Tomato Soup Made Fancy

Did anyone else make this soup for dinner tonight? Oh my, it was so delicious and really did only take 10 minutes (or less) to prepare. It was a huge hit at our dinner table - even Tyler ate a bowl. We had it with toasted cheesy bread. Yum.

Work it, Baby!

Today I'm working out here with Anne, thanks to a couple gift certificates I scored from a tenant in my building. I don't know what to expect, but I'm sure it will be hilarious. Hopefully I'll learn some new sassy moves. Wish me luck!

Product Love

My favorite issue of In Style is now in stores. April 2009 - Best Beauty Buys. They have the best product list - high end and drug store. I always find a new favorite or two from their recommendations. I picked up my copy today as a "Happy Friday! Adam-is-working-late-tonight" treat to myself. Go grab one for yourself this weekend.

Sweet Feet

I can't stop thinking about the pretty shoes I saw on Design Mom from Baby Bloch . I need a pair for Audrey. Maybe these for summer? Oh, there are too many to choose from and I love them all! While I'm at it I'll add a pair to my wishlist. Now if only I could figure out how to get a major discount?

Caesar

I never considered myself a huge fan of Caesar Salad, but Adam and I found this recipe a few years back and have been making it ever since. It is so good. Adam requested it for his birthday dinner last Sunday. Usually we toss the dressing on romaine lettuce with grilled chicken, shredded parmesan, croutons, and serve it with some sort of yummy bread. It would be equally good with shrimp, or today I had the leftovers wrapped up in a tortilla for lunch. I usually at least double the recipe because we are dressing lovers around here. Enjoy!

Caesar Salad Dressing

1/4 c. parmesan cheese, or romano

1/4 c. light mayo

1 Tbsp. water

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1/2 tsp. crushed garlic

1/2 tsp. worcestershire sauce

1/8 tsp. ground pepper, or to taste

Little Miss Messmaker

Caught in the act. Audrey stops here at least three times a day on her quest to destroy the house.

Self Portrait

After putting Audrey down for a nap, I found Tyler at the kitchen table with my camera in hand. "Mommy I took some really great pictures," he said. This is what I found on my camera. Tyler's first try at photography.

And my personal favorite...

Happy Birthday Adam!

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like your house is a disease-infested petrie dish? Well at our house that day happens to be landing on Adam's birthday. Audrey has recovered, but now Tyler has croup and a fever. Adam and I are downing extra vitamin C and trying to survive in our sleep-deprived state. I want to scrub my house clean and do several loads of laundry to kill all the germs who seem to have taken up residence here, but that will have to wait. Today we are deflated... nap-takers and movie watchers. At least yesterday we were able to celebrate with Adam's parents, Weslie, and Troy. The barbeque was so yummy, Tyler and I baked cupcakes, and I'll be taking Adam on a date this upcoming week - especially to make up for Sick Day. Happy Birthday to the best husband and dad in the world! We cherish every day spent with you! There is no place we would rather be than with you... this day and forever. 

Back Online

In case you're wondering, this week I...

Nursed Audrey back from a 105 degree fever. This took up the majority of my week.

Played trains.... a lot.

Tried to meal plan but soon realized all of my recipes were online.

Had a very successful mall shopping trip with two kids in tow.

Body painted with Tyler and water colors.

Made Saturday morning plans to pick up the Twilight DVD with Anne.

Online shopped over the phone with Lauren for Adam's birthday present.

Gave my kids what felt like a bazillion baths this week (I guess that what happens when a sick baby is in the house).

Bought this, hoping it will keep Tyler from screaming bloody murder every time I wash his hair. Seriously?? Does anyone else's kids do this? I'll let you know if the "magic hair washing bucket" is worth the $4.99.

Made a dent in the pile of magazines I've been wanting to read.

Got a lot of apartment manager stuff done.

Ate too many incredibly delicious chocolate chip cookies from Michelle.

Signed up for 7am pilates because of said triple chocolate chunk cookies. (But they were sooooo worth the work!)

Budgeted my East Coast summer trip. Now that I have my computer back I can buy the tickets!

Planned Adam's birthday dinner with his parents and brother. He's in the mood for Barbeque.

Went to the park and enjoyed the wonderful LA weather.

Made delicious homemade pizza one night, and horrible french toast another.

Tried really hard to stay on our recession budget. Only one little slip at the mall.

