Spring has sprung.

...and we're doing our very best to rise to the occasion.
                                                   

{venturing into new books.  new endeavors.  new life.}
                                                    

It's official.

 

he

   

 

survived

middle

school.

 

... with straight A's & flying colors i might add :-).

{& our marriage survived an ENTIRE saturday of garage-cleaning... one bedroom to go!!}

...3 school days left, one bedroom to devour, & lots of post-purge cleaning to be done.

  

but first, coffee.

 

Blue skies & black beans.

          

Well, the week is {finally} coming to a close.  Volunteering's done, hailey's canker-sore is gone (crazy how one little 'ailment' can be such a major source of pain... for an entire week!), lots left to go on our 'purging  project', but the table is cleared, and the garage has at least been started, homework assignments are ALL done, jacob's promotion outfit's purchased, and he's more than ready to walk down that aisle.  Picked our first bell peppers yesterday, a huge bunch of basil's ready & waiting to spice up our life, & the tomatoes are well on their way...

 

We're all stocked up on sunscreen, bags, suits, and towels (finally ordered some linen towels! ...since I won't be making it to France anytime, soon, figured these will make do- for now :))... Just a couple a' days left of school and we cannot wait to put our 'supplies' to good use.

               

But I didn't want to let the week come to a close without sharing this week's tried & true recipe... Sorry, no pic & only a quick link, but seriously- these black bean burgers (via PMD contributor, Chef Dayna McLeod) will most definitely not leave you asking... Where's the beef??  On Memorial Day morning, I sat and read my way through my reader, facebook, twitter... reading about bbq's to be had, burgers to be grilled, potato salads to be prepared... Seeing that the usual holiday fare was pretty much out of the question, I had no idea what our menu would be.

...until I saw this recipe.  I closed the computer, put some beans to soak... & after a loooong day of cleaning, & organizing- we watched one of the worst best movies ever made {Three Amigos} & enjoyed our 'burgers'. 

   

They say...

                           

It gets worse before it gets better.
                   

{carving out a bit of dining space for breakfast this morning (jacob exclaimed, "i don't think that the 'organization' is working.")}

Seeing that we've been at it for 10 days... I'd say "they" are right.

I've agreed to volunteer for the entire day today AND tomorrow (why???)... and we've got Jacob's spring orchestra performance to attend tonight... a resume to help him create- a t-shirt to help him design (So. Done. With. Homework. Assignments.)... Friday's 8th grade graduation ceremony (yes, graduating the 8th grade is apparently a very big deal these days :)) to plan for... 

In other words, there will be very little checking off of the to-do list today (or tomorrow- or the day after that), so looks like we won't be living in "organized harmony" quite yet.
 
But sooner or later before summer- even if it kills me- room by room... shelf by shelf... drawer by drawer... clutter will be conquered- once & for all.
   

Power bars.

With my grandma here the past few days, it's been both extremely productive in some ways, and not so much in others.  Anything involving the computer has been close to zero (yes, I do like/need to be unplugged every now & again, but today- to make up for the extended absence- I'm granting myself lots of extra url time... before & after our tax appointment of course).  Working out has been pretty light this week.  Spring cleaning, laundry, organization- on the other hand... huge, huge progress.  

On Monday, my mom, my grandma, & I were all set to spend a day of shopping.  That morning, I looked around at all of the to-do projects & piles, at the mound of laundry that didn't get done over the weekend, at the huge bag of "organization supplies" purchased a month ago at the Container Store, Ikea, Target... and I decided I did not/could not bring anything else into this house until I resolved the currant state of affairs.  

So, instead of birthday shopping, my present came in the form of HELP... We spent the entire day getting things done.

I'm talkin' the "getting-on-your-hands-&-knees-&-dusting-under-the-bed type cleaning"... and I am incredibly, incredibly grateful for their gift.  Their gift of time, of assistance, of love... because it takes a LOT of love to dig through another's "dirt"... & boy, their love for me is to the moon {& back :)}.

So, maybe a bit off-balanced in all other areas- temporarily, but it's necessary to keep moving forward... to keep the 'wheels from getting stuck'.

