the first day of spring (or so they say)

I'm feeling a little jealous of the beautiful weather some people are having, while here it's snowing on our daffodils.

Or at least it did yesterday, which I guess is fitting since yesterday was technically the last day of winter.
I am so ready for sunshine, picnics, and fresh produce from the farmer's markets. I blame the weather for my lack of creativity in the kitchen lately, but I have been reaping the benefits of other cook's creativity. I tried to make up a fresh dish this evening which involved asparagus, tofu, and basil; but the overall flavor was not blog-worthy.

Until the sun comes out and I feel more inspired, I guess I will just have to put on my snow gear, grin, and bear it.

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happy st. patty's day

I kind of boycotted the holiday by wearing blue and making Italian.

We spent a lot of time looking at houses today, and then played outside in the sunshine.

In case you're not sick of the housing updates yet, we didn't get house number five. But we were one of the two offers that were actually considered, so that was exciting. I bought flowers as a consolation gift to myself.

We saw a house today that came on the market yesterday evening. Twelve people saw it today, and there is an open house tomorrow. We put an offer in, but our offer will be one of multiple. This house has it all: crown molding, built-ins, wood floors, a huge fireplace with a mantel, a great backyard, those super-charming glass door knobs, and -in classic NE style- two tiny bedrooms, one tiny bathroom, and a ginormous unfinished basement. Oh, and did I mention it's one block from Alberta? If we don't get this one, I will be doing some major retail therapy next week.

Until a further update, please help me make this post more interesting by telling me your St. Patty's day adventures. Any green beer drinkers?

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some chalkboard paint craftiness

It all happened very fast.

Yesterday a house came up on the rmls that our realtor sends to us each morning, and we thought "cute." By the evening, we had done a bit of research on the house and the surrounding area, and we decided we wanted to go take a look at it. I gave our realtor a call this morning. She said we could tour it on Lane's lunch break, but there were multiple offers on it by that point. It had been on the market only 24 hours, and that is how the market is in NE Portland right now. 

We saw it and decided to put an offer on it. Our fifth home offer, if you've been counting. I don't think we got it, and I have to admit that I'm getting a bit bummed out by our inability to find a home that will stay on the market long enough for us to purchase. So, to make myself feel better, I have been mentally decorating the house we don't have yet; finding inspiration, and making things.

Yesterday, it was chalkboard paint. 

First, I painted this frame, which was this awful brown wood and I decided very suddenly that I hated it and it must be painted. 

Also, I broke the glass in one of the picture frames above our key hooks. So, I wrapped the backing in wrapping paper and painted over the paper with chalkboard paint. I think it would be fun to decorate this little square with different kinds of wrapping paper depending on the occasion or holiday.

What do you decorate with chalkboard paint?

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mom fashion

Let's talk about fashion. Wow, I never thought that the word "fashion" would enter my little blog unless preceded by the words "I know nothing about."

But (as dumb as it may sound) lately I have been thinking a lot about fashion. I realized I don't really like my wardrobe, and I just keep adding boring things to it. It's like if you have a set of boring and not very pretty dishes, but you break one dish at a time, so instead of buying a whole new set, which takes time to pick out and a lot more money, you just keep replacing the broken ones with the exact same dishes.

Every once in a while I will buy something trendy. Last year (okay, once in a great while) I bought a super-cute pair of black leather boots. But in order to wear the black boots, you have to have the leggings, and then you have to have the strategically long shirts, or cute skirts and tops. Or you have to have skinny jeans, in which case you have to have skinny thighs...

My point is, I hate shopping for clothing. I wish I could hand someone a wad of money, give them my sizes, and let them buy it all for me. I realize that there are people who make this their profession, but I think they charge a ridiculous fee. And they shop at the real Nordstrom instead of the Rack.

The other problem -aside from no money, time, or desire to go shopping- is that I want to look cute, but my clothing has to also be functional. I can't exactly show up for library story time and sit criss-cross applesauce  in high heeled boots, leggings, and a miniskirt. I also shudder to think of myself crawling into the bear cave at the OMSI kid's room in "skinny" jeans.

