shifting priorities

do you ever go through cycles with the types of blogs you read most? I mean, some are constant, everyday reads no matter what life stage. but overall the preferred genre is like a flowing, organic representation of who you are in that moment.

I used to be so addicted to endurance athlete blogs, most specifically ironman. I wouldn't read the blogs of hardcore, elite athletes. they were the real people, with real lives, just trying to do something amazing. they were inspiring. and I ate it up. their training, their struggles, their race day recaps. I felt like I was a triathlon racing pro just by reading them. it wasn't all ironman, some were just running blogs, some were just biking blogs. but then I slowly lost interest. maybe it was because at this point in my life I haven't been able to exercise myself; I don't identify with the endurance scene right now.

and so I move on to the crafty blogs. I am still very much a part of this. I have been sewing a lot of stuff for myself and the wee one to make his little home comfortable and sustainable. {my green baby crafting post will be up as soon as I finish all the little things} there's a lot of inspiring stuff out there. a lot of inspiring people. sometimes I devour more than I produce, which is a problem I will hopefully one day rectify.

then there is the foodie blogs. it turns out I really love to cook and peter really loves my cooking (most of the time). so perusing food blogs is a lot of fun for me. I love all the food porn out there. food photography is a gift, and I wish I had it (plus a fancy camera). and besides all the pretty pictures that make any food look good, there's a lot of healthy and unique dishes out there just waiting to be tried! I mean, what could be better than good food?

but my favorite genre these days is the crafty, resourceful, provident living type of blog. especially the ones who have kids. it is definitely a new life stage that I am entering here and trying to figure out a way to live simply with my small but growing family. I know even in raising a child there is a path toward sustainability. it is my goal to follow that path and have found a lot of kindred spirits lately.

I don't want to categorize myself by the type of blogs I'm reading at the moment, but it is a good representation of where you are in life. I know it will all cycle back and forth and up and down and through. sometimes I'm into more than one type, sometimes it's a narrow focus. I guess it just keeps life interesting.

what does your blogroll say about you?

determined

with little pj soon making his arrival, I have a lot still to cross off on my to do list. {and if you don't use gmail's calander, you should. I love that thing. use it all the time for my social planning. especially love the new tasks feature.} but I'm working on it.

the only problem with me and projects is that their usually a grande idea in my head that never get realized. or I start them and leave them unfinished while I move onto something else. maybe I have craft ADD. sometimes, I just need to step away from the project--especially if something is frustrating me at the moment--and when I come back to it it will all come together.

right now things are coming together, but I needed a break. take deep breaths. look at some inspiring blogs. get excited. and now I'm going to go get back to it. almost done with one project that I think I will be very proud of the finished product. we'll see how it turns out.

I am determined to get everything done this week, so I can just focus on relaxing and bringing pj into a calm environment.

can't wait to show you all what I've been up to!

cheese day, a household holiday

today was a pretty cheesy day around here. but that's okay, that's how we like it. I just wanted to share a couple yummy recipes, because if you have zucchini growing out of your ears like we do this is a good way to use some of it up.

{photo + recipe via 101 cookbooks}

lasagna tart. it's like lasagna, but sans noodles. and it's completely delicious. I actually used a different crust recipe than what heidi calls for in her recipe. it worked out well. plus I sprinkled the top with parmesan cheese before baking. definitely a must. the changes I would make would only be a little less ricotta and a little more sauce. but as is, it was still totally good.

click on over for the dish: lasagna tart recipe

and now for the crust I used. it's from the enchanted broccoli forest by mollie katzen. she has really great vegetarian recipes, so check her out if you haven't already (she's of the moosewood cookbook fame) this was the first time making this crust and I was really happy with it. it's also a good way to use up some fresh spinach if you have some laying around.

spinach crust
15 minutes to prepare
15 minutes to prebake
butter a 9" pie pan
preheat oven to 375 degrees

3/4 lb spinach - chopped very fine
3 Tbs butter
3/4 cup unbleached white flour
3/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 tsp salt
a dash of nutmeg

melt the butter in a cast iron skillet, add the spinach, and cook it quickly over fairly high heat -- stirring -- until it is just limp

remove from heat; add remaining ingredients, and mix well

pat into a buttered 9" pie pan. use a fork first, and then your fingers to mold the crust.

prebake for 15 minutes at 375, then bake as directed by recipe

we're back! kind of.

it's been a while, but we both put on some workout clothes and did our thang! okay, okay I didn't go running but I did feel like a runner! and I toyed with the idea of running. and I looked like my old athletic self. {well, besides the huge potruding basketball under my running tank} and it kind of made me feel like the old me. and I was happy to be outside in the sunshine, walking to my little heart's content.

and pedro? he's back on a bike! for real this time!! I don't know if I've ever told you about my super rad grandpa -- the one who is a hardcore cyclist -- the one who we all did an 80 mile bike ride with on his 80th birthday -- well, he gave pete one of his really nice, albeit older road bikes. and he says it rides like a dream and actually fits him better than his old bike. {the guy who fitted him to his old bike was on crack, I think. pete does not have freakishly small arms} he even went on a real ride!