But, all that pinning over the weekend was surely not in vein.  It was the determining factor in Sunday's dinner, & was the source of inspiration for these "power bars" that my grandma & I tossed together before her departure yesterday.  The 'food category' is also pretty off-kilter this week... a few [indulgent] meals in store- beginning with this evening- & continuing throughout the weekend.  Not to mention, anytime I take a "road trip", my appetite seems to increase tenfold the second I set foot in the car.  So, aside from the fact that these are excellent 'recovery snacks' (pre & post workout), this week- & this weekend- they are simply necessary.

power bars

*adapted from the little red house

makes a quarter sheet pan's worth of bars

{this is a very, very loose recipe, so adjust/adapt ingredients accordingly!}

1lb pitted dates or figs (*see note below)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

pinch of cinnamon

cup of almonds, roughly chopped

a few handfuls of rolled oats & rolled wheat (didn't have rolled wheat- used wheat germ)

large handful of sunflower seeds

large handful of raw pumpkin seeds (I used salted/roasted seeds, since I had them on hand)

[either of the above 2 should be salted to add a salty/sweet flavor to the bars]

small handful of flax seeds

handful of dark chocolate chips

Puree the dates in a food processor until a paste starts to form (this is your "glue" to hold your bar together).  Add vanilla and cinnamon.  Continue to puree until it forms a "date-paste ball" inside of your machine.

Add the date-paste and all of the other ingredients into a large bowl and mix it together.  Add more seeds if the dates will hold more.

Press the mixture into a quarter sheet pan and place it in the freezer for an hour.  Turn over onto a cutting board and slice into squares.  Store in the freezer, if desired (for a longer shelf life), and thaw for a few minutes...

...when you're ready for a protein packed 'recovery snack'.

*COOK'S NOTES

• My handfuls must have been a little too big, because the date-paste was not really holding all of the nuts/seeds together.  I had dried figs on hand, so I created a fig-paste and added it to the entire mixture.  Next time, my "large handfuls" will not be quite as large.
• Next time, I'll line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper (with extra parchment extended over the sides) so I can easily pull the bars out before cutting.
• My favorite store-bought 'power bar'... the label speaks for itself!

Happy Wednesday everyone... I'm sure I'll see ya in one social-media venue or another- later today... after the {hopefully FRUITFUL} Tax Appointment. 
  

It pays to plan.

It was a pleasure to kick off estelle's "gardening adventure" series yesterday, with soil preparation tips.  I thought I'd share a few more BIG & little tips that we've found to be especially helpful.

1.)Utilize a garden journal.

... never before realized how much planning, researching, designing, sketching, adjusting, observing, trouble-shooting... that a garden entails.  this journal allows us to record all of it in one spot.

2.) Maximize your gardening space *without over-crowding.

... by far, one of our biggest lessons learned last year... & greatest discoveries this year- GrowVeg.com.  proper spacing, smart grouping... both absolutely essential.  this online planner allows you to draw out your garden, and shows "how much space plants require and how to group them for maximum success."

                                 
3.) Combine seedlings with seeds.

... some vegetables take longer to mature from seed.  although most of our plants start out in the form of seeds planted directly into the garden (the kids love helping to pick out the "seed packets" :))- when it comes to long-season plants (such as tomatoes & peppers), we purchase seedlings from the nursery.  last year, we tried to start our own; everything started off really well... then just like that, they all DIED.  this year, we needed to experience more success than failure simply want to get our soil, grouping, and spacing down, so we took the easy route when it comes to seedlings.

4.) Plan the menu... & stock up.

... a seemingly little tip, but made a world of difference.  no question about it... gardening can definitely be relaxing & "therapeutic" even.  but the days of purchasing, hauling, clearing, soil-preparing, & planting is a. lot. of. work. {especially when you squeeze the whole job into a day & a 1/2} ... {and especially when you want to mix in other weekend activities- such as eating}... solution??  plan your weekend menu (and stock up on groceries).  when you're hot & dirty & gross (not that i was or anything), it's no fun to plan meals, go to the store- or even run and get takeout.  *also- start the day right with a big ol' "mug" of coffee and have drinks & snacks ready for your always-hungry children [& self].

5.) Make it a family affair.

... while keeping in mind that a.) perfection has no place in gardening (because let me tell ya- they will not put the seed in the perfect spot- or dig the holes in the perfect proximity to one another... but neither will i!), and b.) they need breaks... to analyze worms, stare at the dirt(??), play in the yard, and of course- EAT.

                

Whether getting out in the garden or hitting up the pubs, have fun going GREEN this weekend :).

 

Well-soiled.

  zucchini, squash, watermelon, pumpkin, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, carrots, peas, green beans, strawberries, basil, oregano, mint, parsley, thyme, sage, rosemary, chives, & marjoram 

    

Yep.  That's the plan!

