tanker tracks

Flip-turned Upside Down

2012-01-26T00:55:00.000-08:00

Well... I have been meaning to come out of hiding for some time, but I just haven't had the time or emotional stamina to explain why I went in the first place. Let me start by just saying... Whoa. December was a freaking tough month. I have never been so excited to see a month (or year) end. I started crying when the clock struck midnight on new years eve- almost uncontrollably. I am super glad

Good Bye...

2012-01-01T01:18:00.001-08:00

And good riddance, 2011. You kicked my butt, and I'm glad to see you go. Here's to starting a brand new year! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Wardrobe Wednesday: Belly Edition

2011-12-07T22:34:00.001-08:00

Why is it so awkward to smile in self portraits? Ok, so for some reason I always take outfit/belly photos while wearing this skirt, which is awkward because I swear that I wear many different outfits... not just this one. But I guess it works for comparisons sake. It is a little hard to see the bulging belly straight on (not complaining) so I did a couple of profile shots for you Erica...

Baby "Photos"

2011-12-06T13:17:00.000-08:00

We had our 20 week ultrasound this morning. I was conflicted about it from the start, but it was really fun to get to see the little baby moving around, and how adorable is that profile shot? They gave us 2 face photos and one of the foot... and a sealed envelope with the gender so that we can open it Christmas morning! I can't say that waiting to open it is easy, but it's really not that hard

Sitting on my hands...

2011-11-26T18:05:00.001-08:00

Here he is... "Little Brother" I am going a little crazy right now. A good friend of ours had their second child yesterday, and all we got was a text saying "little brother is here" with a time and photo... no name, weight, indication as to how it went. Needless to say, the number of "have you heard anything yet?" texts I have gotten/received in the last 36 hours is almost ridiculous. So....

18 weeks.

2011-11-10T12:51:00.001-08:00

Excuse the leggings-as-pants. Its one of those days. Well, it is pretty much officially to big to hide anymore. I finally told my students last week that I was pregnant, because I kept noticing them staring at my stomach and whispering to each other. At 4.5 months, it was about time, I'd say. I am starting to finally feel better. The nausea has been so.much.worse this time around, and has

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T23:26:00.001-07:00

Despite the 103 fever he was sporting this afternoon, we did manage to make it out for some tricking and treating. And yes, he was totally adorable. Thanks to his Uncle Dirty (in US Navy) for the costume! Sailor Tank We managed to make it out to a party this past weekend, and we had a good time. Well, Reb had a great time, I had a decent time watching everyone get drunk until it was time to

Family Date:: Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-10-18T19:34:00.000-07:00

We made our annual trek out to the Avila Valley Barn this morning to get some fall decorations and ride the hayride. Acutally, Tank and I meet our play group out there almost monthly, but it is always a special trip when daddy gets to join us! Now that school is in session, Reb's schedule is anything but traditional. He doesn't have to be on campus Tuesdays and Thursdays until 4 pm, so we took

Baby on the way...

2011-10-08T20:23:00.000-07:00

After turning down Tank's suggestions of "lamp" "table" and "rug"... we finally took one of his suggestions and nicknamed this little bean "baby dino." (He may have been wearing dinosaur pajamas at the time.) And although he insists that it is a brother, it always refers to it as a girl... such as: "Baby Dino is a brother, Mom. She's a boy." or "Mom, I love her. She's the best." Anyway, we

Fall Fashion: Wednesday

2011-09-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

So, today was another work day, and I was determined to hide my bulging belly a little better today... Luckily, a friend gave me a big bag of clothes/maternity clothes on Monday, and this skirt was in the mix. Love it! Plus, it allowed me to dress up a little fall-ish while still being dressed for the 85 degree weather. My favorite part? It has a satin drawstring/sash that ties in the back.

Fall Fashion: Tuesday

2011-09-27T20:14:00.000-07:00

Well... today was my third migraine in the last 2 weeks, and I didn't even get out of bed until almost 11 am. Tank was so super cute, he kept brining me random things saying "dis will help you fee-o betta momma." Miraculously, he just watched cartoons and ate a cereal bar until I managed to rejoin the living. That being said, I am still in my pajamas. Tank was in his pajamas until about noon,

Fall Fashion: Monday

2011-09-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

So, I am a little late to the game. We took a somewhat spur-of-the-moment trip to Seattle this weekend for a friends wedding- super fun but now I am sooo tired. Today was a teaching day, so I spent all morning at school, meaning I had to look at least a little profesh. I had a cardigan on this morning, but it got hot quicker than I expected, and there was no way to hide the growing baby bump (

The EDD...