it's like our saturday morning was normal. me out running {aka walking right now} and pete out on a ride. it really doesn't get much better. well, unless I was actually running, of course.

so true

I know, I know all I ever talk about is baby related. this is turning into a mommy blog faster than you can believe. but I saw this and loved it. what a fun sentiment.

bowling for two

why is it that women bowl better when they're pregnant? it seems to be a true, proven fact. I wish I had realized my potential months ago, I would have made my dream a reality: join a bowling league. (number 42 on anna jo's list of rad things to do before I die -- though in reality I secretly want to be the worst team in the league, so maybe I should join sans baby baking in the womb) now I only have about a month left. . .

yesterday was my department's summer party. youth ed once again came out on top and was the champions of the bowling tournament. yep, I had a very good game for myself.

strike + strike + strike = TURKEY!!!

thank you very much.

now if it had only been thanksgiving I would have accomplished THIS goal. (number 57)

{photo credit}

the baby bump

seriously? why is this picture so small? could someone please explain to me the idiosyncrasies of blogger's formatting sometime? 'cause I know peter gets sick of me coming to him when I want something little {and I'm sure very easy} like this fixed all the time. well, you can always click on it to get the bigger version, I suppose. because you might need to anyway to fully appreciate the main topic of this post: my mamma belly.

fyi, these are the most recent pictures of me. they were taken at my latest baby shower, which just happened to be last saturday. it's not a side profile belly shot or anything, but it will have to do.

okay, so in the beginning the belly was small. so small that nobody could tell I was pregnant. everyday I would stand in front of the mirror and ask pete, can you tell that I'm pregnant? he would always say no. then one day it just sort of popped out. and people could definitely see that there was something growing in there. but they always told me how small I looked.

well, as little pj has grown, the belly has grown with him. it's kind of funny to get the looks and responses from people when I tell them I'm due the end of september. they don't say I'm huge or anything, they just give me this sideways glance that says, you look like you should be due a lot sooner than that, sister! at least that's what I feel like the look is saying.

this morning at camp I was talking to a parent about how we only have two more weeks left of the summer and she turned to me and asked, are you going to make it? I laughed and said that I'm sure I would. when I told her I wasn't actually due until the end of september she gave me that look. when she left I asked my dear friend + coworker if I really looked that big for being eight months pregnant. she said she thinks I'm actually pretty small. so there you go.

and not like being big or small is something I'm concerned about. pj is in there growing, and my body is growing right along with him, at the right pace. I don't like to get caught up in the weight gain, and the body image and all that. but that doesn't mean I sometimes don't think about that stuff. sometimes it's hard not to compare yourself to other preggo bellies. but really in the end I believe that your body does what it needs and will, to a certain extent, do what it will anyway. as long as I'm not going crazy and indulging every craving {which, btw, I haven't really had cravings which kinda bums me out -- I was really hoping I'd experience craving dirt or ice cream and pickles at the same time} I know I will be fine.

I look down at my belly and some days I think it's huge and some days I think it's small. sometimes I even forget it's there until I look in a mirror or bump into something. this changing body thing is quite the wild ride. but I love it.

wow, such a long post about my belly. who knew. I'll end on a high note: club u had a little talent show this afternoon and I got to be the girl who holds up the appluase sign. someone told me afterward that when I would hold up the sign (which was a huge piece of poster board) from the legs down and the top up, I didn't look pregnant at all! that's always a little something nice for a pregnant mamma to hear!

funny observation

okay, so this observation isn't really ha-ha funny per se. maybe more like interesting funny. to me at least.

so peter got hit with this really bad cold that has lasted an entire week. it has put him out of commission even more so than when he had his accident, and you know, broke his neck + back. he even came home from work early one day. and then proceeded to sleep for an entire weekend. that never happens. it's hard to keep this kid down. unless he has a cold, apparently.

and all this time I was so proud of myself for staving of the sicknesses. my immune system must have the strength of two, I thought. yeah, now who's deathly ill? yep, me. but I have a plan of attack -- flush it out!! I've been drinking so much water today I'm surprised I haven't drowned. when in doubt, flush it out. that's my new motto. it goes hand in hand with my old motto, pee clear.

okay, that is enough about our sicknesses.

{ps: I should also mention that my other plan of attack is just to shove a tissue up my nose. oh, and do some oj/cayenne pepper therapy. seriously love that stuff. nothing says healing like burning in your ears.}

"not a sandbox or swings... or those monkey bar things."

I'm all in a heap here. my feet are asleep here. I'm flat out of space. I've got knees in my face. and I'm totally bored with this dumb bungy cord. . . I'm NOT kidding you. . . there is NOTHING to do! --barbara park, ma! there's nothing to do here!

seriously. what does little pj do in there all day?

sometimes I wonder if he's practicing his kung fu moves. or maybe a little tap dancing? whenever I go swimming I like to think that we're both doing the same thing. I think I've even felt him practice his flutter kick.

to be honest, though, I have no idea what he's doing in there. sometimes I can't tell his bum from his head. was that a fist or a foot? who knows. but I do love watching the belly move. I could sit there for hours just staring at my stomach. like, you know, maybe even when I'm at the movie theater watching terminator my belly might be more exciting than the movie. I'm just sayin'. totally fascinating.

since he's probably pretty bored in there with only that bungee cord to play with, I read him {and peter senior} this cute little book today. this is a great read for any expectant mamma. cute pictures plus a funny little story. am loving children's books lately.