Ryan, myself, Jacob, & Hailey got busy last weekend, and by Sunday at sundown, our work was done.

We have finally learned that soil preparation is KEY, and *we are over at Estelle's place today to share a) exactly how we learned this lesson {the hard way}, and b) crucial tips on preparing your garden soil for spring planting.  It's a lotta work upfront, but what the payoff of a bountiful summer garden is delicious... in more ways than one.

Visit us at Estelle's & share your own gardening pursuits n' tips!

*Ryan & I collaborated on the post.  He handled the writing (he's a natural)... I managed the pics.  Teamwork :). 

 

Renewal.

                         

                         

We've made it through the dreaded week.  Mammogram's DONE, results IN (all good!), annnnnd......... "re-wiring hell" is OVER.  Thanks to my husband, our music will soon be all in one 'all-access' spot, and we can now stream our way through Downton Abbey...

 

So, in the midst of uploading cd's, downloading songs, stringing hearts, & bakin' beans, this (see above image) is pretty much how the 1st 1/2 of our weekend will be spent.

{except it most likely won't be iced coffee in my cup :)}

xoxo 

Arrivederci {Listography 2011}.

                                     

Each Wednesday, Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.

 

 

Well, we're down to our final list.  

...and I can honestly say- list-making (of the 'personal variety') is no longer a stressful process.

 

We've reflected. We've prioritized. We've shared.

 

Although some came [way] easier than others, we tackled our fear- and best of all, we did it together.

(yes- I'm talkin' to you Emily & Danielle =))

