travel was not fun at all after 9/11. Plus once you have seen the inside of a hotel room/airport/taxi, you have seen them all. I was craving time with the special people in my life. I was craving routine and home cooked meals. I was craving roots.
I made the decision to leave that job while sitting on the beach in Rio De Janeiro. While the scenery around me was breathtaking, what was the point if I had no one to share it with.
It is funny how life works out. Those brief two years definitely helped shape me into who I am today. Sometimes I think about what my life would have been like if I had made a different decision on that Brazilian beach so long ago.
Do I still get the travel bug? Absolutely. But now when I travel, I get to bring my favorite people with me. And that makes all the difference.
marți, 6 martie 2012
vineri, 2 martie 2012
Good morning sunshines!
Where has the week gone? The days have flown by. I blame Pinterest. You think you are just spending a quick 15 minutes on it and next thing you know your whole Tuesday has gone by.
We had a pretty good week around here, if I do say so myself.
:: Started working with a new client.
:: Made another batch of crockpot applesauce and strawberry jam.
:: We are all finally getting over this horrific cold.
:: All the food has been purchased for my upcoming bi-annual girls weekend in which I am hosting.
:: Had a great meeting with some folks over at the Pier 1 Imports headquarters.
:: Caught up on my DVR queue of House Hunters International... don't even pretend like you are not impressed by that.
:: Reading the book, Outlander. Oh my goodness! How have I never read this before now.
:: And to top it all off, B and I have been hitting up the park almost every day, enjoying this gorgeous spring weather.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend! See you back here on Monday.
Where has the week gone? The days have flown by. I blame Pinterest. You think you are just spending a quick 15 minutes on it and next thing you know your whole Tuesday has gone by.
We had a pretty good week around here, if I do say so myself.
:: Started working with a new client.
:: Made another batch of crockpot applesauce and strawberry jam.
:: We are all finally getting over this horrific cold.
:: All the food has been purchased for my upcoming bi-annual girls weekend in which I am hosting.
:: Had a great meeting with some folks over at the Pier 1 Imports headquarters.
:: Caught up on my DVR queue of House Hunters International... don't even pretend like you are not impressed by that.
:: Reading the book, Outlander. Oh my goodness! How have I never read this before now.
:: And to top it all off, B and I have been hitting up the park almost every day, enjoying this gorgeous spring weather.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend! See you back here on Monday.
joi, 1 martie 2012
- My little one, who finally quit jumping up and down in her crib long enough to fall asleep.
- A new found recipe for almond flour chocolate chip cookies. No gluten and so delicious.
- My dishwasher. I hate hand washing dishes more than any other household chore in the world.
- Girls weekend will be here in just over a week. So excited!
- The tree in our front yard is beginning to bud. Flip flop weather is right around the corner.
- Little B behaved while I took her grocery shopping yesterday.
- That I have been with my husband since 2000 and I still think he is the funniest man I know.
- A note from the library saying that they have a book on hold waiting for me.
- Our new coffee pot. No more grounds floating at the bottom of the coffee pot.
- Listening to David read bedtime stories to Little B over the baby monitor.
What are 10 things you are grateful for today? I'd love to read your list. In fact I'd bet we'd all be inspired by each other's "10 things", so if you feel so inclined, please share!
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