{thanks again, oma! it was the perfect pioneer day surprise}

counting my life in weeks

my life right now is being tracked in week-long segments. I am 30 weeks gestation, 10 weeks to go until the estimated arrival of the little dude. we also just finished up week 6 of camp. which, happens to be the mid-week of the summer for us. only 5 more weeks and then it's the annual raging waters bash and the end of an era for me. life is cruising by. things will end and things will begin sooner than I know.

I feel like I have so much time, but time is slowly flying by.

defining moments

there are times in life when we make small decisions, little choices that at the time seem so insignificant and ordinary, but have the potential to put us on a new track and completely change the course of our life.

a long time ago I made a list of my defining moments in a notebook. it was left sitting, tucked away on a shelf. I found it this morning as I was cleaning out the craft room to make way for the nursery. it made me smile. a few of the the things I wrote really stuck out to me.

defining moments: what makes me, me?
born on a magic minute {3:33, good things always happen at 3:33}
learn from an early age the love of pushing a ball around in the grass
take a lit of the outdoors class - have it change my life without knowing it
out of the blue write an old friend from snow - have it change my life without knowing it
start the PRT program - Experiential Education
start running - have it change my life without knowing it
work in the field with kids, teaching about the outdoors
go through the same cycles - learn to trust my heart
find a cute boy - let love sneak up on my heart. . . have it change my life without knowing it

there was more on the list, but I think these things really did change my life without knowing it, as any defining moment should. I'm looking forward to the rest of the moments. I'm sure little pj will be a huge one, though I'm also pretty sure I know for a fact that he will change our life. and we couldn't be more excited for the adventure.

thriving

When I was little, when it rained, my grandmother would always say, "Well, it's good for the farmers." And I would give lip service and say, "That's true," and then I'd feel bad about the fact that I really didn't care about the farmers. I just wanted sun.

For thirty years, I pretty much just wanted sun.

But the other day, when it rained, I wasn't disappointed. I'd seen the difference to my new community garden plot after watering with a hose versus a soaking with a good rain. One keeps it alive. The other makes it thrive. --colin beavan, no impact man

well, then. our little garden is thriving. normally I would be thrilled about the amount of rain we have been getting here in salt lake city, utah. this is no ordinary june. every day on the forecast, more showers. it isn't unearthly hot. I really quite enjoy the thunderstorms.

but only after three pm.

as you could imagine, running a summer day camp {when all your activities are based outside} is kinda hard to do in the rain. especially when kids only come in tshirts and shorts. I guess their parents just don't look outside. so all I am saying is bring on the rain--my garden is loving it, the foliage around this valley is loving it, the water supply is loving it; but I am not loving it during camp.

that is all.

clear the air

I don't know about you, but I am in love with salt lake city, utah. it's proximity to everything you'll ever need in life {minus an ocean shoreline} is ridiculous. the skiing alone is the reason we will most likely never leave. but as I look around this beautiful valley of ours, with its pristine mountain backdrop, I can't help but be sickened and discouraged. the air we breathe is right up there with some of the most polluted cities in the nation. if you've ever come down one of the canyons and descended into the soup, you know what I mean. actually being able to see hazy, polluted air is not a good thing. and we're all breathing that stuff!

my work formed a team for the clear the air challenge and I'm really excited about it. I already try to take public transportation as much as I can anyway, so this isn't going to be a huge lifestyle shift for me. but maybe I'll start walking more on my errands {too bad biking is out of the question right now} and hopefully others will join the fun too.

the point of the challenge is to get people using their cars less and doing alternative forms of transportation more. just the act of getting fewer cars on the road will greatly affect the air quality in this place. that's something I want. for me. for my little guy {and big guy}.

so go sign up today. the official challenge starts june 01 and ends july 10. prizes are even involved if that's your incentive. for me, I'll do it for cleaner air and the chance to join thousands of others in trying to make a positive change in our community.

all it takes is one or more of the following:
a little less driving
more carpooling
walking
biking
taking public trans {bus, trax, frontrunner}
linking your trips
stop idling your car
telecommuting
compressing your workweek
being creative

rock the vote

my fabulous place of employment, youth ed, was nominated for best day camp in salt lake city. I seriously believe that club u is the best day camp in the state. our program is engaging, enriching, and exceptionally fun. it is experiential education at it's best. and as a testament to that fact, I leave you with the words of an eight year old camper as screamed for all to hear one day in our morning circle: club u rocks harder than bon jovi! see? how could we not be the best if we rock harder than mr jovi?

go exercise your power to vote. {and exercise that power daily until july 15th!}

mercury overload

one thing I love about having a house is the fact that we have a backyard to grill in. at the old apartment our neighbor would often grill on his little hibatchi and the smell of briquettes and smoke would make their way into our apartment... not so fun. if we wanted to grill we would have to pack all of our stuff and head over to the local park. not a bad deal, but this is so much better.

now that the weather is getting warmer {I think it should at least wait until june to hit ninety degrees, but whatever} and it's not as fun to cook inside our own home, the grill is going to be our best friend. we've already used it a bunch.

today, in an effort to venture from the traditional chicken or beef, I made some killer salmon burgers. I'm sharing the recipe for your summer barbecue delight. next up, I'm going to tackle the homemade veggie burger!