I know that there are much bigger problems in the world, and I am so lucky to have clothes at all, especially so many clothes that keep me warm and dry and comfortable. But, c'mon, I am a girl in my mid-twenties, and you just wouldn't think it to look in my closet. So, I have been trying to get creative and to re-purpose some old clothes. Here are some examples of my attempts (things are about to get weird; let's just say I'm no budding clothing photographer, and these pics look more like a person melted and left only what they were wearing) :

Above: Layers are always good, right? My mom gave me this jacket a few years ago; it's from Levi and apparently was the same one that the blonde actress wore in "Kill Bill", and my mom just had to have it. The black hoodie is probably the softest thing I own. It's cashmere that I got on a huge after Christmas sale at Gap my senior year of high school. As in, eight years ago. Underneath the sweater is a redish T that I found on the Target sales rack for about six bucks. The scarf that I wear around my head has a red that matches the shirt, and I wear it when I haven't had time to wash my hair the night before. It was a Christmas gift from an old boss.

Above: The pumpkin-colored sweater was actually given to Lane, but he is not sure how he feels about the V-neck, so I swiped it from his side of the closet. I belted it with an old leather belt my mom gave me to make it less manly, and wear it with a blue scarf that has big pink, white, and orange flowers. Luckily, the sweater is long enough to wear with leggings and then I can wear my hippest clothing item- the boots!

Above: I feel like this outfit could either be super old lady, boyish, or maybe it is just really hip. I bought the flannel shirt last mothers day, which, by the way, was the last time I actually went shopping. I wear it with this awful sweater which I think could be extremely mom, but I like to think that I make it edgy by wearing it with the flannel shirt, cool earrings, and my 7's. I'm not sure if I'm correct in this assumption.

So, here is the question: What's a girl to do? How do I make my style less suburban-mom and more up-to-date without spending a fortune? What are your favorite style tricks and ways you use old clothing in trendy ways?

PS I love that yesterday I checked my blog to see if anyone had posted rainy day ideas (thank you Jane, we will be flying paper airplanes very soon, and hopefully I will be brave enough to make some flubber) and I noticed that the blog fairy had visited. I now have a boarder on the sides of my blog! So fun.

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one rainy Sunday

Although we had a short blast of sunshine last week, there is much evidence that Spring has not yet arrived.

The sunny portion of Spring, anyway. The rainy portion has moved in to stay for, well, at least the next fifteen days. Luckily for our family, we know how to party despite the gray clouds.

This morning James helped make pancakes, then we had a musical parade. At one point Lane was drumming on a tin can, James was wildly beating two measuring cups together, and I was using my microplane sleeve as a trumpet, all as we ran circles at a dizzying pace around the table.

There is nothing quite like baking on a rainy day, so I made some crackers during nap time. I told you before how I had made these crackers once, but they were too greasy. I tried substituting half the butter for olive oil, and they turned out perfect. My only regret is that I made just one batch.

After nap (and much cracker munching) we pulled on our boots and our rain jackets and headed out to do some puddle jumping. We happen to have a puddle the size of a lake that forms each time it rains at the park down the street.

You can imagine what took place.

So, these are the simple and wonderful ways we spend our time... what does everyone else do on a rainy day?

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sweet and salty tempeh fajitas

I am not sure if I have ever confessed to you that I am a picky eater. But, it's true. I am extremely picky. There are many things I dislike. Among them: mayonnaise, cucumbers, and meat. Honestly, I can't really stand the taste of meat. I also despise preparing it. I would surely be a vegetarian if it were not for my wonderful husband, who doesn't consider a meal actually a meal unless it contains a component that once had a face.

I do, however, very much enjoy meat substitutes. Especially tempeh. The grainy texture is much better than tofu, and it takes on whatever flavors you marinate and cook it in.

If you have never prepared or eaten tempeh before, this is a great recipe to start with. It is sweet and salty (obviously, hence the name), easy, and quite satisfying.

Sweet and salty tempeh fajitas
adapted from this recipe

1 cup diced pineapple
2 limes
1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp cumin
freshly ground pepper and salt
8 oz multigrain tempeh, cut into thin strips
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
1 bell pepper, cut into strips
1 white onion, cut into slices the long way
1 bunch green onions, chopped
about 1 cup broth
cilantro
whole wheat tortillas

Place pineapple, juice of one lime, soy sauce, and cumin in a food processor and puree. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour pineapple mixture over tempeh strips and refrigerate for at least two hours.
Heat a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add one tbsp of olive oil, then place bell pepper, onion, and tempeh in the pan, reserving marinade. Cook, and cook, and cook, stirring occasionally. Add the other tbsp of olive oil, then the broth little by little as the mixture cooks and the moisture is used up. Sprinkle in green onions and add the reserved marinade just before done.
Once the tempeh is browned and the veggies are tender, take off the heat. Warm tortillas. Place tempeh mixture into a tortilla, sprinkle with cilantro, and fold up. Serve with lime slices. Enjoy.