2011-09-10T22:27:00.000-07:00

Today is the day that I was "due". I have been dreading today with sudden tears for 6 months, and somehow it still snuck up on me. Wednesday & Thursday of this past week were the hardest... I really wrestled with what I thought I wanted to achieve or experience today- what stress, relief, pain, joy I hoped or dreaded it would bring. I was entirely undecided, and moved to tears almost hourly. I

Updating...

2011-08-08T10:22:00.001-07:00

Hey! I am working on updating what we've missed.... check back though the last few pages if your interested :)

Pesto, anyone?

2011-08-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

I made 3 quarts worth of collard green pesto a month ago, and 6 quarts last weekend. I used the same recipe as before, but added a big bunch of basil (from the garden) to the garlic and green olives. Holy bejezzees, we have enough basil and collard green pesto to last a year or two. I could trim a stack this big every other week. I never knew that collard greens were THIS productive.

Midstate Fair 2011

2011-07-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

I can't tell... do you think Tank liked the fair? Maybe it had to do with the copious amount of rides we rode. Most rides were 3 tickets each, so I bought 20 thinking "3 tickets each x 3 people = 9 tickets per ride" so we could ride 2 rides. Well, the carnies aren't super strict, so they only took like 1 or 2 tickets per ride, plus, they insisted that the parents ride free. So those 20

Happy Fourth!

2011-07-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

Gandolfuck! What did you say? Look Mom, there's a Gandolfuck! Right there! Huh? Point it out to mommy, please? Right there- it wed, wite, and blue! The fuck! The flag? Yeah, the Gandolfuck! The 'grand ol' flag'? Yeah! Thats what Eek's talking about. YouTube Video

Swimming!

2011-07-01T10:37:00.001-07:00

We have being going down the the local pool a lot lately, and guess who FINALLY decided to go under water today? Luckily, our friend was there with her water proof camera :) Tank especially loves going with his friends! When I ask him every morning what he wants to do, he enthusiastically shouts "Big Pool with Friends!"

Self Realization

2011-07-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

So, just now I was listening to Pandora, while cleaning the kitchen. Suddenly a song came on and I instantly loved it. It took me a few moments to get over to the iPod/speakers to see what was playing, and I am still in shock... It was Michael Bublé's Haven't Met You Yet. Not only am I now a mom, but my birthday is next week (one year off of 30) so I have been thinking about what it means to be

Wardrobe Wednesday: Garden Chic*

2011-06-22T15:58:00.000-07:00

So, this is what I look like 90% of the time... you know... totally ridiculous because most days I don't really leave the house for more than a quick trip to the grocery or bank. It has been hot (between 95-100) for the last few weeks, so I have been cutting off all of my old pants in shorts. And, since we spend SO.MUCH.TIME outside either in the pool or tending to the garden, I have been

Pool Time

2011-06-20T12:45:00.001-07:00

When it's hot... We hit the pool. - Posted from my iPhone

Daddies Day

2011-06-19T17:28:00.000-07:00

Father's Day Present, Card, and Coffee Or... "happy mothers day for daddy" as Tank has been calling it. Really, it was more of a "fathers day weekend" around here... we let him sleep in and made a big breakfast and opened presents on Saturday since we had big plans on Sunday. (Well, he got to sleep in a bit on Sunday too... plus I made a choizo, potato, and cheddar quiche for brekky... yummm).

Personalized Ad Fail

2011-06-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

Ok, so we all know that the internet is a creepy, information collecting place. Sometimes, it is an individual actually trying to inflict harm on you (SCARRY) but most often, it is a big corporation (AOL, Google, Yahoo, etc) trying to collect information about you so that they can show you relevant ads, so that you will buy more stuff (less scary, more annoying). Well... last night when updating

I Made Cheese! In My Kitchen!

2011-06-09T17:19:00.000-07:00

Um, yes. You read that right. I made cheese... and it was AMAZING. SO GOOD. And you totally can too! Two weeks ago, a few girlfriends came over, and Reb took off with Tank, and we made 2 different types of cheese. Using the detailed directions in One Block Feast (my book review here), we made fresh herb cheese and a ricotta. Both were oh. so. yummy. (Special thanks to Rachel B. for most of the

Wardrobe Wednesday: Interview v3.0

2011-06-08T07:50:00.000-07:00

I can never decide between the vague-yet-better-looking B&W photo, and the crappy-lighting-yet-in-color photo... Monday I had my 3rd (and hopefully final) interview for a teaching job. This time I was interviewed by two high school students who I could potentially be teaching. Prepping for this interview was more challenging than the first two... I honestly had no idea what to expect. What