* * *

salmon burgers, via real simple magazine

1 1/4lb skinless salmon fillet, cut into 1 inch pieces
4 scallions thinly sliced
kosher salt and black pepper

Heat grill to medium-high. Oil the grill grate. In a food processor, pulse the salmon 3 to 4 times, just until coarsely chopped (the mixture should still be somewhat chunky). Add the scallions, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and pulse to combine. Form the mixture into 3/4-inch-thick patties

Grill, turning once (do not press or flatten), until opaque throughout, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Serve on rolls with the desired toppings.

* * *

as pictured, I topped the burgers with avocado, cilantro and a squeeze of lime and served them on a wheat ciabatta role. delish.

{this afternoon I had a tuna fish sandwhich for lunch. obviously I forgot what was on the menu for tonight. two fish in one day, I don't know if my pregnant self can handle that much mercury! oh well!}

fire drill

we had the ever-so-fun fire drill at work today. unfortunately we all knew it was coming in the near future, so it wasn't a total surprise or anything. that would have added to the excitement level. but I guess anytime a loud bell goes off in your office excitement is bound to ensue.

well, I'm only mentioning this fact about my day because I noticed a funny thing about myself. (and this funny thing will be a total no-brainer to anyone who knows me) if I was faced with a dire, you-could-die-if-you-don't-get-out-of-the-building-fast situation my main concern would be:

I don't know how long I'll have to stand out there... do I have snacks? I need snacks!

and then I would take some precious escape time and rummage through the mini fridge in the office for some baby bell cheese and carrot sticks. yeah, I've got my priorities straight. (but in my defense, I knew there wasn't an actual fire in the building... who knows how I would have really reacted if there was. I'm sure I would still grab the snacks.)

he's back!

...if you and i had some drums and some horns and some horses

if we had some hats and some flags and some fire-engines
we could be a holiday we could be a celebration
we could be a whole parade...
--i like you, sandol stoddard warburg

it hasn't even been three weeks and he's already back on the bike, braces and all. it does my heart good to see him back in the saddle, a grin on his face.

lovin' the cruiser bike, oma. I think you're going to start a trend.

I'm a lifer

I just took the pledge.

"I, anna jo, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of LIFE. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings!
Signed, anna jo."

I figured I might as well jump right in and become a lifer. I mean, how often do I buy new clothes anyway? in the recent months my commitment to thrift + reconstruction has spilled into every aspect of my life. I don't want to buy new. I want to re-use the resources we've already got floating around this world.

I'm excited to start my adventure in refashion.


{do you want to pledge for two, four, or maybe even six months? read the rules here and jump in on the fun! and don't worry, if you screw up you can use your get out of jail free card}

blessed.

thank you one and all for the kind words + support given to me and my small family over the past few days. peter and I have felt the love + and know that prayers have been answered on our behalf. we are so blessed.

every time I think of how things so easily could have turned out differently, I get emotional. every time I think of the blessings and the support of family + friends I get emotional. maybe it's all in the hormones.

but honestly, it is in moments of tragedy that you are reminded of the fragility and simpleness of life. how it can all be taken away at any moment. my heart aches for those who have gone through that. I was given a gift on tuesday morning: continued time with my husband here on this earth. how precious that is. I know he has been watched over on more than this occasion. for this I am grateful.

he is the lucky one. he will heal. it is his quiet strength and good attitude that have helped him this far. he is home. he can get around for the most part. this is not a chronic condition. he is lucky.

and we are blessed.

{for those not aware, my husband was hit by a car while riding his bike to work on tuesday morning. the person driving fled the scene and thankfully because of witnesses the paramedics were called in. he spent the next 36+ hours on spinal precaution in the hospital. he was released earlier than I ever expected possible from an accident such as this with a fractured skull and a compression fracture on his back. he is home now and confined to life in a neck brace + a back brace for a while, but his spirit is not confined. especially when the meds are kickin' in.}

spoon!