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Tuscan White Bean Stew

In case you have been following along, I feel like I should update you on the house situation after the last post. Let me just put it this way: the house-hunting saga will continue. The seller decided not to sell his house mid-negotiation. "Unusual," you may think, yet that is the second time that has happened to us. One of these days I will write an entire post and fill you in on our house hunt from beginning to (hopefully) end. 

Anyway, on to more exciting and enjoyable things, like hot soup on a cold day. This soup is hearty, although it  could even be served to a vegan friend. It is super flavorful thanks to the abundance of rosemary and garlic. And it is just about the only soup I can think of that has a satisfying crunch, thanks to the crouton topping. 

My dad made it for James and I some time last month when we were over there for a visit, and I was excited to get the recipe and share it with you. When he emailed it to me, I was surprised at how few ingredients it included. It begins by infusing some olive oil with garlic (very easy, and a good thing to know how to do), and the rest is very simple. I pureed a cup and a half to make it stew-like, but you could leave it more like a soup, or puree more to create a thicker consistency. Any way you make it, it is sure to fill you up and warm you up in the cold, rainy weather.

Tuscan White Bean Stew
adapted from my dad's recipe which was adapted from the Mayo Clinic Cookbook

5 tbsp olive oil, divided

3 cloves garlic, quartered

3 cloves garlic, chopped

about 4 cups artisan bread, cut into cubes

1 can white beans, undrained

1 white onion, coarsely chopped

2 cups coarsely chopped carrots

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

3 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary

2 cups broth

Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the 3 quartered garlic cloves and let cook a couple minutes. Then remove the pan from the heat and let the oil and garlic stand about 10 minutes. Discard the garlic, and return the pan to medium heat. Add the bread cubes and saute, stirring often, until light brown and crispy. Set aside. 

Add 2 tbsp olive oil to a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and carrots, stirring until onions begin to brown and carrots begin to tenderize, about 15 minutes. Stir in the chopped garlic, chopped rosemary, salt, and pepper and cook a couple minutes. Then add the can of beans and the broth. Bring to a boil, then let simmer at least 10 minutes. 

Remove about 1 1/2 cups of the soup and puree in a blender or food processor. Return to the pot and stir well. Garnish each bowl of soup with croutons and a rosemary sprig if desired. Enjoy.

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Little Helpers, Big Lessons

Long before I even found out that I was pregnant with James, I decided that I wanted to be the type of parent that takes action rather than reacts to issues as they come up. Raising a human being doesn't just happen. It takes preparation, planning ahead, and thinking through how you are going to deal with and handle situations. There is no correct set of guidelines to follow. Each parent handles things differently, which is why every child is different.

One thing I have tried to be deliberate about from the beginning is having James help out around the house. I know it may sound crazy since James is only one and a half, but it's not like we wait until they understand language to speak to them, so why wait until they understand what chores are to ask them to help out?

I truly believe that if we make helping out fun, if we engage children as we help them do things around the house, and we step back to appreciate what we have accomplished, then maybe there will never be a need to bribe children into doing checklists of chores. If we fail to give children the positive outlook of chores being fun and productive activities we can do together, they will just do a quick and sloppy job at anything we force them to do down the road so that they can move on to what they really want to do. And who knows how this may affect their schooling and even their job performance in the future?... Do you see what I mean about being deliberate in my actions? Everything we do has a consequence!

The other benefit of allowing young children to "help" with chores is that you are interacting with them rather than trying to get something done quickly while they are playing by themselves (we all know that doesn't work anyway). Here's an example: I may be trying to make dinner, or throw some baked good in the oven for an event the next day, but James wants me to play with him. I could try to do everything by myself in the kitchen while repeating over and over "Hold on, sweetie, mommy will come play with you in a minute... why don't you go pick out a book and mommy will come read it in a minute?... Mommy just has to get this into the oven... James, hold on just a second..." on and on and on. This only results in a bite on the back of my leg. Not kidding. That's exactly what James does when he is frustrated that I am not paying attention to him. And guess what? He has learned that I will pay attention to him real fast if he bites me (not to mention, I will let out a pretty awesome sound!). Okay, now here is a different approach: I could not take myself or my schedule so seriously, put an apron on James, put on some fun music, plop him on the counter, and let him "help." The result: a huge mess, a 20 minute task takes an hour, the final product may suffer, but also a whole lot of giggling, dancing, and an important lesson learned: helping is fun and mommy cares more about spending time with you than making a perfect dinner.

