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.