Review: One Block Feast

2011-06-07T15:15:00.000-07:00

Can I please just tell you how much I love this book? I saw it first mentioned on make grow gather, and before I got halfway through Kelly's description, I had already purchased it. I was not disappointed. Motivated by the locavore movement (specifically the "100 mile diets") the team at Sunset magazine decided to take it a step further... a "one block diet". What I didn't know is that the

Shelton & Annas Wedding

2011-06-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

We had an amazing time this weekend... staying in a house with 12 of our best friends (sans child!) celebrating the marriage of Jonathan Shelton & Anna Laurel. Wine tasting, BBQ, gin punch, late late nights... refreshing for the soul- but not the body! There was a freak June storm, foiling many plans for outdoor forays (including the wedding reception), but they were still able to do the actual

Umm....

2011-05-31T23:14:00.000-07:00

This is quite possibly the funniest thing I have ever seen. Well, I mean, the photo is pretty funny, but I laughed so hard I cried while reading the caption... (courtesty of Awkward Family Photos) "This memorial day, we remember some things and try to forget about others" "So, I had just given birth to my first son at a local birthing center and there had been another couple that had given

2011 Sunscreen Showdown

2011-05-30T15:52:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love the mama's who run the website SafeMama.com... and they just released their 2011 Safer Sunscreen Cheat Sheet! They are much more through (and strict) than the EWG (not to say that the EWG is all bad... in fact, they are a GREAT first step if you thinking it's time to finally stop using and eating toxic products; but sometimes they are a little lax with what they label as "ok"

Foodie Friday: Sushi Tacos

2011-05-20T02:28:00.000-07:00

Ok, it isn't really a foodie item, it's more of a ghetto rip off. And, it's not technically sushi, but it totally hit the spot. Aaand, it was surprisingly good (think better than grocery store sushi, but not quite restaurant). Aaaand, reee-diculously quick. Aaand, really portable. Aaand, cheap- you could probably make like 18 little sushi tacos (enough to constitute a meal for 3 adults) for $4.

2011 Garden Update

2011-05-19T01:16:00.000-07:00

Ummm... Our garden rocks this year. I am not quite ready to take it to the bank yet since we haven't acutually gotten any produce just yet, but honestly, check this out this green: Left to Right, Top to Bottom: (Row 1) Corn, Lettuce Strawberries; (Row 2) Peas, Potatoes, Carrots; (Row 3) Basil, Onions, Zucchini. Rainbow of Eggs Our little babies are growing up so fast! I am also proud to add

Wardrobe Wednesday: Teacher-ish

2011-05-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

This outfit comes in two versions... L: Rock-star Version; R: Professional Version (Just ignore the writing on the mirror... Reb is working out ideas for a potential doctoral thesis. It does kind of add a neat aesthetic though, right?) So... I went to tour and drop off my (ridiculously enormous) resume/application to teach at a small private high school today. Seriously... by the end, the

Dashing Drinks

2011-05-17T15:36:00.000-07:00

Um... how adorable are these glass drinking jars from ACME Party Box Company? Yeah, pretty freaking adorable. (Actually, I don't think they have anything that isn't super freaking adorable.) I came across their website somehow a few months ago, and have loved pouring thorough all of their gorgeous and eco-friendly (read: reusable) party supplies and idea. That was also about the time that we

Missing Daddy

2011-05-15T13:03:00.001-07:00

This is what happens when daddy is gone to a bachelor party all weekend... He comes home exhausted, flops down on the couch, and gets attacked by the kissing monster. Tank's been climbing on/feeding/and tickling Reb for 20 minutes now! - Posted from my iPhone

Foodie Friday: Mint Syrup

2011-05-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

We have a crazy amount of mint growing in our yard. (Well, its really that awkward part of our neighbors yard that is nearly impossible for them to get to, but right next to our back door. Technically, some of it grows on our side, but I am sure they don't mind that I pick it... they usually just mow it all down when they remember it's there.) Last summer, Kelly of Make Grow Gather did a post

Painting Man

2011-05-09T11:30:00.001-07:00

"This is my job mom. I'm a painting man. This is Eeks* job." (*his name for himself) The artist at work. - Posted from my iPhone

Silly Goon

2011-05-08T11:15:00.000-07:00

This is why I love being a mother... getting to experience the extreme sillyness that exisits in life we adults are moving too fast to notice...At gymnastics... in his Kanye shades. (It is rare that I catch a photo of him thats not blurry.) Excited about his new "moca-cycle" L: Playing "hide and poop" R: In the hardware store, where he put a pipe between his legs and said "Hey mom, look! A