I won my very own cake for easter
brought to you by the lovely spoon!

it was layer upon layer of yummy
red velvety goodness
my favorite
peter's favorite
plus there was a nest on top
best easter cake
ever

produce the way god intended

a few weeks ago we discovered that if you keep your cilantro in the salad spinner, it stays fresh for so long without getting all wilty and pathetic looking. it was like problem solved for the cilantro crisis.

but I can't just keep my cilantro in the salad spinner all the time. what if I need to spin, you know, salad? and not to mention the fact that it takes up so much room in the fridge, all for a little bunch of herbs. I knew there had to be a better way. a smaller salad spinner perhaps?

well, when pete and I were on our target shopping spree last weekend, we came across this: the produce saver, from rubbermaid. the secret is the airflow.

so far it seems to be doing the trick. I'll keep y'all posted on the status of my produce.

one, two three, ready... type!

seriously. didn't I have some sort of resolve at the new year to blog more frequently for myself? instead of all the consumption I'd start producing a little more? man, I totally suck.

it seems that--as often is the case for many--I sit down to write and then I don't feel like writing anymore. even with all this excitement of a new babe in our lives. so I'm sitting down and writing.

here goes.

my mind has been pretty occupied with all things growing in my uterus lately. I'm now safely tucked away into the second trimester. my energy seems to be returning, I don't feel so gross all the time. luckily I haven't really had any morning sickness. I am so grateful for that because I don't know what I would have done otherwise. it does not sound fun.

I feel like my belly is starting to round out. peter keeps telling me that I don't look pregnant. so I guess I just look like a girl with a big belly. I can still fit into most of my clothes. some pants are out of the question, though. I did buy my first pair of maternity shorts yesterday. complete with the wide stretchy band around the waist. now it just needs to warm up a bit more. I can't wait until I'm into the panel.

okay, that thought actually scares me.

but seriously, I have some hopes of reconstructing some clothes into pregnancy friendly stuff. like jeans I find at the DI for cheap. I had a really hard time justifying my purchase last night, let alone a whole new wardrobe that will only be worn for a short period of my life! luckily I have some sewing skills and will be attempting a few minor alterations on some jeans. and I'm sure I'll be living in skirts over the hot summer months.

I have so many things to share with the world. lots of ideas rolling around in this head of mine. lots of ideals that need to be voiced. so be ready.

{my computer is now about to die. goodbye.}

you + me make three

I'm sure you all wondered what could possibly top last year's anniversary present.

well, this little person just might do the trick. {now next year, seriously, will not be so exciting. I swear.}

***

00. european honeymoon extravaganza

01. surprise costa rica adventure

02. the new house

03. a sweet babe

{background image}

it's official

I know in my heart it's been spring since march 01, but now it's official. go outside and celebrate the vernal equinox. the days are getting longer. this weekend their getting warmer too. life is starting to grow again. it does my heart good.

{photo credit}

my man needs his temperature control

from quarter to full: comfort assurance

peter is very particular. especially about his comfort. he needs to be able to control the situation. if he's too hot, he needs to take a layer off. if he's too cold, he needs to put a layer back on. this all sounds pretty basic, no? well, as it turns out he doesn't like to pull anything on or off over his head. so quarter-zips? out of the question. from now on, the full zip option, or nothin'. there is at least one more transformation project lined up to meet his new requirements. {sorry quarter-zip burnt orange north face fleece, you're going under the knife!} and then in the future? must remember full zips only.

thirty: the real deal.

I'm old.
but not really.
sometimes my body feels old.
like it did when I turned 21.
there was a noticeable difference.
maybe there's something to these milestone years.

at least I had some good surprises in the mix:
surprise early birthday bagels via the coworkers
not so surprise bowling {almost. next year don't tell anyone about it until the moment of... no chance for slip-ups} with the bffs*
super surprise super cool cake! {made specially for me by carrie of carriescakes.com, brought specially to me by the raddest kid in town}
and an arm-load of birthday goodies + well wishes.

::I am loved, it's no surprise::

* * *

I leave you with one of the best birthdays of my thirty-year-old life. numero eight at the lion house, circa 1987 {which coincidentally, was the best year for parties}. this was a biggie, my friends. and as you can see by my rad eighties "pixie" cut {aka boy hair} I was a super tom-boy and as I recall I hated wearing dresses. this was a real fight, I'm sure for the fancy birthday party at said lion house. but as you can clearly see, I made a total compromise.

oh yeah, the multi colored punky brewster high top sneakers with the tights and the dress!

*if you are a bff and were not invited to the secret bowling party, don't feel sad. it just means that pete does not have you in his phone. take no offense, I still love you.

the rule of six

one: go to your documents/pictures
two: open the sixth folder
three: find the sixth photo
four: blog about your cuteness
five: tag six other people: {I tag the six whoevers want to do this}
six: wonder why there is no sixth rule
{thanks, seester, for tagging me and letting me play into my narcissistic side}

okay, so as you can see I totally cheated. well, the truth is there wasn't a sixth photo in my sixth folder {the sixth event in iphoto, that is}. there was a fourth photo, and this is it:

my total favorite photo from my bridal shoot -- I heart pepper nix. she is amazing.

so I went to the sixth grouping of photos in iphoto's photo section {as you can see I was trying really hard to get the magical sixes} and there were only two photos! so below, is said second photo:

again, an awesome shot from the bridals.

so then I tried to do it backwards. go to the sixth newest folder of photos... and there was only four! so here is that one:

pete firing up the snowblower for it's maiden voyage in our driveway.
he loves him his snowblowing, it's pretty cute.

and if you haven't given up on the whole idea yet, this is the sixth photo listed on my desktop.

love, love, LOVE this photo from the mud run. possibly one of my most fave photos EVER.