Some other ways James "helps" out: putting toys or other items back into containers (I make this fun by having him stand back a little and throw them in, "Basket!"); switching laundry over from the washer to the dryer, or the dryer to a laundry basket (I hand him clothes, and he puts them where they go); carrying armloads of clothes or diapers down the hall to his bedroom and putting them away in the drawers (you have to let your perfectionism go on this one, the pjs will no longer be folded, or in the correct drawer!); taking recycle items out to the garage and putting them in the bins; emptying the dishwasher (he takes things out and hands them to me).... the list could go on, but I'm sure you get the point. Just remember: the things we teach them now will last their entire lives, so have fun, don't take yourself too seriously, and applaud them tremendously when they do help out, you will be surprised how much they will want to do.

(PS Could everyone please say a prayer/ light a candle/ send out good vibes/ whatever it is you do... We found a house we like and may be putting in our fourth -yes, fourth- offer on a house... more to come, and thanks!)

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Maple, Berry, and Pear Dessert

I've been thinking about my little blog a lot lately, and planning in my head several posts that may or may not ever come to fruition. The reason I have been thinking more than blogging? Could it be because I am too busy taking care of a 60 pound dog who had a tumor removed from her head and we now lovingly call her Frankendog? No. Possibly because my toddler has a terrible cold and he nor his parents can ever sleep due to the coughing? Wrong again. Then it must be the obsessive house hunting that has seemed to take over my life?...

The actual reason is that every time I get on my computer to write a blog, I get side tracked reading other people's, and before I know it an hour has passed, nap time is over, and it's back to reality.

Reading all my friends blogs is seriously like a part-time job (that I don't get payed for and love doing... so maybe not like a job), and is even more time consuming when they post like everyday.

Anyway, here is a little recipe I threw together last night because we had a sweet tooth and needed something to go with our vanilla ice cream. Oh, and I needed to remedy the fact that I bought pears at Costco and they all ripened at once.

Maple, Berry, and Pear Dessert
3 1/2 cups pears, peeled and sliced
1 1/2 cups berries (frozen then thawed, of course, unless you live on a different planet where berries are actually in season)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups oats
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
pinch of salt
6 tbsp butter, chilled and cut into small (pea-sized) pieces
vanilla ice cream, for serving

Combine the fruit, maple syrup, and vanilla in the bottom of a baking dish.
Mix together the oats, brown sugar, spices, salt, and stir in the butter pieces. Sprinkle oat mixture evenly over berry mixture and bake 35-40 minutes at 400 degrees.
Serve hot over cold vanilla ice cream. Enjoy.

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You Know You're a Mom When...

Does anyone else remember "The Family Circus" that would appear in the comics every Sunday? (It's possible that it is still around, but we don't get the paper; who has time to read it anyway?) Every once in a while, the comic would read: "It's apparent your a parent" and then it would go on to show all the tell-tale signs that signal to others that you indeed have offspring. It was pretty cute.

Lately, I have been thinking of several of my own:

1. You need to squeeze past someone in public, so you blurt out: "Beep, beep!"

2. Your phone, sunglasses, and camera are constantly covered in little finger prints.

3. Your own clothes shopping is done at Costco. As one mom friend said to me "...I mean, you're already there..." (Did anyone else recently pick up that eight dollar DKNY hoodie? No? Just me?)

4. You sing obnoxious songs that you learn from your child's toys. Lane came into the kitchen the other day serenading me with: "The Weebles weeble-wobble, but they don't fall down... The weebles! The weebles!"

5. You carry Kleenex (mostly used) and a binky in every handbag and every pocket of every jacket you own.

6. You leave the house with a really obvious wardrobe malfunction... obvious to everyone else anyway. Here is a small sampling of some of my own clothing issues: deodorant on the outside of my armpits on my shirt (so distracted by a little one, I forgot to reach inside my shirt while applying), inside-out clothing, taking off my jacket and realizing that what is underneath should have never been paired with my pants/shoes (i.e. brown on brown on brown- yikes).... the list could go on.

7. You decide to stop by a popular clothing store while on a romantic getaway with your spouse and buy nothing over the size 4T.

8. You use the words "bink" and "nums" in casual conversation with other adults.

9. Your main concerns when house hunting become proximity to parks and libraries, safety of stairways, and school ratings.

10. You do all you can to stifle it, but bust out laughing when anyone who doesn't have a child tells you how exhausted they are.

... I am sure you moms can think of plenty to add to my list. I would love to hear them!

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I yam what I yam: a corny pancake recipe

I have previously claimed that I am not into cheesy recipe names, but I was lying in bed last night dreaming of these pancakes (what, not everyone dreams of breakfast as they are trying to fall asleep?) and Cheaper by the Dozen Part II kept popping into my head, causing me to laugh out loud in bed:


image from this website after I google-imaged it


Such a perfect nerdy dad T-shirt. I love it.