Foodie Friday: Brunch-y Salad

2011-05-06T07:54:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this has no real name yet (open to suggestions) but it was awesome. It was mostly just leftovers from dinner the night before (the previously discussed Alsatian Tarte Flambee) but it was awesome. I couldn't help myself... I started eating before I grabbed my camera! Brunch Salad: Mix: large handful of arugula 2 medium pieces of prosciutto, torn to a mouth friendly size champagne

Train Day

2011-05-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

Oh. My. Goodness. We had the best Sunday ever. Saturday was the Pacific Coast Railroad Round-Up (to benefit the SLO Railroad Museum) at the Santa Margarita Ranch. On Friday night, I called the Train Store to inquire about ticket availability, and after she gave me the low down (available at the door, and each ticket comes with one free train ride), she mentioned that there was going to be an

Happy Everything

2011-04-29T14:46:00.000-07:00

In the February edition of Martha Stewart Living Magazine this year, she had an article about making personalized greeting cards... and suggested taking photos of your loved ones holding up blank signs so that you could go and write what ever message you wanted to who ever you wanted directly on the card after the fact... "a card for one - or all!" (See her examples at right- click image to

Wardrobe Wednesday: Easter Edition

2011-04-27T22:16:00.000-07:00

Tank looks like such a thug in this shot! I went a little crazy with our Easter outfits this year. I generally try to get us into something that is in the same general color family, but this year I really went for it. I found a yard and a half of a pinstripe fabric at a thrift store for $1.15, and decided to make a dress out of it. As it turned out, there wasn't quite enough fabric to make the

Eggs... Finally!

2011-04-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

It took about 2 weeks after getting our new chickens for us to get our first egg. I was pretty nervous that we had gotten swindled. But, now a month later, they are really cooking. Today, every laying chicken (one is still to young) laid an egg! (This is rare.) I love the variety. One big, dark brown egg, two medium light brown eggs, one blue egg, and one tiny little white egg. The blue is from

Cheap Art!

2011-04-26T10:16:00.000-07:00

I needed some wall art for our dining room, so I gave Tank some 11x14 poster board and some left over paint that matched our house, and let him go to town. They are clockwise from top left: triangles, trees, circles, and lines. I love them. Super modern, yet very personal. And he is super proud of them. I found some super cheap frames at Michael's and put them up almost immediately. I hope

Shifting Focus*

2011-04-17T15:59:00.001-07:00

With all of our garden planting, coop building, yard cleaning we have been doing, the inside of our house has been totally neglected. Today, we are switching gears a bit, and staying inside despite the glorious weather. It needed to happen... I seriously had 7 loads of laundry. I also have had a bunch of little tiny projects building up... One of which was hanging my jewelry holder. Here's to

Flea Market

2011-04-14T07:45:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago, we headed south for my youngest cousins wedding (!) We had a good time visiting with my moms side of the family... and it's a large one- my mom is one of 5 children, and so there are lots and lots of cousins. He's not the last to marry, but he is the youngest!I am awful at remembering to take photos, but I did manage to grab this one above. (I am sure my "Count of Auntie

Sleeping Beauty

2011-04-13T09:31:00.001-07:00

This is how awesome my hair was when I woke this morning...- Posted from my iPhone

2011 Garden Remake!

2011-04-07T23:23:00.000-07:00

BEFORE:Garden area and Chicken coop...Left: Newly Completed, fenced with chain link, chicken wire, and hog wire. March, 2010.Right: One year later, right after we finished ripping out all of the fencing. February 2011. Hen House... Then and then... Left- Newly Completed, March 2010; Right- One year later, February 2011 Hen House remake in progress. March, 2011 We have been working really

Healing

2011-04-03T00:17:00.000-07:00

It's happening. Or, beginning to happen, at least. I took the medicine, and it sucked, but I did it. And I am glad. It hurt like hell, but I took the narcotic the doc gave me because unlike childbirth, there was no point, goal, in this pain. It was a strange experience, and even startling at times. There are some gory details that seem like to much to share... I'll spare you. But along with

a follow up...

