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Showing posts with label baby food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby food. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Best Christmas

It seems as though the anticipation for Christmas this year is bigger than most.  Everyone seems to be so excited for Christmas- and totally in the spirit.  You know the feeling when you are really excited to see the persons face whom you are giving a gift to?  or the excitement of putting the ornaments on the tree and lighting it up for the first time of the season?  Or all the warm sugary vanilla cinnimony smells that float through the air.. there is just something about Christmas that brings back great memories.  Dan and I have both said- that this Christmas seems especially exciting.  Maybe its that we are spending time with close friends, or that we are looking forward to reconnecting with friends/ family in the next few weeks as we head down to LA then to Australia.. or maybe its that its Dyllans FIRST Christmas...

I have to say.. its so much more fun experiencing the excitement through her eyes.. even though she isn't quite old enough to really understand what Christmas means, or that its an exciting time of year- its still fun thinking back to childhood and what imagination brings to those curious enough to wonder.  Although Dyllan still hasn't sat on Santa's lap yet (yikes, I guess tomorrow is our last chance!)- I think she is beginning to understand that its a time where her family and friends come around to hang out- people are in a good mood and happy to play, things slow down, and most of the focus is on her... We took Dyllan to see Santa 2 weeks ago- got her all dressed up in her Santa clothes (we dressed up too!)- and she fell asleep (passed out!) on the way there.  We made the mistake of taking her swimming just before her Santa picture.. so naturally she was exhausted.  We decided between waking her up and standing in the Santa line- it was best to bring her another time.  So- tomorrow is the day.  Hmm... Dan is skiing tomorrow with the boys- so it looks like it will be just Dyll Bug and I.  Maybe just the Bug...

For now- I will leave you with some photos from tonight.  Jessica, Ellen and Emily came around to help pack and make dinner.. drink wine, and get in the holiday spirit.


Eating Christmas lights..



Santa Claws
Ohhh bother...

Santa's Helpers



Andy came around with presents for the Bug!  Lucky Girl.. its not even Christmas yet.

"What... I drink where I want!"

Anthony came around with a wide variety of beers for sampling. Awesome.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Comfort Food

Fall is the time of year we settle into our routines and begin to hibernate.  Fall, in Seattle, is usually rainy and cold but full vibrant color and change.  Growing up here, I used to wish the weather would be like summer all year round.   My dad quickly pointed out that "If it were sunny and warm in Seattle all year around- it would be over populated and more like California".  I guess I have to agree- there are some perks..   Although I can appreciate Seattle's four distinct seasons- summer is definitely my favorite- and warm and sunny is definitely my climate of choice.

Since its not sunny or warm- I have decided that its time to embrace the fall the only way I know how... sweat pants and comfort food.

A few weeks ago-I paid a visit to my super healthy cousin Chris and his organic masseuse wife Tara to get a "scoby" and learn how to make Kombucha. 


My favorite flavor is apple jasmine
After getting hooked on this- Honest Tea Kombucha- and paying almost $4 (almost as much as a Starbucks!!) for a bottle of this nasty looking stuff- I decided I too, could make it at home.  I got a quick lesson from Chris on how to make it- and now I have my own 4 mason jars of Kombucha tea brewing in the corner of our kitchen.  Dad and Sean are pretty grossed out- as it looks like loogies floating around in urine..


But I am convinced that in another week or so- I will have my own tasty drink- for free!  In addition to free tea, Chris and Tara also taught me about this organic fruit and vegi bin that they get delivered to their doorstep every week.  What a concept- you pay $35 - and you get a bin filled with fresh, seasonal, organic, local fruits and vegetables delivered to your door every week.  I forget the company they use- but I went home and googled it- and found http://www.newrootsorganics.com/ - and signed up.  What did we have to lose, right? 


Since our first delivery (3 weeks ago) we have tried all sorts of new fruits and vegis.. parsnips, persimmons, acorn squash.. and the best part about it is- I would probably never have put most of these items on my grocery list in the first place.. so we are eating a bunch of new meals.  Another bonus- it gives me ingredients to make Dyllan's babyfood.  Last night I made a few batches of babyfood (all organic, fresh, and local)- Acorn Squash, Parsnips, Apple Sauce, Carrots, Sweet Potato, and Pumpkin- all of which came from our weekly bin- with the exception of the pumpkin-  which actually came from the pumpkin patch Dad planted over the summer!  I am still trying to decide if the bin is worth the $35.. but for now- I think it is serving more than its purpose.




Bugs Bunny is happy!


Pumpkin from Dad's pumpkin patch


A Pizza Pizza Pizza Pie (said in an Italiano voice)

Do these shoes make me look too big for my carseat?!

Which brings me back to Fall, and comfort food.  If it wernt so rainy and crappy outside- I might not be in the kitchen cooking up such a storm. Trying to look at the positive here..   Next on my list- my favorite- Pumpkin Pie!  Nothing beats pumpkin pie -I still think Costco makes it best..- but I will give Costco a run for its money.


Some of my favorite comfort foods are...

Pumpkin Pie
Egg nogg
Cranberry Sauce
Pumpkin Spice candles
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Late
Vanilla Bean ice cream
Sweet Potato Fries
Cranberry Martinis
Pomegranate and Spinach Salad
Baked Pears or Apples
Peach Cobbler
Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Stuffing


What are yours??