if I had taken the time {as if I haven't taken enough time on this already--sheesh!} I would have come up with more combos to try and get some magical six combination... at least tried six different ways so there could be six photos. oh well, you can just imagine two more photos of me and/or pete in your mind. try to pick ones where I look cute.

biggest loser treats a la runner's world

a few weeks ago when the newest season of the biggest loser began, trainers jillian michaels and bob harper yelled at america.

you know, that we all needed to stop being so lazy, get off our butts, move, eat fruits and vegetables... you know, the stuff we all already know but for some reason most of america has a really hard time with...

and then bob yells: it's never going to happen if you're sitting on the couch eating ice cream!

pete and I looked at each other. we were both sitting on the couch eating ice cream. we just got the smack down from bob harper.

see, it sounds kinda ironic and all, but we love our treats when we sit down to watch this show.

so the next week I made these sinfully delicious red velvet cupcakes. but hey, I got the recipe from runner's world so they must be good for me, no?

no? oh, well at least I got rave reviews from peter's coworkers the next day. bake yourself up a batch for tonight's episode--you won't regret it! {but your thighs, might. unless you go for a nice long run. I'm just sayin'}

voluntary simplicity

do you ever wonder how our earth-home will be for the future generations? for your kids? for their kids?

are our habits sustainable? are we consuming too much? do our lives of privilege and convenience come at a cost?

is it possible to slow down? to take a step back? to realize it's not things, but people that matter?

{photo | 2009 eco-lutions}

follow your bliss

"if you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all along, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. when you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in your field of bliss, and they open the doors to you."

--joseph campbell

strengthening my resolve

I was told the other day that a person is 43% more likely to keep a resolution if it is written down.  I've been mulling around the things that I would like to do {or not do} as this new year rolls around.  the clean slate that january brings is always full of so much potential.  in all of us is the ability to change.  but we have to want it.  and we have to be willing to work for it.  

* * *

:: chew my food ::  I resolve to eat more slowly, to let the enzymes in my saliva break down the foods so they are more easily digested and the nutrients more readily available to my body

:: read books ::  I resolve to read more instead of wasting time on the computer or watching television just for the sake of something to do

:: blog more ::  I resolve to consume less and produce more.  there is a lot of inspiration and creativity out there, but I need to remember to document my thoughts, feelings, et cetera as well

:: eat closer to the source ::  I resolve to be more conscious of my foodshed.  where it comes from, how it was produced, how it got to me.  more whole foods.  more local foods.  more organically grown foods

:: be more social ::  I resolve to get out of my comfort zone in social situations.  I have a tendency toward non-social behavior.    I need to get over any awkwardness, which really just stems from a lack of self confidence.  I am an interesting person.  I just need to believe that

:: create ::  I resolve to make things out of sticks.  or fabric.  or paper.  or anything that my little hands can get on.  I have grand ideas and little follow-through.  those projects will become reality, hopefully in a timely manner

:: document my life ::  I resolve to put pen to paper and write for me.  I am losing the details that make my life what it is.  the personal things.  the thoughts.  the feelings.  the special moments.  the hard moments.  the daily decisions that lead me through life

* * *

if you're having trouble coming up with your own resolutions this year {come on, isn't lose weight and eat healthy so overkill by now?} check out this list I stumbled across:  fifty things everyone should know how to do.  pick one or two and resolve to learn some invaluable skills this year.

photo via.

returning to the light

...at winter solstice,
Sun is at its lowest point:
the longest night,
the most profound descent
into the dark,
and a subsequent turning
of the cycle,
a return to the Light...










one of my favorite days of the year is the summer solstice. the daylight is long and endless, leaving its warmth and slanted angles long into the evening. it is something to be celebrated. but I am always left feeling a little tinge of sadness; the light will soon fade into increasing darkness. my days will get shorter, little by little, until we are plunged into endless night.

but there comes a time where night is at its longest, and the light will be reborn. our days will become longer. and life will eventually start to grow once again.

how fitting that this event happens at this time of year. we need not despair, or be engulfed by darkness. there is Light.

we just need to turn to that Light.

it is a thing to be celebrated.

{photo | quote}

twelve

if you haven't heard yet, design mom is holding a fantastic holiday giveaway over on her site.

you could have your chance to win one of twelve very cool prizes.

so hurry on over and throw your name in the hat. you have until midnight{PST}, monday, december 15th so go! now! win! {may the universe aka the random number generator be smiling upon you}

a diy white board for the environmentally conscious workin' gal

{via}

okay, so I just made my very own little white board here in the office. it was ridiculously easy and cuts down on paper usage when taking messages and writing down quick notes {or to do lists} that you don't need permanently. now I can get rid of that unsightly stack of used and reused post it notes cluttering up my desk. everyone wins!

plus crafting during working hours is always a fun time.



step one: get yourself a transparency sheet.

step two: get yourself a piece of paper. (mine is recycled, yours could be too... I'm just sayin')

step three: get yourself some tape.

step four: now this is the hardest step. tape the paper to the transparency sheet, with the unused side of the paper peeping through the clearness of the transparency. (because y'all should have used recycled paper like I told you)

step five: pilfer yourself a set of dry erase markers in various colors from the supply closet

and then ta da! you are done! {you could also use a clear plastic page protector too, I suppose}

if my phone would have not been cranky, you would have seen the lovely, high
quality photo I took of my brand new diy white board with the following to do list:
work
be productive
focus
don't blog!

an ode to the decemember'ish weather while on a four mile run

big, fatty, flurry flakes
fluttering from the sky
I am running
they are falling
falling in my eye

* * *

this is as far as I got. I had to turn my concentration from composing poetry on the run to not getting hit by anything but snowflakes.

new find

{photos via the tin angel cafe}

lunched at the tin angel cafe. loved the food. local ingredients. go support.