2011-03-24T00:16:00.000-07:00

lI have been wanting to write a follow up to my last post since I wrote it, but I have found it hard to just sit down and actually write. The last post was mostly facts, and dealt with very little of the emotional ocean I have been adrift in since. After that first night, I felt like I was scrambling to keep ahold of the details; I would just sit and try to organize and categorize everything that

on loss

2011-03-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

***this is really more for me than the public... I needed to write to start healing. You are welcome to read this, but it really falls outside the realm of what I would normally post*** As I sit, I can barley see the screen through the wall of tears that I can not seem to control. They come and go at will, rendering me almost incapacitated at a moments notice. The longing is deep, and cuts

Office Makeover

2011-03-07T08:37:00.000-08:00

I just realized that when I showed you how we redid/rearranged all the rooms, I left out the office. Just kidding. I left it out intentionally. That room is almost never clean, so it took me a while to get it presentable enough to take photos :) The office before: messy, chaotic overflow of clothes, instruments, furniture and craft supplies. After: Functional Guestroom, music storage and...craft

Silly Time

2011-03-06T23:23:00.001-08:00

Just had to share this amazing photo of Tank and his two good friends. Thanks for sharing, A&M! - Posted from my iPhone

Dining Room Hutch

2011-03-04T23:03:00.000-08:00

Before: After: You may remember a while back when I had an amazing score at our local swapmeet on a set of vintage dishes. Well, they have finally moved into their new home... and I love them even more. I had to wait quite a long time for my husband to install the cup hooks, but it was worth it. I also got a set of ramekins and soufflé

Cleaning out the garage...

2011-02-22T08:59:00.001-08:00

At Reb's parents house, we discovered how to keep Tank excited for hours at a time...(the best part is after the the first "run")YouTube Video- Posted from my iPhone

Valentines Play Date

2011-02-17T07:45:00.000-08:00

Monday morning we had a playgroup valentines pink heart-shaped pancake breakfast party (with strawberries and bananas) and made valentines for the daddies. It was so super much fun, and super crazy so I only have a few photos of when people were actually here (still trying to get a few more). We decorated the dining room in red and yellow since red is the required valentine color and we have a

Wardrobe Wednesday: Late Cubed

2011-02-16T21:20:00.000-08:00

So, this post is late in all senses... We went out to dinner tonight to Basil, a Thai restaurant in Paso and it was oh so yummy. Seriously, really good. My favorite was the "brown paper bag" appetizer- a sort of sweet potato mash in a fried won ton "bag". We didn't want to be super selfish and ask my in-laws to babysit on actual Valentines day, so we just made dinner at home monday, and went

Happy Friday!

2011-02-04T10:03:00.001-08:00

Ok, this is me, first thing this morning... Hair undone, no make up. Also, it's my first vlog, so, it's a little embarrassing. And, of course it picked the WORST freeze frame possible. Eh. YouTube VideoHappy Friday!- Posted from my iPhone

Foodie Friday: Pepper & Onion Jelly

2011-01-21T02:22:00.000-08:00

I love our friends. For many, many reasons, only one of which is our Christmas gift exchange. There are really no set rules, and it has evolved over the years as we have all gotten married, but it basically boils down to this... 1) Gifts are (almost always) handmade; -and- 2) Gifts are (almost always) food related; 3) Gifts are always exquisitely wrapped/presented. Examples from years past:

You're a Winner!

2011-01-20T10:26:00.000-08:00

Whose a winner? Well, there were 18 comments, but 17 entries (Cristina... I only counted one of your comments :), so using the random number picker at random.org, which chooses numbers with true randomness (rather than pseudo-random algorithms) I was able to choose a participant at random... And the winner is.. (pause for effect...) Ah ha! Comment number 3...

Sweet Nothings

2011-01-19T10:12:00.000-08:00

My son went on walk with grandma (or "Amie" as he calls her) on Monday, and he brought me back some flowers! My heart nearly melted at the look of excitement he had when he carried it in the house for me. Well, actually, he brought me back one flower, then tore it into little tiny pieces, and then mandated we go back and get more later. Either way, I love how sweet they are, and they look so

Little Sicky

2011-01-18T08:43:00.000-08:00

Um... how sad is this? This is literally what he looked like for a good 3 days. This has been the WORST cold/flu/sickness I have ever encountered as mother. He started coughing last Tuesday (on our way TO playgroup, sorry other kiddos) and had a low fever when I put him to sleep Tuesday night. Wednesday morning? 103.7 F, junky cough, nose that had apparently joined an iron man marathon,

On weaning...

