Another Good Song

Okay, I discovered another great song that I love, despite myself.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bd2B6SjMh_w

What do you think? (honestly--even if you hate it) This song came out in 2006. That surprised me.

A Day of Celebration!

Today is a big day for me! Today is the day...drumroll please............. I have officially met/gone lower than Peter's weight! Woohoo!! That was goal number two (which incidentally, only happens to be three pounds lower than goal number 1). Goal number three is about 5 pounds away. This is a slow process for me (though steady, thank goodness), so it will probably be a few months, but, that goal was my original bottom goal. I've now changed my official goal to ten pounds below that, but regardless, I'm pretty happy with the way things are right now! I'm within the healthy weight for my height, and I haven't been there since I was 19 or so. Yippee!! What should I get to celebrate? I was originally going to get some pants, but I'm thinking a dress might be best... (I'm thinking going out to eat might not be the most fitting celebration...)

A Few More Great Dinners!

Monday night:

Rotini pasta with chopped agretti, cilantro, olive oil, spices and some cheddar cheese grated on top, with a side of spigariello lightly sauteed in olive oil. Mmmmmmm...

Tuesday night:

Frittata with turnip greens, cilantro, and cheddar, eaten with homemade 1/2 whole wheat biscuits.

Wednesday night:

Soup! Chicken breast boiled in water and shredded, about 1/2 cup rice, 1/2 a purple cabbage, 3 baby turnips, 5 baby carrots (real ones, not the little shaved things from the store), 2 leeks, all chopped and simmered with the water and chicken after the chicken was cooked and the rice was mostly cooked. Can't forget the spices! Salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic. Topped off with about 12 ounces of 2% evaporated milk. Most of the veggies became creamy, with just a few soft chunks to accompany the shredded chicken. This was really yummy! And to accompany the soup, we had some homemade 1/2 whole wheat apple strudel muffins. Yum yum!

I think we're starting to get better at knowing how to use our veggies...

A Must Read

If you are a regular reader of my blog, PLEASE read this article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-lede-t.html?pagewanted=1

Please read the whole thing!

I challenge everyone who reads this to act on it. And let me know how it's going!

Michael Buble

Just in case any of you have not yet discovered Michael Buble and will appreciate knowing about him (although I always seem to be the last person to know about things...), here is yet another song that I LOVE, and want to dance to like crazy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PDXjJQfTsU

Isn't his voice just awesome??

Barbara Kingsolver = My Heroine

Okay, so, per my post below, I'm writing a post about 'how Barbara Kingsolver is my new heroine', and I'm combining it with 'our new wine crate garden'. The previous post about our dinner can be read as on offshoot of this post as well.

Have you read the book Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver? If you haven't, you should. That book has literally inspired me to change the way I live my life in regards to food and food making and food buying habits. She has the perfect blend of wry humor and wit and intelligence and plain old FACTS, and vignettes of different facets of her experiment for her family of four to eat only local food for an entire year. While reading that book, I wanted to dig my fingers into the soil and plant and harvest things, and I wanted to cook and eat and can lots of fruits and vegetables, and I wanted to own chickens, and make cheese, and stop eating animals that not only spent their lives crammed together, but who also had lower levels of important vitamins and other nutrients, and whose eggs had higher levels of the bad kind of cholesterol than their pasture fed cage free counterparts. (Make no mistake, I have no intention of ever becoming vegetarian voluntarily.)

Long before I was finished reading the book, Peter and I had decided it would be extraordinarily clever of us to find some wooden wine crates for free from a wine or liquor store to use as square foot gardening boxes. So we did. And you know what? It really was extraordinarily clever of us! It's working like a charm! We have no dirt of our own, and no sunlight in our back patio, pretty much ever, so, on our front porch we currently have 7 wooden wine crates filled with little growing plants, with plans to find 5 or 6 more. In these boxes, we have squash, peas, spinach, lima beans, and lettuce, accompanied by a couple of potted strawberry plants.

A little over a week ago, we were notified that a garden plot was waiting for us that we had been on a waiting list for. So for the last week we've been going over to our garden weeding, turning the soil, transplanting the thinned out plants from our wine crates (it's worth a try, right?) and some other plants, and finally, today, planting new seeds! We transplanted a potted tomato plant and strawberry plant, and several squash plants. And today we planted: green onions, yellow onions, serrano peppers, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, corn, zucchini, cantaloupe, honeydew and one other kind of melon, spinach, and basil!

I have to tell you, the satisfaction I feel from seeing little plants poke out of the ground from tiny seeds we planted and watered is pretty profound. I am profoundly satisfied with my gardens! And hopefully, if we have thumbs anywhere near the color green, we'll be eating our own organically homegrown vegetables in our meals, right around the time our Two Small Farms first 9 week period is over.

Now we can sit back and wait for the fruits of our labor, and while we're waiting, we'll munch on a little bit of that homemade cheese.