I am exhausted.

one impromptu marathon last week

plus one week of holiday goodness {mostly eating}

plus dog sitting a rather old chocolate lab

plus running a post marathon ten miler this morning

plus dabbling in some holiday decor

plus cleaning the whole house

makes a girl very, very tired.

I think I just might go to bed and it's only eight o'clock!

it's always early, and I'm always one step behind

missing the bus, everybody's doing it.

woke up this morning thinking it was saturday
slept longer than I should have
rushed around trying to get everything together
missed the bus

love my life

my lil' book club's selection this month is the book thief, by marcus zusak, and as always there are no copies available at the public library. . .

so I'm throwing this out to the bloggernet. . .

does anyone have a copy I could borrow?



{book club is november 20th, I need to have it read before then.}


UPDATE: my cutest mother bought the book for me. isn't she nice? that's why we love her around here {because she's so thoughtful, not just because she buys us stuff} LoVes + avalanches, mamma!

'tis the season

while on my run this afternoon I saw, through snowflake-filled eyes:

someone cross country skiing through sugarhouse park
friends getting together to do some snowboarding via the hike method, I'm sure
a guy with snow shoes in hand, hopefully headed out on an adventure

thank you, lake effect, for bringing the fluffy white stuff coming all day.

now for the big news:

peter can hardly wait.

star{fish} crossed lovers

{photo credit}

you might run the fastest, but that doesn't mean you'll win

as you may or may not have heard, the woman who ran the fastest time in sunday's nike women's marathon in san fran didn't actually win. whaa?! but how could that be, you might be wondering? a technicality. some dumb rule the race organizers won't let go of.

arien o'connell {a twenty-four year old fifth grade teacher from new york city} ran the 26.2 miles in 2:55:11 {a PR of about twelve minutes!}, beating the official race "winner's" time by 11 minutes. eleven minutes?!

so why didn't she win? she wasn't registered as an elite!

{true story. the same thing happened to another guy who came in 4th place at the chicago marathon.}

so I'm thinking the USATF should rethink this little rule of theirs. they say the rule is in place so the elites know who they are racing against, since, you know, they're so nice and give them a head start and all {in the nike women's marathon they gave these ladies a twenty minute head start, which I think is ridiculous! the men's field is not that deep to necessitate such a huge gap in start times} but I say if they really are elite they'll prove it out on the course. no matter what. guts + glory to the finish line.

it's sad, though, because nike could have really done something with this story. built a really awesome marketing campaign around it.

normal, average girl wins marathon. beats the elite pack.

instead they just pooed in her face. "we've already declared our winner" and even though you ran the fastest, you're not it. booh.

{read the full story HERE}

proof positive: the tetris is true.

for all those who think my husband plays tetris all day at work, you may just be right. here is a little convo we had today via the internet:

me: yo

Peter: yo

me: there's like a billion kids for this fall break camp and I don't know if I want to deal with it

Peter: woah

a billion? that's like the entire country of china!

me: I know!

Peter: do you have enough counselors?

me: yeah, I guess technically we do...

so I really shouldn't be stressin'

Peter: so aspen digital doesn't have to take kids?

me: didn't I set up that field trip with you?

all one billion will be coming to your office to learn about the science behind the digitalizing

Peter: woah, i don't think we have that many nintendos

totally crinked

so earlier today I was taking a big swig from my water bottle, as I am often want to do, and I suddenly felt a very severe pain running through the left side of my neck. I thought to myself, wow, that was weird. I tried drinking again, the same pain.

it all seems so silly. it was such a benign movement. but now I have limited range of motion when turning my head to BOTH sides! sucks to pinched nerves.

the update: so far, so good.

day one of the plan? check!

day two? double check!

not only did I go running this morning, but I pulled through with the meal plan tonight too. in fact, I improved upon it to make it even better. peter couldn't stop raving about the rotkohl (aka red cabbage) and the potato slices (sans cheese; I decided to go in another direction). and I can't stop raving about fresh corn cut off the cob in salads. seriously, such a tasty flavor.

if you're following along at home, please try these two recipes.

red cabbage {I didn't have any allspice or cloves, so I just added nutmeg}

crispy garlic potatoes {the thinner you slice them the crispier they are}

planned eating

I feel like I've really let myself go. no, not in the I'm fat sort of way. {though I have let my running fall by the wayside} but my life has just gotten in the way of the things I used to be so good about. but I can't blame my life. I just need to step it up. basically I want to get two parts of me back on track. yes, one of those is my running life (which also happens to include swimming + spinning). and the other is my cooking life. more specifically meal planning.

it's always nice to have a plan. so below is what I've come up with for the week. of course, all meals are subject to change. especially since I'll be getting my very last csa goods for the season tomorrow. so here it is, enjoy!

m: delicata squash soup + crusty bread

t: fresh garden variety salads + cheesy potato slices

w: pasta w/ a zucchini and tomato sauce

h: spaghetti squash medley

f: spicy sweet potato wedges + chicken something? {that means I can't forget to defrost the chicken!}

s: dinner a la pete

so what's on your plate?
{for inspiration visit: this week for dinner.}

what have we been up to?