2011-01-17T10:55:00.000-08:00

Now that Tank is 2, I have decided that it is time to start weaning him. I am soo done with breastfeeding, but he is SOO not. He is a booby man. So much so, that he crawled into bed with me this morning, and this was the first thing out of his mouth: "Heek* loves mommies nunny*. Heek loves mommies nunny in Heek's mouth. Tasty. Tasty like gummies* in Heek's mouth. Heek likes mommies

200 Posts! Giveaway!

2011-01-14T15:44:00.000-08:00

A few months (years?) back, one of my best friends shared something with me that she thought I might be the only person in the world who would love it as much as she did... Photo Credit: Design*Sponge Ever since the moment I saw this pantry, I was in love. I have been dreaming up new uses for mason jars, and dreaming of remodeling our pantry/laundry room ever since. (Note: This couple uses

New Bedrooms/Catching Up

2011-01-13T12:33:00.000-08:00

Oh... hello world. I didn't notice you standing over there. Have you been there long? You have? Two months, you say? My, where have I been? I doomed myself to failure. See, a (now long) while back, I said something about doing a giveaway since my 200th post was coming up. I also was in the midst of rearranging the back half of our house (see below) and so I thought a home decor/improvement

We made the news!

2010-11-17T22:48:00.001-08:00

The annual KCOY Turkey Drive was a benefit for the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo, and we kept up our momentum from the amazing Munchkin March, and continued our collections. All of our little munchkins made the local news today as we dropped off the donations... I can even be spotted in the background ;)

Sidewalk Masterpiece

2010-11-15T11:44:00.001-08:00

I have been drawing on the cement very frequently for the last year, but this is my very first scene. Hope you enjoy it!(Just after posting this, I followed Tank inside and noticed this:Awesome.)We have been SUPER busy the last couple of weeks totally rearranging, reorganizing and redecorating the back half of our house, and I can not wait to show you what we have been up to. This is also a good

nunny time

2010-11-04T14:19:00.001-07:00

So, Tank *still* nurses to sleep, and it is his FAVORITE time of day. He talks about it/looks forward to it all day long. He calls nursing "nunny nigh-nights" or just "nunnies". Apparently it is this baby dolls favorite time of day, too. (I found him like this at playgroup this week watching cartoons... his shirt was pulled up and he was even patting the babies back!) He has been on a role

All Star in the making

2010-10-20T20:00:00.001-07:00

Watch out Jeeter/A. Rod/Vladdy... You will likely have some competition next year:YouTube VideoWhile at my in-laws this past weekend, Tank hit a t-ball for the first time, and he hasn't let us go more than 20 minutes with out hearing about it since. Luckily, t's are really cheap, so I picked one up at Target this afternoon. This is literally all we did all day long. -

Mindful Mothers

2010-10-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

"Mindfulness (definition): the calm awareness of one's body, feelings, content of consciousness, or consciousness itself." We are mothers who want to raise our children to be mindful of the culture, environment, community we live in, while actively seeking ways to improve life for those around us. So... I am sort of co-founding a non-profit. It's not totally official with the IRS yet, but we are

Word Explosion

2010-10-18T09:21:00.001-07:00

So, Tanks language has gone crazy this week. He seriously is learning like 20 new words a day right now. Here is a little video from story time last night: YouTube VideoWords in the clip that he had never said as of Friday: Big Little Rhino Horn T-ball Home Other new words as of yesterday: Rain/raining Hooray Toy Cat in the Hat Home spoon (long story involving crazy

$50 for your soul?

2010-10-13T15:54:00.001-07:00

Holy shit. - Posted from my iPhone

It's that time again...

2010-10-13T09:17:00.000-07:00

Time to blog your fashion! I participated in summer fashion week this year, and let me tell you, it was SOOOO FUN. SO FUN. SO FUN. Yes, 3 times the fun. Plus, there are prizes involved. For every day you blog your fashion (and post your linky back to the beautiful Emery Jo over at Moms Are For Everyone!) you get an entry. So... do it just for one day, or for the whole week! Turns out there will

Zucchini & Sweet Potato Bread

2010-10-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, a friend of our (who works on an organic farm) left a RIDICULOUSLY large amount of produce at our house... including a zucchini that was larger than my arm. I started looking for a good recipe for zuch-bread, and stumbled across this one from epicurious.com that also used sweet potatoes. Two veggies for the price of a muffin? Yes please! I made quite a few changes to the

Swap Meet Goddess

2010-10-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

That is my new self proclaimed title (apparently I think pretty highly of myself). But, in this case, it is for a very good reason. LOOK WHAT I GOT! This is quite possibly the most awesome set of dishes I have ever seen. They are a beautiful mustard color, that doesn't quite come through in the pictures. Plus, they are oven/micro/dishwasher safe. The set is *almost* complete... it is missing

Foodie Friday: Open-Faced Tomato & Hummus Sandwich

2010-10-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

There used to be a cafe in Summerland (just south of Santa Barbara) called The French Bulldog (now Cafe Luna) that I would frequent in college. It was just far enough away that there weren't 20 other students, but convenient enough. They had good coffee, great food, and I would frequently run into Michael Keaton, Rob Lowe, and (my favorite) John Cleese. I would always get the same thing every