              

~~~

 

Our final list. 

 "List how you would like to spend time when you’re a senior citizen."

                                        

Actually, it's not too far off from my very first one...

... full circle.

 

Thank you for sharing in the list-making fun this past year.  Your comments, input, and interest have made it that much more fun, and I really appreciate it.

...and with that, I'm off.  Off to the beautiful state of Oregon, for a much needed week of r&r.  See ya in 2012!

   

Suggestion box.

                                

Christmas Eve has always been our 'big family celebration,'  whereas Christmas day, the group breaks up, allowing each family to do their own thing- to celebrate with in-laws, friends, on their own...  The night before Christmas, we all get together at my grandma's house... aunts, uncles, cousins, and some relatives you see only on this very eve.  When my grandpa was with us, we'd exercise the utmost patience- waiting until the day's end (midnight) to open our gifts.  And plenty of gifts there were... no secret-santa-name-drawing program in place... no 'kids-only' gift rule...  As everyone has gotten hastier/lazier older/wiser, the start time has moved up, the midnight tradition has dissolved, & the whole gift-giving affair has become a bit more streamlined & little more methodical... a little.

Quite a few years back, a new tradition was born.  A box is set out for each family.  Everyone brings a little gift to add to the boxes.  However many boxes there are determines how many gifts you bring (14 boxes = 14 candles... ornaments... dishes...).  Gift-opening mayhem still exists.  Presents galore still sit under the tree- mainly for the kids (which for our family- you remain a "kid" until you're living on your own &/or married), but each family unit has a set- or a box- of little gifts to take home & open up on Christmas morning, in the comfort of their own home.

Half of our gift remains the same each year... a 1/2 lb. of Christmas Blend (thanks to my Starbucks hook-up, or husband rather).   In my working days- when handmade/homemade gifts were out of the question- the other half consisted of some type of Starbucks ware- a mug, a cd, an ornament... something coffee related.  Now, we go the homemade route.  A couple of years back, we made jars of vanilla chai tea mix & triple-orange pecan biscotti.  Last year, it was shortbread.  

This year?  Not a clue.  Any suggestions???  What are some of your favorite 'baked good' or other homemade {holiday or everyday} recipes?

Please share.  

               

Pretty please.

...with sugar- & sprinkles- on top.

     

The root of the matter.

We've had our raised garden beds for a little over a year now, and gardening ranks pretty high up there in the what-we-do-in-our-free-time category... yet you would never know that by reading this blog.  Other than a few random mentions here and there, the posts have been few and far between.

Sure- it takes extra time to photograph... and edit... and formulate details to write about...  But, in truth, our "pursuit of simplicity" has been anything but simple.  Let's just say, our "raised gardening adventure" has given new meaning to the phrase, LEARNING CURVE.

One obstacle after another.  A constant challenge to overcome.  Never-ending Google searches.  Desperate pleas for advice from our newly befriended Armstrong employee gardening guru.  Thankfully, Ryan's taken the lead, and is determined to lead us into Garden Prosperity.

Despite the many failures, there's been quite a few successes too.  And after a string of bad seeds - success tastes that much sweeter.

{let's start with the losses}

• a dog that consumed all of our initial sprouts & an entire crop of newly ripened tomatoes- all at once
• poor timing
• over-planting
• crowding
• "wide & shallow" (as opposed to narrow & deep) approach
• critters (thieves) eating away the fruits of our labor
• slow- or no- growth, discolored leaves, rotting (not enough magnesium, calcium, nitrogen...)
• improper placement (not enough/too much sunlight)
• white flies, fungi, aphids
• over/under watering
• cheap soil

{now for the wins}

                       

First and foremost, we started a compost bin a couple of months ago, and are on our way to excellent soil.  Composting has been such a simple and satisfying process, I can't believe we didn't start sooner.  With the exception of a few tomatoes & lots of peppers & herbs, we've cleared our summer beds away and planted for fall.

                                                

                                             

                     

  
{on the menu for fall (so far):  beets, radishes, carrots, parsnips, Italian red onion, red onion}

If you're considering starting your own garden- or switching from a container to a raised bed garden (like we did)- do not let this post deter you.  Although I listed many, the main issue was our soil.  We had to purchase A LOT all at one time, and were too quick to take the advice of a Home Depot employee's referral of "excellent yet inexpensive" soil (inexpensive- yes; excellent- no).  Also, we let our confidence get the best of us, and set our sights a bit too high (too many seeds, too close together).  Our current approach:  Start small (more of one type of plant instead of a few of many- or in our case... a lot of many) and attain better garden soil.

An ongoing learning process for sure.  Now that I've shared this much, I'll definitely keep you updated... (& more often :)).  If you have any tips or stories to share, I'd [really, really] love to hear!   
     

Listography 2011.

                     

In my working days, I dreaded the ice-breaker games or forms relating to personal goals, hobbies, or favorites.  As I've alluded to several times before, other than being a wife and mother, work is what I did, and what I knew.  Other than the very basic questions- and I mean basic- like "What's your favorite color?," having to categorize my life in the form of a list- my experiences, goals, favorites, my life beyond the 'office' - stressed me out. 

And in a way, it still does.  I mean it's easy to list  what I need to get done for the day, pick up from the grocery store, ... the simple stuff.  Yet when it comes to the "big stuff," it gets tough.  The past few years- especially this past year- have been a time of major reflection on all areas of life.  Blogging has served as a vehicle to not only express, but to develop a viewpoint, a style, a preference, in topics ranging from nail polish and t.v. to friendship and parenting.

But it's also served as a reminder of my incessant tendency (or flaw) to let life take over- even without a full-time job to stand in my way.  Time and time again, Busyness becomes my list, my occupation, my existence.  As much as I strive to live with purpose- with intention- the same ol' pattern resurfaces... days, weeks, months go by filled with stress, meaninglessness, busyness.  I let it take the driver seat, while I become a passenger heading towards an undetermined location, or worse- an undesired one.

Simply put- list-making and prioritizing are no longer a nice-to-do on the rare occasion that I am not busy, but a MUST.

 

~~~~~~

 

I was so happy to find out that two of my good friends, Danielle, @ Ellinad Spir, and Emily, @ Notorious MLE are on the same wavelength.  We decided to tackle this fear, and accomplish this goal together- with the help of this made-for-us planner- Listography 2011 Weekly Calendar... both organization and reflection in one fabulous book!  At the beginning of each week, we will fill out our to-do's, along with the corresponding list, which we'll post every Wednesday.  On my sidebar is the complete list of each week's topic- ranging (as it states on the back of the book) from autobiographical, to aspirational, to holiday-specific.

Do you want to join us??  If so, check out next week's topic, make your list, post it on Wednesday, and link up!  If you're not up for every list, just pick and choose the ones you want to complete and post... and share em with us!  A perfect way to get to know more about yourself and others, to ponder your past, to consider your future, to inspire and be inspired, and best of all- new blogger friends in the process!  If you want to start this week, head over to Danielle's to read her list, and add a link to your list.  Next week- on the 5th [topic:  List books that made you cry.], the link will be over at Emily's (we're rotating)!  No link?  Just put your list in the comment section.

So, without further ado, my first list of the year...

We're in San Jose for a week of holiday celebration and relaxation.  I look forward to starting the new year in a calm, focused, and energized state of mind.  HAPPY NEW YEAR to each and every one of you!