Friday… I’m in Love #2

     

I was watching a documentary on PBS the other day and it was about independently owned book stores.  And owning a quant little, kitschy bookstore would probably be my all time dream job – so I was curious about this movie.  The documentary was called Paperback Dreams and it followed two California independently owned bookstores – and showcased all the glory and struggles they each have encountered throughout their years.  Unfortunately, one of the bookstores – Cody’s Books - had to close its doors this summer, and the other Kepler’s is still open but struggling against this declining economy as well.  Watching this documentary made me realize I need to do my part in keeping some of these great little treasures alive and well.  People pour time, energy, money and passion into their dreams – and for me, the consumer, it doesn't necessarily mean that I have to pick up a huge extra cost in helping to support them.

So (ah, finally) the thing I love this week and want to share with you all – especially my book lover friends (some of whom all ready know and love this gem of a place) is a great bookstore called Powell’s Books.  It is an independently owned book store in Portland, OR.  And it’s not small,  because the actual store is huge, like an entire city block huge, like I’ve died and gone to heaven huge.  But, they have a great online store with both new and used books.  All at great prices.  Seriously, great prices.  Competitive prices with any big name book store.

So shopping there makes me feel like I’m doing my part to support local, independently owned (not the huge franchise, corporation book store) and still being able to watch my own budget.  A perfect solution.

So, if your shopping for your next book club book…. I encourage you to go check it out:  http://www.powells.com

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Again I go with Etsy for my second love - probably because I could lose myself on this site for hours.  Just looking at all the things that people create.  The good as well as the hideously awful.  Perhaps it’s my way of fulfilling my own personal creative void.  Perhaps.

For my birthday, my friend Susan gave me this great gift of a market bag that she purchased on this site.  It’s made by Molly – really, that’s her shop’s name Made By Molly.  She’s from Seattle and has these great bags.  And I swear if I were a working girl (you know what I mean) I’d be buying myself one of her cute lunch totes as well.

I’ve only had my market tote bag for a few weeks.  But I’ve used it for everything from groceries, Target purchases, library books and as a diaper bag.  Thanks again Susan – what a great find.

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Christian has never been my artsy guy.  Campbelle usually fills that role.  But lately he’s developed a passion for drawing.  Maybe it’s the new desk.  Actually, for sure it’s his new desk.  Whatever it is, I’m madly in love with this new found creative force in him.  And madly in love with his creations like this one of our family.

 

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Holding while Standing

First off, I took this picture of the kids tonight after baths.   Doesn’t Beckett look absurdly giant for not quite 6 months old?!?

Campbelle’s privilege of holding Beckett while standing is a huge, huge big deal to her.  She first held him standing this weekend while we were all shopping at Target.  Leif was with all the kids in the toy section (truthfully he got detained in the xbox section playing video games)  and he had to go the bathroom and couldn’t find me anywhere (which is funny, because I told him exactly which section I was going to be at and waited there forever!  hmmmm??)  We didn’t bring the stroller or car seat into the store – so he had no place to put Beckett down.  When we were all finally reunited, Campbelle was so excited that she got to hold Beckett standing!!  Like majorly overjoyed.  I didn’t get all the details from Leif about the bathroom trip… nor do I want to.  But from then on, holding Beckett while standing is a reward in our house.

And again, he almost looks like he could knock her down.  !!

Tom Khaa Gai Recipe

I love Thai food.  Ever since my brother-in-law Bill introduced it to me a several years ago at a place in Minneapolis called The King and I.  I’ve been loving it ever since.  And now, whenever I go out for Thai food, I usually start my meal with a bowl of tom khaa gai, which is Thai chicken soup. It doesn't look like much - a creamy, pale broth laced with a few chicken slices, mushrooms and cilantro - but what it lacks in looks, it makes up in flavor. Sweet and sour components balance the richness of lemongrass and lime-infused coconut milk, which, in turn, tempers a slow-building burn sensation. Not a bad one, unless of course you like that kind of bad burn – then by all means add more serrano chilis to your soup. I’ve experimented with several recipes for this soup over the past few years, and think I finally found my favorite.  (From Cooks Illustrated Jan/Feb 2007)