Capp-faux-ccino

2010-10-07T14:01:00.000-07:00

Alright, we are really getting close now. Seriously, how beautiful is this? I have made another change/improvement in my ongoing quest for a homemade flavored coffee creamer. This one is better than the last, and easier to boot. (See "episodes" one and two.) Somehow, it creates an amazing velvety foam on your plain old cup o' joe. It's like drinking a cappuccino every morning, but with less time

Perfect Fall Day

2010-10-05T17:53:00.001-07:00

Today was the perfect fall day, and the first day that really felt like fall. We had to run into town this morning for a chiropractic appointment. When we got home, we played and wrestled in the leaves on the lawn, played on the slide, and played "stop and go" which Tank is slowly learning. After his nap, it started raining, so we sipped hot cocoa (a first for Tank!) and sat by the window

half done...

2010-10-04T14:20:00.000-07:00

Our wedding season for this year is half done. We only have 1 left! The wedding this past weekend was of a good friend from college, which was SOO FUN because that meant that we got to spend the weekend with lots of other friends from college! And the best part... we got to go baby free thanks to my sister and brother in law! Here are a few photos (loving that Hipstamatic app... just need to

Mobile Blogging?

2010-10-04T02:53:00.000-07:00

Trying out a new app for mobile blogging... This will hopefully mean you will see/hear/read more of me! - Posted from my iPhone

Foodie Friday: Tart of Al Says Lorraine

2010-10-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

So... awhile back (like, way way back in April) we were having some friends over for dinner. She is kind of a foodie, and I started getting a little self conscious about what I was going to make for dinner. So I put this up on facebook: "I am guessing that serving Mac & Cheese to our foodie dinner guests won't fly. Any Suggestions for something good & easy?" Bailey: "red thai curry and rice,

Old Time Celebration (**Updated)

2010-09-28T23:14:00.000-07:00

Reb's 30th birthday was a total success. Though it was a really busy day, I managed to stay relatively stress free- even during a small kitchen fire! Unfortunately, I had misplaced my camera, and so I only have a few photos that I took on my mother in laws camera. So, no I don't have any photos of the actual party, just a few of everything set up beforehand... (But lets be honest... you don't

awaiting fall...

2010-09-21T18:17:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting for fall since last February. It is most definitely my favorite time of year. I was a little worried about fall this year since we had such a weird summer... I thought that if I didn't get enough summer, I wouldn't be ready for fall. I was wrong. Fall is now here, and I am so excited. I know that technically today is the first day of fall, but for me it was yesterday, because

whew....

2010-09-19T16:24:00.001-07:00

I am tired. But what a GOOD weekend. Seriously, so good. There was a moment last night when some of our dearest friends were all sitting around our dining room table, and in that moment, I was so happy, I was almost moved to tears. Actually, I was moved to tears, I just tried to hide it. :) Seeing the people I love in our house really made it feel like home, if even just for a night. I hope to

catching up...

2010-09-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

So will all the party business going on, I have had very little time to blog, which is a total bummer because it has been a huge source of stress relief for me... almost like do it yourself therapy. But, the good news is that I have been SO busy, that I have been feeling really, really good. I have made real attempts to get out and socialize, and it has totally worked. I have made human contact

last minute gift...

2010-09-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

We are on our way out the door to a birthday party for a very sweet newly 2 year old. I realized that we did not yet have a gift about an hour ago, and so I whipped up a quick birthday crown in the birthday girls favorite colors- pink & brown. (Sorry for the crappy pics, I used photobooth cause I can't seem to find my camera at the minute.) The flower inspiration came from an adorable hair clip

Chub-a-lub

2010-09-05T23:03:00.000-07:00

I am seriously missing this little chub-a-lub. He used to be a squishy cuddle bug. He is so skinny theses days! And independent, and fast. He runs (or dances) just about everywhere. It is God's evil plan, right? To make them grow up into these big independent beings too fast, so that you miss them as a baby so much, that you have another baby? It's the baby trap. {I think now is a good time to

Water Play Date

2010-08-31T18:28:00.000-07:00

Two of the last 3 weeks we have hosted playgroup. I not-so-secretly love hosting playgroup more than going to someone else's house for several reasons... (1) it forces me to clean the house, (2) it forces Reb to pick up the backyard, (3) I can keep the laundry cycle going, and most importantly, (4) Tank can nap at the normal time, and I still get to hang out! We have had a blast. Since the