Not bad for a week without the computer. Adam's birthday is Sunday, Audrey is feeling much better, and the weather is making me happy. Oh, and do you know I now have a little boy named Pickles? Tyler woke up from his nap the other day saying, "Mommy, should you call me Pickles?". Um.... sure. The rest of the week if I referred to him as Tyler he would say, "No Mommy. I'm Pickles!". 

Experiencing Technical Difficulties

Sadly, our MAC is under repair for the next week, leaving us with NO internet access (I know!) So I'm going to be taking a blogging hiatus until then, and doing things the old-fashioned way...remembering a simpler time without Facebook and all its necessary evils. Who knows, maybe I'll enjoy it?

Hope to be back and blogging soon!

Baby Talk

What is Audrey's first official word? ("Uh-oh" doesn't count and I don't think she uses it correctly anyway). Here's a hint:

No, not tongue. Tyler! Even though it sounds more like "Ta-Da". "Dada" is a close second, but I think Tyler is a little more consistent. Thick as thieves these two already - although the majority of my day sounds like, "Tyler stop sitting on your sister" or "Tyler don't pull your sister around by her feet." Just call it brotherly love.

For the Weekend - Words to Live By

This quote has hung on our fridge since we were married five years ago. So far my all time favorite, although living by these words is still a work in progress.

Our Deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.

And as we let our own Light shine, we unconsciously give other people the permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

- Marianne Williamson

I Heart DST

Anyone else happier thanks to Daylight Saving Time and the extra hours of sunshine each evening? I guess I'm someone who really needs her vitamin D. That, and the fact that my kids have been sleeping in this week, makes me a big fan of this time of year. Nothing but long, sunny days ahead... at least if you're living on this coast.

Cleanse

Two more months and I will not have a child attached to my body for the first time in over a year and a half (meaning I will no longer be nursing Audrey). I have been wanting to do a cleanse for a while now, and since Adam is on a health kick and I won't have to worry about calorie restriction, I've decided come the end of May we will both be "cleansing". I'm hoping to do a 9 day Isagenix cleanse with help from Tawny, but we'll see if that fits into our recent recession budget. I also saw this one on GOOP. Kind of a do-it-yourself detox. Now all I need is a juicer (any suggestions?), and the desire to give up my beloved Diet Dr. Pepper... temporarily at least.

Little Miss Fix-It

This is Kelsey. One of Tyler's best buddies. I think the construction hat totally works with the pink tutu, don't you? Part little lady, part tough girl. This shot makes me look forward to the years ahead with Audrey.

My two fixer-uppers. 

Three Month Checkup

Here's what's happening with this list:

Doing good on....

Going on dates.

Being "in the moment" with my kids - although this week is proving more difficult.

Scheduling me time.

Connecting with friends - minus the horrible phone tag I've been playing with Jen.

Singing more - thanks to my new church calling, and an itch to go on a few auditions after I'm done nursing Audrey.

And most importantly - Balance - Check!

Kinda need to work on....

Being budget conscious and generally more frugal. Did you see Monday's Oprah? I'm inspired.

Relying more on Heavenly Father.

Seriously need to....

Drink more water - this would do nothing but help my skin issues.

Read my scriptures.

(There is more, but one list at a time right?)

And in case you're curious...

Tyler is potty-trained and signed up for school.

My kids still don't share a room.

The apartment has had a "recession style" makeover. 

A new car is in the works.

Big anniversary trip might turn into mini anniversary trip due to recent recession job drama.

I say so far, so good... but there is plenty of work to be done.

Adriana

Adriana is town doing a show. Seeing her has made my weekend. My history with Adriana goes way beyond Ithaca and College Light Opera Company - separate chapters all their own. We moved to New York together. Rented our first apartment in Astoria - a tiny railroad on 30th Avenue. Got lost all over the city. Went to hundreds of auditions. Crazy NYC stories, boyfriends, jobs, nights out, afternoons in Central Park (one in particular I'd rather forget, albeit hilarious in hindsight). We sent Christmas cards out every year. We were very silly girls together. I may have had more crazy adventures with her than with anyone - before we met our husbands and became "responsible". She and Jason are coming over for dinner tonight and I can't wait to spend the evening with her - one of my girls, and a trusted, loving friend for life! Here are some old school shots of us from our first year in the city:

Our "photo shoot" for our house warming party. We look so young.

Not sure exactly what was going on here. I do know we are in our shower, and I'm pretty sure Miles is the photographer. Like I said - we were very silly.

This shot is blurry, but I love it because it is so us. Probably back from some horribly long audition, about to grab doughnuts from our favorite corner doughnut man in Astoria before watching a Baby Story/Wedding Story marathon on TLC. A day in the life of us - 2001.