THAI-STYLE CHICKEN SOUP
serves 4
1 tsp. vegetable oil
3 lemongrass stalks, tough outer leaves removed, bottom 5 inches halved lengthwise and sliced thin crosswise
3 large shallots, chopped
8 sprigs fresh cilantro, chopped coarse
3 Tbsp. fish sauce, divided use
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cans (14 oz. each) coconut milk, well shaken, divided use
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 lb. white mushrooms, cleaned, stems trimmed, cut into 1/4 inch slices
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, halved lengthwise and sliced on the bias into 1/8 inch slices
3 Tbsp. juice from 2-3 limes
2 tsp. Thai red curry paste

GARNISHES:
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
2 scallions, sliced thin
1 lime, cut into wedges
2 serrano chilies, sliced thin

Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat until just shimmering. Add lemongrass, shallots, cilantro, and 1 Tbsp. fish sauce. (I go really easy of the fish sauce.  The smell is crazy awful and one of those things that just seems to linger in your nose – forever).  Cook stirring frequently til just soft, 2-5 minutes. Veggies should not brown.

Stir in broth and 1 can coconut milk, simmer over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.

Pour broth thru fine-mesh strainer and discard solids. Rinse pan and return broth to pan. Return pan to medium-high heat. Stir in remaining can of coconut milk and sugar. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium and stir in mushrooms, cook til tender about 3 minutes.

Add chicken and cook stirring constantly until no longer pink, 3 minutes. Remove soup from heat.
Combine lime juice, curry paste, and remaining 2 Tbsp. fish sauce (again, I do a bit less than this)  in small bowl, stir into soup. Ladle soup into bowls and add desired garnishes. Serve immediately with lime wedges.

January days

So these pictures are from last week… it was beautiful.  Sunny, 50s and absolutely fantastic for January. 

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The kids played outside all afternoon while Beckett napped and I read.

Friday… I’m in Love #1

Ok, my obsession with Facebook has got to stop.  I seriously spend too much time on that ridiculous site and have very much neglected my sweet little blog.  So to regenerate my commitment to my blog, and aspire to have at least one ‘no kid photo post, typical mommy blog update’ per week I am going to start a weekly series.  Friday …I’m in Love!  It will be my chance to share with you all the things that I currently love.  They may not necessarily be things that I own, made, or am connected to in any way (or they also might be).  I’m not really sure what you’ll find here each Friday.  But maybe it will inspire you in some way, shape or form.

And since I just thought of this great idea like 15 seconds ago.  I’m not totally prepared for this post.  So bear with me this week.  It’s bound to get better!

Things I love:

"You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back." 

William D. Tammeus

 

I love Tollipop.  She has the sweetest little drawings of these adorable characters; and each one has a story to share.  Take for instance Belinda (with the polkadot dress and her love of chocolate) or Mopsy Bunny and her little tribe (and unlike most Americans, she was welcome in France and had quite the escapade in Algiers).

 

“If these pictures could talk, oh the stories they would tell”  And so they do – beautifully and with so much sweet charm. They are available for purchase on Etsy and I think that just maybe when we redo Campbelle’s room this spring – one or two of those sweet little creations might be hanging in her room.

 

  Campbelle received the loveliest book for her 5th birthday from our dear friends the Hardwicks. It’s The Wizard of Oz commemorative pop up version.  It is so beautiful and precious that it sits high up on my book shelf (so as wild hands can not reach) and only comes down to be looked at under adult supervision – which I might add is the #1 most requested book in our house at the moment.  Robert Sabuda is the artist behind the book and it is truly unbelievable. The kids and adults in this house could spend countless hours mesmerized by the fine details and imaginative designs.  Ferris wheels pop to real, spinning life.  Castles grow enormous and elegant from the page. A real treasure of a book.