Wedding Wishes

2010-08-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

Danny & Annie Going to a wedding this afternoon. This is another wedding year for us. We were both in 3 last year, plus we attended two more. This is our first of the year, but we have 2 more coming in the next month, and at least 4 on the back burner for next year. Plus... this year is our 5 year anniversary. Here is a little hope that we all end up like Danny & Annie.

feeling a little naked

2010-08-25T14:46:00.001-07:00

Thanks guys. Somehow, when I posted that last blog I didn't really think anybody would read it... I thought I would scare you off with length :) But you did read it, and I am thankful. So many of you have felt the way that I do, and it is nice to have a community- to know that I am not alone. Not completely crazy. I already feel better today. More "socially naked," but more honest, too. Lately

Post _________ Depression?

2010-08-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

*** This is a really long post. I have been experiencing a significant amount of depression over the last few months, and have finally decided to write about it. I feel exposed and raw. But until now, I have had the perception that if I don't write it, it isn't really happening. (Not a good way to deal.) So here it is... the long of it. The gory details. I need to own up to it. My apologies in

maybe a little crazy.

2010-08-20T11:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I went into hiding for a few days. I was sick for 1.5 of them, and the rest of the time I have spent deep in the throws of internet research. My husbands 30th birthday is coming up next month (ack!) and so I finally had to get the ball rolling. Planning a party for him is always a little tough, because he usually has a list of demands requests that I have to try to meld all together into

Wow...

2010-08-17T15:57:00.000-07:00

Apparently you know how to use a spoon. This morning, I tried to feed Tank his yogurt. He would not have it. He insisted on doing it himself. He has never (successfully) used a spoon before, so I put the big bib on him, and walked away, which is the only way I can tolerate the mess. He sat quietly, apparently eating. After about 15 minutes (during which I got ALL of the dishes done) he said "

My Dream House

2010-08-16T00:17:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, my girlfriend introduced me to the work of Michelle Kauffman, an architect she discovered that had been written up by several local Santa Barabara news outlets. At first I thought "that is pretty neat". Now, some 3 years later, I have become nearly obsessed. One of her designs, the Sunset Breezehouse (interior pictured above & exterior below), is at the top of my list. This

Hooded Towel, Deux

2010-08-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

Inspired triply by Tank's halloween costume last year, the fact that he has outgrown his hooded baby towel, and my girlfriend Carlee's awesome Zoodies, I have designed a new, larger, toddler sized hooded towel. It was kind of a given that that it would be either a toad or a monkey, since he is obsessed with all things toad and monkey. I made it by sewing a hand towel into a hood, and attaching

Improved Homemade Coffee Creamer

2010-08-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

Alright... I made a new batch of coffee creamer today, and it totally turned out even better (see original recipe). Still not as sweet as the Coffee Mate, but I really like it this way. Same basic recipe, slightly different proportions, and ridiculously easy. Seriously, it only took me 5 minutes to make it, and wash the dishes. It is that easy. Homemade Flavored Coffee Creamer v. 2.0 1 cup dried

Saying goodbye to dry clothes...

2010-08-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

Happiness captured. Our days of dryness have ended... Tank figured out how to work the sprayer on the hose. Hope your weekend is filled with a few dry moments :)

Hot... Steamy Hot...

2010-08-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

So, I got a floor steamer. Specifically, I got the Eureka 313A Enviro Hard-Surface Floor Steamer. I am kind of embarrassed to admit that I have never mopped the floors of our new house. Seriously, never. We moved in in October 2009. We have a child who loves dripping apple juice out of his sippy cup. We have done some significant remodeling. And still... I have never mopped the floors. In my

Like father, like son.

2010-08-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

Sweetest moment of our last camping trip.

Zoo day...

2010-08-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

We like to go the zoo. A lot. Since we have an annual pass, we go almost every week. Tank gets so excited, that he "hoo-hoo, ha-ha's" like a monkey in the car all the way there and back. Clockwise from top left: Tank in the turtle board (yesterday), Tank admiring the Flamingos (yesterday); Tank & GF in the turtle board (last thanksgiving); Tank, mowing the walkways of the zoo (last week) Our

Homemade Flavored Coffee Creamer

2010-08-09T14:39:00.000-07:00

** This recipe has been updated- click here to see version 2.0. I am totally addicted to flavored coffee creamer. I NEVER drink coffee with out it. I like my home brew to be the same shade as a latte. But in the last few years, I have slowly begun eliminating all chemical/synthetic foods and products from our house. I realized in the last few weeks, that my Coffee Mate is one of the last relics