Ahhhhhh.

Our Dinner Tonight

So, recently we signed up for a CSA called Two Small Farms, which delivers fresh veggies to a pickup site nearby (closer than our easy walking distance library). It is a big box of veggies. So big, that in order not to waste any (and to benefit the budget), we are splitting the box with some friends of ours. We've had a fun time incorporating vegetables (some that we've never even heard of before) into our meals in semi-creative ways. Some of the things we've had since we got our first box a week and a half ago are:

*(Potato) & cardoon gratin
*(Potato), carrot, parsnip soup
*Spinach/(tomato) pizza
*Arugula/(tomato) pizza
*Mushroom/radish green/Wensleydale cheese omelette

and the one that takes the cake so far is tonight's dinner:

*salad greens (none of it was lettuce...) with grated radish, grated carrot, boiled eggs, sliced lunchmeats, Wensleydale cheese, (tomato), (black beans), and HOMEMADE mozzarella cheese. Yum! This was served with a side of applesauce.

The fruits/veggies/veggie-like things in parentheses did not come from Two Small Farms.

There were other things we got that were incorporated in smaller ways, like celery for ants on a log, etc.

Using all the vegetables is a challenge and is definitely changing the way we eat for the better. For one thing, it's hard to see yourself spending money on something that goes to waste, so we feel like we HAVE to use it all. We already wasted some mustard greens that we didn't know how to use (because they are spicy and bitter and needed more thought beforehand), but we aim to do a better job in the future. Now we need to find a way to use our agretti and our fennel, preferably before Friday, when we get the next box!

Being a Mom

Being a mom is really really REEEAAAALLY hard work. Being a mom is how you really learn what unconditional love is--especially being a mom of a two year old (I don't know how I'm going to survive the teen years...). Being a mom is working full time and being underappreciated, yet somehow continuing on hour after hour after hour, day after day after day. Being a mom is stopping writing a blog so you can bring up Monk-e-mail on the computer for your two year old.

Love this song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYBLjEaDFDE

Worst Blogger on the Web?

I realize that I am probably one of the most inconsistent bloggers on the web, but if you check my blog, please don't stop! I actually like having the four or five people who visit me somewhat regularly. And, after my most recent blog drought, I think I'm going to try to post at least once a week...

I made a pillowcase dress for Little a few weeks ago, and I even took really cute pictures of it. The the pictures got loaded onto the laptop, and since then I've been too lazy to go and retrieve them, which is why you haven't seen it yet.

And, really, I have lots of things I should be blogging about, such as:

*my adventures in no recipe baking
*my adventures in weight loss
*DANCING!
*bike riding
*how Barbara Kingsolver is my new heroine
*why I want everyone to recycle
*our new wine crate garden

Aren't those topics just tantalizing?

Check this out!

My Etsy shop, Frills and Frolic!

I also want to make some bags/purses, and maybe some little girl dresses, and some headbands to list there. Maybe one of each of those, at first, to see if anyone wants to buy them. But, it's so fun to be crafty!

Couples Meme

Couples

How long have you been together? Married: 3 years, Dating & Married: 8 1/2 years, Friends: 11 years

How long did you date? 5 years (or 3 if you take out the mission years)

How old is he? 1.25 years younger than me.

Who eats more? It depends on the meal, the food, the day, and who has eaten more recently.

Who said "I love you" first? He did.

Who is taller? He is, by an inch or so.

Who is smarter? Neither of us is humble enough to admit that the other might be smarter, but he knows much more trivia (more facts)...

Who does the laundry? Both, usually together.

Who does the dishes? I do about 75-90% of them.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Currently, him.

Who pays the bills? Me, all the way. He has no idea how much money we have.

Who mows the lawn? I'm not sure we'll ever have a lawn. We're not really lawn people. But if we had one, it would be him.

Who cooks dinner? We both do. If he gets home past 5 or so, then I do it by myself, otherwise we share the responsibility. I'm sure that will change after grad school...

Who is more stubborn? Me, all the way. No contest.

Who kissed who first? Both. It was a total failure.

Who asked who out? Neither, it just kinda happened.

Who proposed? Neither--the conversation in which we decided to date determined that we would also marry. Not really the usual way to go about things, and I don't recommend it, but it ended up working out for us.

Who is more sensitive? Outwardly, he is, because I come from an emotionally retarded family (sorry family, if you read this, but I know you agree...)

Who has more friends? He does, because of all those mission companions

Who has more siblings? Me! I have 13 (6 adopted)! He has a piddly 5.

