Last weekend we had a bakesale to raise money for our upcoming annual block party.
I baked my little heart out: chocolate chip cookie bars, individual berry pies, monster cookie bars.
I was in such a hurry that I didn't realize I'd overfilled the monster bars pan.
For every meal, the one holding the prayer spoon is allowed to ask a blessing on the food (we adopted this practice after lots of fighting over who got to say it). And, if you talk during the prayer and you're not holding the prayer spoon, you get a time out while everyone else starts eating their meal.
Two days ago I took the kids on a fieldtrip "over the tracks" to the other side of town, through streets whose buildings were boarded up and graffitied and teenagers roamed in herds like misguided cattle. I kept wondering if I would feel safe getting out of the car at my final destination. The GPS lady's directions took me to a huge old brick warehouse in an industrial district with those huge leaded paned windows, alot of them broken and all of them dirty. There was a bright orange splintered and peeling sliding door that would have made a great backdrop for a family photo (I've got my eye out for such special spots as we're getting our photos taken this weekend). Anyways, to make a long story short, we walked through a hallway, up two flights of stairs and went through an unmarked door to get to the offices of Pucel Enterprises, the maker of the coolest new-metal furniture I've come across (yes, even Martha Stewart and Land of Nod have them tapped). I went with Bob, the head hauncho, through an entire floor of scratch-and-dents, stacked on top of each other, some of them covered in dust. (Some pigeons had made a mess after getting in through one of the broken windows. Bob didn't seem to mind). As we walked through this huge warehouse floor, Bob would point to a specific piece say, "And that's a Martha too," or, "She ordered these for nightstands." It was really cool. Now I'm just torn as to what to buy. Do I buy this chest of drawers for Miles room (above picture)? Or, do I buy a vertical set of lockers for a more unconventional clothing storage piece? Oh, endless options! If I could, I would buy a truckload of this furniture and save it for our future home, one which might actually have a bathroom larger than a small closet.
{photo via Cleveland Art}
A couple months ago I was at the grocery check-out stand and the clerk was asking me about my groceries. She noticed I had things like soy milk and lots of produce (not too weird in my book). I said I don't eat as much meat as I used to and that I had cut way back on my dairy consumption as well. Then she asked me what I do if I feel like having pizza. The picture above is what I do when I want pizza: saute some tofu (that's been dredged in panko breadcrumbs) in olive oil and minced garlic (add some salt and pepper). Then I put some good marinara sauce on top. (Sometimes I'll put it on top of whole wheat toast which is good too). I have found that it hits the spot usually.
And though I've cut back on meat and dairy, I am still enjoying desserts, as you can see in these pictures.
I would love to hear your thoughts and what has helped you stay on track with your eating plans!
We enter here to emerge into the world aquatic.
Shoes and clothes flung off, swimsuit shimmied on, and sunscreen applied: submersion is imminent.
Sometimes "painting the sidewalk" is the main attraction.
Literally. Notice how Finn is wearing sandals to play soccer in. He insisted on wearing his Transformer shoes.
Lucy was up to her usual antics, like interfering the game by running on the field, trying to get our attention. She is so wily but so cute too.
And Miles has been laying low this weekend while his second tooth comes in. I feel for him, but he is so sweet, laying his head on my shoulder and chest alot.
Finn's class hosted a Medieval Feast for families to celebrate the end of the school year.
Lucy particularly enjoyed the treat table, helping herself to at least two of everything, and getting me plenty of cookies (with only one bite missing).
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I had a little time Saturday morning after I loaded the kids in the van and headed towards the field where Finn was to play in a soccer scrimmage.
I stopped at a yard sale and found this little treasure. I saw it and instantly fell in love.
The woman who sold it to me said it's over 100 years old. And this quote has been my personal motto since it held a spot in my Mary Engelbreit calendar as a teenager. I got the tingles just seeing it at the yard sale. It will now hang on my wall as my little treasure. Just thought I'd share.