Homework Ready

We finally made it to Ikea to purchase a desk for Christian from his Farmor and Farfar as a birthday gift.  He is sooo thrilled with it and has barely come out of his room since yesterday afternoon.  He tells us he is so busy with homework – he can’t even take a break for meals!! This is the most serious I’ve ever seen him write his name and practice his letters.  

Thanks Farmor and Farfar.  I’m quite sure you’re grandson is getting smarter and smarter this very minute!!  :-)

Baby its cold outside

I heard this story on NPR. Apparently it is cold in Fargo . Makes our chili 24 not sound so bad.

Fun Project

We’ve got some rainy day blues here at the house…. no school today because of some major flooding of the Snoqualmie River.  Campbelle was so sad this morning – literally crying ‘I just want to go to school and learn!’ (did I ever mention she’s a bit dramatic!).  So I promised them that we could do our big “Imagination Project” that has been months in the works. 

Here’s how it works:  Save some  random items from the garbage or recycling box (thoroughly washed of course) and when you have a plentiful amount stored up, give the kids some tape, scissors and set them free to be as creative as their little minds can be. 

The kids spent an entire afternoon working with this table full of stuff:

In the end, we have some really great looking and inventive things. 

Here are a few of my favorites :

A dog, a windmill, a race car and three lovely ladies!

But the ultimate favorite and widely imaginative (where in the world do they come up with these things?!?! haha)

A starbucks coffee for Mom!  Ahh, so sweet – always thinking of me! 

5 months old!

Here’s Beckett – can you believe 5 months old already?  Just looking at his 4 month to 5 month pictures, he doesn’t seem to have changed all that much – but trust me he has.  My guess he’s about 18 lbs…. probably around 26 inches.  He is rolling around like crazy, ‘talks’ up a storm, enjoys most foods with the exception of rice cereal (but who could blame the kid), and still is our happy little man.  His spitting up seems to be much better these days – of course because I spoke words such as those aloud, tomorrow he’ll be back his old spit-up self.   All is good and happy in Beckett’s world – which makes it true for the rest of us too.

Again, Campbelle and Christian at 5 months.

Miss America

Ok, so you guys know how teeny-tiny my hometown in South Dakota is … like 1,000 people in the town of Eureka.  Everyone knows everyone there.  In fact, I seriously could name every single person in that town, which house is theirs, give you about 3 generations of connections for each person, and quite possibly everyone’s birth date.  It’s small. Got it?

So, it is really, really cool when a Eurekean makes it big… feels a bit like someone in your own personal family has done it.  And for a small town, we’ve had our share of success stories.  Like Allen Neuharth – you might not know his name, but he was the founder of USA Today.  Yep, Eureka boy.  Or another guy once worked for VH1 and dated Gloria Ruben (you know the AIDS girl from ER)… yep, he was originally from Eureka.  (Ok, that might have been a stretch, but true none the less).

But the really cool thing that is going on right now is that the reigning Miss South Dakota is from none other than my teeny-tiny town of Eureka.   Her name is Alex – and she is such a great kid (ok, woman would probably be more fitting, but since I actually can remember when she was born, and watched her grow, and I’m really much closer to her mother’s age than hers – ‘kid’ somehow make me feel better).  Anyway, she will be competing for the Miss America title.  I guess the pageant is being done a bit differently this year, more like a reality TV show.  It starts tomorrow night on TLC and there are a few episode prior to the crowning event.  Sounds like the viewers can help decide the top 15 contestants by voting online.

http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/miss-america/miss-america.html

So tune in and watch the little kid that grew up in my small hometown,  who was part of the same Christmas pageants that I was at our church, who is second cousins with my good friend Tia, and whose mom played on the same basketball team with my sister, who is really a beautiful and intelligent young woman – compete for Miss America.  And then vote…. because how very cool would that be!!  Good luck Alex!

http://www.misssd.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=119&Itemid=148