Anyway, I was thinking about that shirt because I had baked and peeled a yam, and I wanted to use it for breakfast. What better use for it than to put it into one of my top ten favorite foods: pancakes.

...and why else is it corny beside the play on words with "yam"? Oh, because I put corn meal in the pancakes. I know, so clever.

Also clever is that you have given your family a serving of vegetables, a hit of protein, and a some good, healthy carbs to start their day.

I yam what I yam: a corny pancake recipe
1 yam, baked and peeled
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream (or plain yogurt)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
butter for cooking
real maple syrup for drizzling

Place first five ingredients (through vanilla) in a blender or food processor and process until smooth.
Place dry ingredients (ww flour through allspice) in a medium bowl and whisk together. Add wet ingredients and stir just to combine. Let sit while the griddle heats.
Melt a little butter on a griddle over medium heat. Scoop about 1/4 cup of batter onto the griddle and flip when bubbles form on the top. Allow to cook through. (note that pancakes will be moist inside, even when cooked well) Enjoy.

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No-Bake Cookies, Lightened

....okay, maybe not lightened. They are still dense, chewy, and chocolaty. But I did remove over half the sugar, halved the butter, and added some extra cocoa for a rich chocolate taste, and some peanut butter for gooey-chewy denseness. Doesn't sound like much compromise, huh?

To lighten the cookies even more you could simply melt chocolate chips and peanut butter together, then stir in some oats. I will have to do some further investigation.

No- Bake Cookies, Lightened 
by request of Jane, from her comment on this post
recipe adapted from several that I found on allrecipes.com
makes one dozen

3/4 cup brown sugar (or white, but I feel that brown sugar is richer tasting)
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup butter or trans-fat free tub margarine
1/2 cup non-fat or low-fat milk
pinch of salt
3 cups oats (quick oats work best)
heaping 1/2 cup all natural peanut butter
2 tsp vanilla
cooking spray

Coat a muffin pan with cooking spray or fill with liners.

Combine the sugar, cocoa powder, butter (or margarine), milk, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring ingredients to a boil and cook about a minute, stirring. Remove from heat and add oats, peanut butter, and vanilla, stirring well to combine. Pour evenly into the prepared muffin tin. Place in refrigerator to cool for about 10 minutes. Carefully remove the cookies from the muffin tin and wrap individually in plastic wrap before you eat them all. Enjoy.

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Thankful

For the past week we have been in Corvallis with Lane's entire extended family who came from all over the country for a reunion. It was a typical family vacation for us all, complete with flight delays, toothaches, and the stomach flu. The latter of which afflicted both James and I while we were there. (I caught it the night before the big family photo shoot. I can hardly wait to see those pics.)

It was miserable. I was achy, feverish, and, worst of all, had no appetite. For several days following the flu, I continued to get stomach aches every time I ate, which was really awful because I normally enjoy eating so much.

We came home exhausted and had a couple of crazy busy days, and then Lane also came down with the flu.

Now, I am not saying any of these things are excuses for neglecting my little blog, but only my humble explanation of the circumstances. I had really great intentions for a bunch of post ideas I have had, but currently I am just trying to keep my head above water while taking care of one sick big person and one very energetic little person all by myself. (Oh, and the little person is also keeping both the big people and the dog up all night.)

I know what you must be thinking right now: "she hasn't posted in eons, and then when she finally does, all she does is whine?" But, in fact, what I am really getting at in all my blabbering is that lately I have realized how grateful I am for so many things in my life that I usually take completely for granted.
Let me explain:

• my car- since it is currently not working and has not been for about three weeks now
• Lane's car- without which we would have gone no where over the last three weeks
• power- we had a random power outage for about an hour one evening a couple weeks ago and I kept tripping over things and losing James
• my health- since the flu
• my husband- since he has the flu
• our house- I love visiting family, but it is oh so nice to be home

...the list could go on and on. 

I once heard someone ask the question "What would your life look like if all the things that you haven't thanked God for suddenly disappeared?" It really made me think. How many people, how many daily experiences, how many body parts even, or senses, would all vanish because I have never taken the time to thank God for every amazing blessing I have. 

Sometimes it takes the absence of things or people to make us truly grateful for their presence. I am trying to be more aware and to thank God for all the present things and people in my life as I encounter them. 

Current example at this moment: thank you, God, for Seinfeld reruns, peppermint tea, and Hershey kisses. 

And thank you all for reading my rambling. Happy New Year. 

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