Weekend Musings

This weekend was pretty close to perfect...a morning gym workout, lots of park time, swimming in the baby pool, a walk at the beach, and our favorite rice and beans dinner at Wahoo's for Father's Day. I love, love, love not having to cook on Sunday night!

But, it was mostly perfect because we decided to abandon all projects and to-do lists and just hang out. Such freedom!

This feeling has filtered into my Monday...so I am off to make peanut butter and honey sandwiches for dinner and we are headed to an amusement park. See you tomorrow, to-do list. Maybe...

image from flickr commons

Lucky Me

I am a fortunate woman. I celebrate two wonderful dads this year.

My own father, who I now refer to as "Papa," has been a source of happiness and pride for me, particularly in these ""grown-up" years. My decisions, however surprising, have always been celebrated by my dad. He wears his heart on his sleeve and I love him for that. I know when he is proud, when he is having fun, when he is sad. He is a fantastic "Papa" to our two children and there is nothing better than that.

My husband, S. Who right now is lying in a twin bed with our oldest, helping her sleep after a tough evening of tears and disappointment. I don't believe in the whole "He changes diapers!" celebration of dads. I think that is an insult to them. Of course, he changes diapers. He is a father. But I will celebrate the special things...his fascination with our daughter's strong arms as she swings from monkey bar to monkey bar, his morning oatmeal ritual with our son, his special songs/stories he tells to the kids when they are inconsolable, the way he looks at them and then me and says, "We are so lucky."

Happy Father's Day, Papa and Steve.

Things I Love

Some things I am loving on this summer day...

Trader Joe's Happy Trekking Trail Mix

An absurdly delicious trail mix (and I have tried many, many of TJ's offerings), which I tend to sprinkle on top of vanilla yogurt, strawberries, and granola. A really quick lunch or snack, and the chocolate chips seem innocent enough for lunch when surrounded by fruit and nuts, no?

These new shorts from Ann Taylor Loft

Never shopped here before a Christmas-time spree with my sister. Always thought it was too "outfit-y" and young corporate. But I was wrong! Really cute stuff and their shorts/pants fit me without tailoring. My short legs thank you, Ann Taylor Loft.

The view from our morning walk

image

My fellow CA friends, we are so darn lucky. The rest of you, don't be jealous. Just come and VISIT ME!!!

Sex and the City reruns

We just acquired DVR and one of my guilty (or not-so-guilty) pleasures has been watching old SATC episodes while the kids nap. Oh, how I love those ladies. Today, I cried through the episode about Carrie moving to Paris with "The Russian." (I don't think I have male readers, but if I do, I just lost them.) :)

Page-Turners

Here is a peek at what we have been reading in our little home...

How to be a Domestic Goddess: Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking

by Nigella Lawson

It is still to be determined if reading this book cover-to-cover will get me off my rear to actually bake something as divine as a fairy cake or homemade brownies or a batch of "my family will adore me" cookies. But, in the meantime, I have enjoyed her colorful language and amazing food descriptions. Reading about these delicacies is almost as good as eating them.

I am lying, of course.

Quiet in the Garden by Aliki

A cute little story with gentle, colorful illustrations and just the right amount of repetition (enough for the kids to recognize, but not enough to drive mom and dad insane.) It explores the concept of foods eaten by wild animals and foods that grow in the garden. I hope to use this book in the fall when we plant a little garden in our backyard. I am hoping that by putting this out in the "blogosphere" I become accountable and actually plant the aforementioned garden.

Healthy and Hearty

This is a stand-by in our house. S and I love it and the kids will eat it up, albeit, while picking veggie "chunks" out every so often. I use turkey sausage and add other vegetables (zucchini, red peppers, yellow peppers) to up the veggie ante. It is a great winter meal with warm bread and some wine, but easily works in the summer with a green salad.

• 3/4 pound Italian sausages, casings removed (I use turkey sausage)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 large garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 28-ounce can diced peeled tomatoes
• 1/4 cup purchased pesto sauce

• 10 ounces ziti or penne pasta (about 3 cups), freshly cooked
• 8 cups ready-to-use spinach leaves (about 2/3 of 10-ounce package)
• 6 ounces mozzarella cheese, cubed
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 3 ounces)
• 
  
• Heat heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add sausage, onion and garlic and sauté until sausage is cooked through, breaking up meat with back of spoon, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes with juices to pan. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Stir in pesto. Season sauce with salt and pepper.
• 
  
• Preheat oven to 375° F. Lightly oil 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish. Combine pasta, spinach, mozzarella and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese in large bowl. Stir in hot tomato sauce. Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese over. Bake until sauce bubbles and cheeses melt, about 30 minutes.

Recipe adapted from epicurious.com

What do you think?

Weekend Musings

This weekend was full of a few things I, unknowingly, really needed. I...

• tried something new and a bit scary (for me, at least) and had a ball
• stayed home on Sunday afternoon with the kids and doing laundry and playing. Somehow, totally relaxing and perfect.
• got take-out for dinner, even though friends were coming over
• had a beer at 4:00 pm
• let the kids bang on a wooden table with play hammers, while I attempted a DIY job on said table (sidenote: I detest do-it-yourself jobs)
• bought myself a latte
• finished a book by flashlight (seriously, we had a neighborhood power outage)

image from Martha Stewart Living

The Little Things

Thank goodness for beautiful parks and beautiful friends.

My favorite tradition, as a mama, is meeting friends and their kids (Yes! I have found women whose company I love and whose children my own kids adore. Score!) at the playground.

We have our stand-bys and our new spots to check out. Parks that involve a nice walk beforehand, or a quick parking spot and we have arrived. Park days with kids getting dirty, snacks being shared, mamas laughing, and sometimes, crying. Watching our children become friends, learning how to solve problems, make mud cookies, and reach the monkey bars. Listening to one another talk about parenting, our marriages, cooking, movies, books, Target. :)

Thank goodness, indeed.

photo via flickr commons