I've been seriously spoiled. first there was the european honeymoon extravaganza. then the first anniversary costa rica adventure. how could the second anniversary even compare?!

well, thank you peter for the best anniversary present ever: the new house.

I can't even imagine what next year will bring.

{more photos + stories to come}

knit or die!

am taking my first knitting 101 class tonight


I hope I'm as tough as THIS girl

fall casserole

there is nothing better than a meal full of fresh goodness. abundance from the land. in this week's csa note, heather borski left a little recipe. how convenient that everything the recipe called for was in this week's selection. well, except for the chicken or seafood fillet. for that I just substituted zucchini.

I pulled together a garden variety salad to go on the side. one quick note about that: has anyone else discoverd the goodness that is raw corn cut from the cob in a salad? oh. my. love. I think if you put dressing on it, though, it would muddy up the sweet taste. this is best enjoyed with a squeeze of fresh lime.

needless to say, everything turned out quite deliscious.

onion | potato
zucchini | tomato

fall casserole recipe
layer:
sliced onions
1/4 inch sliced potatoes
chicken or seafood fillets (or zucchini slices)

top with:
sliced tomatoes

drizzle:
olive oil

salt + pepper to taste

sprinkle:
bread crumbs
parmesan cheese

bake:
325 degrees for one hour

cover:
if top is browning too fast

americana folk rock love

have you ever had one of those blah days? the kind where nothing bad happens per se {except for that unnecessarily long phone call with the cell phone company; fifty years of my life and three reps later the issue is still left unresolved.} but you just feel a little off. your head hurts and your body doesn't seem happy for some reason. and amidst all of this you remember something that you love, something absolutely fabulous that you had forgotten about and it makes you smile.

today it was leslie and the badgers. {I know I've mentioned them before, but please go check them out. I'm sure they will make you as happy as they make me.} more specifically airliner. and my tears are wasted on you. and all of their other fabulous songs, really. I've been listening to them all evening. now go. please. check them out.

{and dear sister, for some reason I totally thought of you while listening to them online today. I think you would fall in love with leslie and her badgers too.}

the csa

peaches
zucchini
potatoes
onions, red + yellow
tomatoes

television in the animal kingdom

I was watching the rachael ray show today and learned these two very important things:
gorillas are 1) very smart, and 2) get bored easily. so with this in mind, what did the memphas zoo introduce to our dear friends the gorilla? television. yes, that's right. television. maybe we can make our primate friends just as fat and lazy as we are?

{and just so you know, the large gorilla pictured here, mwelu, is quite discerning. he dosn't like just any television program, he loves rachael ray.}

twenty-nine

01. he loves cold + dark 02. his favorite season is obviously winter 03. he is a champion for the earth 04. and an advocate for all things efficient 05. he dances like no other 06. and is my guitar hero 07. his smile melts my heart 08. he tickles relentlessly 09. he is a creative genius 10. and a computer wizard 11. he gets a little carried away on the equality of food 12. he's a jeans + tshirt kinda guy 13. he is kind 14. compassionate 15. giving 16. he has an innate sense of direction 17. if I were stranded on a desert island I would want him by my side 18. if I were stranded anywhere I would want him by my side 19. he's creative in the kitchen 20. he has the wanderlust 21. he is spontaneous + crazy 22. in the game of scrabble, he is expert 23. he's on the swimteam 24. he gets high on elevation 25. he has an inner cowboy 26. he's cute when he's asleep 27. he hiccups randomly 28. he loves his jetta wagon tdi almost more than me 29. he knows the value of hard work, in any aspect of life

I live and breathe for this man.

special birthday surprises were had this weekend. unfortunately no surprise party, but a semi-surprise jaunt up to meet my bloggy friend, jen {she is a cute runner blogger and has a cute family blog as well!} and crash her peach days bbq and ride her horses. let me tell you one thing about pete. he loves horses. loves them. I had no idea until that fateful day in costa rica. his inner cowboy spilled out and he's been dying to get back on and ride ever since. they say he's a natural. it was a fun little adventure and I'm glad jen and her family were so willing to share it with us.

his birthday dinner was a special surprise as well. I cooked fish. yes, you heard me. I cooked fish. this is a first for me. remember? and it was surprisingly easy + delicious. I'm not so scared of cooking fish anymore. the meal was rounded out with some long grain and wild rice, roasted vegetables, and steamed cabbage. of course there was the traditional red velvet cake. what birthday is complete without that?

as always, click to enlarge | adapted from THIS recipe