Craving the ocean

Every year or so, I get really antsy and start craving some ocean time.  To say that I love the ocean seems like understatement.  Some of my happiest moments are when I have been on a beach - picnic with friends in Hawaii, a friend's wedding in Maine, my own wedding in Tulum.  I don't care what the location is so long as there is sand between my toes.  Something about the waves crashing, the smell of salt and suntan lotion mixed together, drinks with little umbrellas in them - all this makes my heart go pitter-patter.

Photo credit: ffffound

12,054 days of life

Happy birthday to me.  Today I am 33. I have been alive for 12,054 days.

I am firm believer that birthdays are meant to be celebrated with gusto.  That this day is a true day of celebration.  A day to say thank you to the fact that you were born.  A day that you are proud that you have made it this far.  Sure, you may have a few more wrinkles, may have some extra grey hairs, and may have to give up hope that you will ever look good in a string bikini again.  But that is okay by me.  It is all proof of a life well lived.

So happy birthday to me.  If anyone can make a few extra grey hairs look fierce, it is me!

Pity party

So it is the day before my birthday and I am cranky. 

Little B caught a second cold right on the tails of this last cold.  And has now shared it with me.  So both of us are home sick, running fever, and feel crummy.  And of course it is beautiful outside and the sunshine is calling, but not for us runny-nosed girls.

Not how I envisioned my Birthday Extravaganza Week.  Having a pity party moment.

Photo via Stumble Upon

Chinese Cabbage Salad

After a weekend of overindulgence - margaritas, steak, potatoes, chips and salsa, and lots of cheesecake - David and I were craving something more on the ligher side.  So for a quick weeknight dish, I mixed up this salad made of cabbage, almond, green onions, and more.  It is so good and will last us all week long.

Chinese Cabbage Salad

Dressing:

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Salad:

1 head Bok Choy or Napa cabbage, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 pkg ramen noodles
4 oz slivered or sliced almonds
1 tablespoon butter

Mix dressing ingredients. (Speed mixer will thicken dressing.) Set aside. Chop cabbage and green onions.  Crush ramen noodles. Discard flavor packet. Mix with almonds and butter and brown in skillet. Use as garnish on top of salad.  Mix as needed then serve.

*This salad should be made and served immediately as it will get soggy if stored after mixing.

Slow Cooker Pork Soft Tacos

Came across this recipe for Slow Cooker Pork Tacos over on the food blog, 5 second rule.  Doesn't this look delicious?  I am planning to fire up the slow cooker with this recipe this week.

Serves 6, with leftovers
1 onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
Salt and pepper
3 pounds pork shoulder (may be called pork butt, which is part of the shoulder)
One 12-ounce jar of your favorite salsa (I use salsa verde)
Corn tortillas, warmed
Any combination of: fresh lime, sour cream, shredded cheese, sliced olives, fresh salsa, cilantro, or beans
Place the onion and garlic in the bottom of a slow cooker.  Sprinkle the pork generously with salt and pepper, and lay it atop the vegetables. Pour the salsa over the pork.  Cover, turn slow cooker to low setting, and cook for 9 hours, or longer.  Remove meat to a cutting board and shred with 2 forks.  (You may discard the liquid.)
Serve pork with warm corn tortillas and garnishes of choice.

Birthday Extravaganza Weekend

I had such a great week this week.  Work stuff is really coming together nicely.  New designer started.  New Online Marketing person starts on Monday.  And with the exception of Little B being sick, yet again, this week we were also really productive on the home-front as well.  Now that it is officially the weekend, it is time to play!

Here is our fun to-do list for the weekend:

• Fashion Friday at work- huge success - check.
• Friday night pizza pig-out - check.
• Take pictures in the bluebonnets
• Wait in suspense on the arrival of our friends' baby - check.
• Meet beautiful, new baby
• Open not 1, but 2 kickass birthday presents - feeling very loved - check.
  
• Officially begin my Birthday Extravaganza Week!  (because 1 day is just not enough)
• Family Birthday celebration that involves steaks and homemade cheesecake
• Enjoy some gorgeous weather with a margarita in hand

Photo Credit: Jose Villas Weddings

Welcome to the world, Little Ronnie!

Yeah!  I am so excited.  Our friends, Stacy and Ronnie, had their baby last night.  She is the one that we threw a baby shower for in February.  "Little Ronnie" is doing super-well and is so cute.  I am hoping that we can meet him this weekend.  And of course, we can not go empty-handed.  So my question for you fellow mommies, what was your favorite gift brought to you in the hospital or once you got home?

Fashion Friday

At Yoga Yoga (where I work), we are very casual.  Most people wear yoga clothes, do not wear shoes and, for some, even washing their hair is optional.  Our environment is not business casual... it is pajama casual.  And while I am definitely not complaining, there is an element of dressing up for the work day that I miss.

So this Friday, my team is starting a Fashion Friday trend.  Every 4th Friday of the month, participants dress up in their finest fashion of their own interpretation - prom sheek, hangover suave, or corporate barbie - to walk down the runway of fashion judgement.  My team will serve as the fashion judges, which is scary when you think about unfashionable we are.  And a much coveted prize will be awarded to the most fashionable.