A Meme

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Not that I know of...
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I don't remember...probably from a movie, since I'm lame like that, but I always try to hide it...
3.DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Some versions of it, sometimes. My most commonly used one is pretty messy, since I'm always hurrying as I write
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? turkey breast or roast beef
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? yep, two little girls
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? If I were ever able to get myself to open up and talk, I think I would be
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? I used to A LOT, but I'm not sure if I still do. I'll have to ask someone.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yep
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Depends on the circumstances. It feels risky, so, maybe not.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Um...I like lots of them, depending on my mood and the day. Life, Cheerios, Rice Crispies, granola, Chex, etc etc
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes. I'm not sure how I measure up now, because I used to be a lot stronger. I'm actually pretty prideful about it.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? vanilla or fudge marble
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? their teeth
15. RED OR PINK? pink (pale)
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? my emotional retardation
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? all of my family--my sisters and sisters-in-law in particular
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? sure, if anyone actually reads it
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? no shoes, light brownish tan fine corduroy pants
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Cheesecake (Yum!)
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The only sounds I hear are all related to the computer
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? probably some pale color, like a pale pink or a pale yellow
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Peter with Uno (Shaklee) deodorant, riparian habitat (cottonwoods lining a stream), gasoline, tennis balls, new shoes, rubber cement, GOOD food
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My friend Brittney
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? It wasn't technically sent to me... but I like the person whose blog it was on who asked me to do it :o)
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? basketball, swimming, gymnastics, ice skating
27. HAIR COLOR? brown
28. EYE COLOR? hazelly bluish gray
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? sometimes, esp. when I go swimming (so, not much recently)
30. FAVORITE FOOD? too many to write them down. It depends on my mood.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I LOVE happy endings and I HATE scary movies!
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Munich (with our Clearplay)
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? green
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Spring.
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs.
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? ice cream or something citrus-y, or both, like lime sherbet
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? probably nobody
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Katie (no internet right now)
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Bread Baker's Apprentice, Sauces, Collapse, Howard's End, Parenting With Love and Logic, Freakonomics, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and Glimpses into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley--I kid you not. Soon to start Dandelion Wine.
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? no mousepad
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Did not watch TV
42. FAVORITE SOUND? My kids laughing, a creek nearby, birds chirping, THUNDER and rain
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Either the southern tip of Florida, or Prudhoe Bay, AK (I'm pretty sure Prudhoe Bay, Alaska)
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Not really.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Greenville, TX
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? friends, family
48. WHAT TIME IS IT NOW? 8:49pm

Martie's 30 Day Challenge, Feb 1

To see what I'm talking about, read this.

My points for yesterday are pretty abysmal. They will be even worse today though...

personal challenge number: 20
rooms completed: 2 of 6
today's extra focus goal accomplished? yes. Way more items than 40! (I counted 1 point for every fork and spoon...)
focus area for tomorrow: none--it's Peter's birthday and I'm taking the day off

I intend to really get rolling starting on Monday.

Awesome Fabric Project #2

Here are some pics of my latest project with the awesome fabric pieces I picked up for free. (Plus some bias tape, which I had never used before. That stuff is awesome! Who knew! I'm never going back...)

The Dress

The Dress in use

Awesome Fabric Project #1

Here's my first completed project with some of a large amount of awesome designer fabrics I picked up, thanks to the heads up from someone in my ward. I've reeeeeaally been wanting a cool bag, and this fabric was begging for me to make it into one, so, here it is!

Epiphany!

I just realized that light blue jeans are not really in style anymore. Why did it take me so long to realize this?

I've Changed My Title

But the web address is the same as before. Now there's a way to get around the fact that someone used that name already! (Nevermind that they don't ever use it...)

Christmas HOOPLA

1. List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas
2. Please refer to it as a 'hoopla' and not the dreaded 'm'-word
3. You have to specifically tag people when you're done. None of this "if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed...then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you -- but the more, the merrier to get this 'hoopla' circulating through the blogosphere.
4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it and I'd like to get as many people involved as possible.

1. I used to be a Christmas fanatic. Now I just really love Christmas.
2. I used to wear a different pair of Christmas socks for every day in December, and I still had some left over that I didn't get to wear.
3. The only time I wear ear rings is at Christmas time, because they are Christmas-y ones!
4. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to buy/make other people presents.
5. I have never had a White Christmas.
6. Every December we make snowflakes all the time leading up to Christmas and make sure the house has them hanging all over the place.
7. This year we are spending Christmas at Martie's house.
8. I love Christmas carols. Playing them, singing them, listening to them. I'm not into the Jingle Bells ones so much.
9. I made our stockings 2 years ago out of fleece (hard to sew!), and this year will be Chub's first year with a stocking!
10. This will be my second Christmas ever not spent with my family (MY parents and siblings) and it's with the same people I was with last time it happened!
11. For Christmas, I like to eat Eloise's pan dulce.
12. I made a real gingerbread house this year, out of real home baked gingerbread. (It's harder than it looks.)

I tag: trogonpete. Ha ha! (or Ho Ho Ho!)

Online Radio

A friend of mine told me about this online radio website. It's got lots of variety. I'm listening to choral Christmas music right now, to get me in the right mood for the gingerbread I'm about to make. Check it out!

http://www.pandora.com/