Silly? Yes.  Ridiculous? For sure.  Will we get some great laughs out of this?  Absolutely.  Now I just have to remember where my red patent leather pumps are.

Photo credit: Country Style

Handlebar Mustache

If I were a guy and could grow a mustache, I would sport a handlebar mustache.  I don't why but I have wanted one for as long as I can remember.  What do you think?  I could sooo rock one of these, yes?

Photo credits: Sports Illustrated, Wyatt Earp, Motorcycle Insurance

Happy Earth Day!

Photo credit: Brookelyn Photography

Sandwich any one?

Such a cute do-it-yourself project from Myrtle & Eunice.  I think Little B would love this for her future play kitchen.

Please go directly to my closet

I love this dress... just my color.

The Tiffany Dress by Yaya Aflalo

Bathroom Bliss

Photo credits: John Coolidge, Light Locations, Mikael Dubois

Book Lust

Photo via Desire to Inspire

Right this second

 

 Right this second, I am sitting on the couch in my pajamas with my guy.  Little B is sound asleep in bed.  David has made us the most delicious chocolate chip cookies.  The cookies are still a bit warm and melt in my mouth.  It is lightly thundering outside.  Happy Saturday night.

Mmmm sweet potatoes

Night on the town

Nothing like a little Mexican food with the family to close down the work week.

Hey weekend!

We are in for a wet weekend, here in Austin.  But that is okay with me.  Rain is just what we need - for the garden, for the allergies, for the need to have a lazy weekend.  I just want to curl up on the couch and read a book.

Photo credit: Ericka McConnell

Simply Breathtaking

I think this Mark Shaw's photography is simply breathtaking.

Baby girl, we need to talk

To the baby who kept me up all last night... how can you be so chipper?

In my next life...

In my next life, when I am not as clutzy and prone to spilling, I want an all white bedroom like this.  I would love to think that I could handle this bedroom now. But who am I kidding, I can't keep a white shirt clean past breakfast.

Photo credit: House & Garden

For the love of tub

My obsession with clawfoot tubs continues.  Look at these beauties!

Photo credits: House & Garden, Unknown, Katherine Sorrell, Real Living

Take Me Here

Photo credit: Gaelle Le Boulicaut

Sick baby girl

Little B is sick.  I expected that she would get a cold from the daycare, I just didn't think it would happen this fast.  Poor baby girl.  This is my least favorite part of motherhood.

Lunch in sun

Spring in Texas is such an amazing time.  All this beautiful weather makes me want to be outside as much as possible.  In the spring time, our backyard becomes our second living room, dining room, and kitchen.

As much time as we are spending out there, I want it to be beautiful.  Here are some on my inspiration points.

Photo credits: Pure Style, Pure Style, Russell Sadur, Unknown

Olive Oil Granola

The Kitchn has collected a great list of Homemade Granola recipes.  I am going to try the Olive Oil Granola recipe from the New York Times.  Why people still go out and buy the blah, generic, prepackaged granola is beyond me.  Maybe they just need to try one of these recipes to change their minds.

Who wants lemonade?

Image via hostess with the mostess

Oh Gorgeous Weekend

Yet another weekend, friends. Even though this past week was a short one for me, it still seemed to drag on and on.  But the weekend is now here and I could not be happier!

My weekend will be filled with the smell of fresh cut grass, hamburgers on the grill, and swinging in the hammock.  What are yall up to?

Photo credit: ceece

Rolling guest house

I am tempted to pull one of these into the backyard and call it a guest house.  What do you think?  I would love to spend the night in here.

Photo credit: Snail Trail

Before Chanel

I want to see this movie.

Pancake party

Pancake party, anyone?

Photo via Design Sponge

Mommas & their Little Girls

I love this photo of Jackie Kennedy.  Looking at it makes me think of all the wonderful, playful moments to come with Little B.

Conquering solid foods

Little B has been conquering solid foods with a vengeance. This girl loves to eat.  So far we have tried apples, pears, prunes, green beans, apricots, mashed potatoes, peaches and bananas. She was a bit unsure about the green beans and the mashed potatoes at first... but by the 3rd try, she would inhale those as she does with everything else.

So now every week, I am pureeing her food for the week and freezing it all in little ice cube trays.  It is making for a very colorful freezer.

1st Day of School

We survived!  Today was Little B's first day of daycare.  Little B did great.  I was a wreck.  I felt so unnatural handing my baby off to someone that I barely know.

 But we made it through and now the hardest part is over.  I feel so much better knowing that not only was she happy, she was thoroughly entertained with all the other kiddos and toys.  She was all smiles when I picked her up, which of course made my heart melt.  We go back tomorrow, but with a lot less anxiousness.

Look what I can do

So now that I am doing yoga more frequently, I am getting better and better.  Look what I did this past week!

It is called astavakrasana, also known as eight-angle pose.  Now I am not saying that I looked as steady as this lady does.  But even in my wobbly-ness, my lower half was off the ground for a solid 10 seconds.

Photo credit: David Roth via Yoga Journal