Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to you & yours.  We spent the morning at my little man's first bike race and it was such a wonderful way to spend the day.

- making cauliflower pancakes for dinner tonight.  Hoping they turn out as yummy as I imagine they will.
- I borrowed a sewing machine from my friend and I'm hoping to work on my quilt tonight.
- will most definitely be watching The Bachelorette tomorrow night!  Will Ashley take back Bently or not?
- my mother-in-law is in town for an unexpected (& unannounced) visit!  (gulp)
- I just bought my boys their own Byntos and I'm having fun packing snacks.

team spirit

I love how our little man is giving the #1 sign in this photo - too cute.  Go Canucks!

Black Bean Chili

Recipe comes from our most-used and well-loved cookbook:  The Big Book of Soups & Stews:  262 recipes for serious comfort food.

Black Bean Chili
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups chopped onion (I just used 2 onions)
1 cup finely chopped celery (2 celery stalks)
4 cloves garlic minced
3 cans (14oz each) black beans drained and rinsed
2 cans (14oz each) diced tomatoes with juice
1 can (4oz) diced green chilies drained
1 1/2 cups vegetable stock (actual recipe called for beef stock... I opted for vegetable to keep it vegetarian)
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
ground pepper to taste
3 tbsp chopped cilantro or parsley

toppings:
grated cheese
sour cream
salsa
chopped hard-boiled eggs
cilantro sprigs for garnish (optional)
tortilla chips (optional)

In a soup pot over medium heat, warm oil.  Add onion, celery and garlic and saute for about 5 minutes (until tender).  Add remaining ingredients except toppings.  Reduce to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until flavours are blended, about 40 minutes.  Ladle into bowls and pass around the toppings.  Enjoy!


I've had the pot on for about an hour and my house smells fantastic!  Can't wait for dinner time!  I chose to make this for dinner as it was supremely easy and we usually have most of the ingredients in the pantry.  My children love all things "beany" especially black beans, so needless to say, this is a winner in our house.  Add on the fact that they can choose their own toppings, clean-up is a breeze and I have a happy house tonight.

FYI - How to cook perfect hard-boiled eggs here.

After You (book #6)

Book #4:
After You, by Julie Buxbaum.

How have I never heard of this author before?  I love, love, love this book.  Go right out to your nearest bookseller or library right now and get this book.  What are you waiting for??!!

I don't know why this book hits me so hard, but I fell in love with Julie's writing style and her characters immediately.

I'll be checking out another of Julie's books, The Opposite of Love, as soon as I can get my hands on it.

Up For Renewal (book #5)

My latest read was:  Up For Renewal (what magazines taught me about love, sex, and starting over), by Cathy Alter.

I really enjoyed this book (non-fiction) and found it had a lot that I could relate to.  Who hasn't picked up a women's magazine?!

Would recommend.

Last Night at Chateau Marmont (book #4)

Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger - is my latest read.  While I really enjoyed the book (as I have enjoyed all of Lauren Weisberger's novels), I'm not sure I would have wrote the ending the way it is... without spoiling it for you, I would have preferred it to end differently.

By the way, check out the actual website for the real Chateau Marmont!  It's peppered with photos of "old Hollywood" stars.

You must check out the Chateau on Wikipedia.  Read the notable people and events section for some entertaining facts.

today...

- we drove to the city to pick up my new (to me) stroller, yet another one of my Craigslist finds.

- we decided to stop at Ikea and have meatballs for lunch with the boys.

- we played in the kids section, and dreamed of a new kitchen - okay, seriously, how many hours do we spend in the kitchen in one day?!  It should be beautiful or at least a lot more functional!

- I took a stroll around the neighbourhood in the snow.  The dog was thrilled and my little man laughed at the snowflakes.

- I ran into a friend out in the snow.

- I thought way too much about things I should just forget about.

- I wondered how I could turn all my Craigslist adventures into a story of some sorts or maybe a screenplay?  I have met such interesting people!

- I kissed my children a million times.  (give or take a few)

- I relaxed and had a good day.

happiness is...

• laying in the sunshine today (on my dining room floor)
• having a very trying morning with my two year old - and then realizing that hey, he's only two.  I found this article online and it helped changed my view today.  Sometimes I really need to hear that I'm not the only going through the hard times.  Even though logically we know we're not alone, I still need to hear it!
• having a nice man tell me I was a brave woman today (for taking my challenging toddler to the grocery store.  I told him 'twas not bravery:  we just needed to eat!)
• A funny quote on happiness:  Happiness is like peeing in your pants. Everyone can see it, but only you can feel its warmth.   From project happiness facebook page.
• Some dreamy photographs on this blog.
• more photos:  journalling baby's size in utero - such a great idea (and fab wardrobe btw)
• ten minutes of absolute silence in my house needed to type this! 

happiness is...

• an impromptu visit to the Vancouver Aquarium yesterday with my boys
• sharing a hot-dog and watching the beluga whales at lunch-time
• chocolate chip banana muffins
• trying a new recipe tonight - African pineapple peanut stew, from the Moosewood At Home Cookbook.  (will be serving over couscous)
• Jamie's Food Revolution  (I love this man - and on an aside note:  I love the names of his kiddies too!)
• meeting a fresh baby last night!
• sleeping in deliciously late this morning (almost 9am!  a serious luxury around these parts)
• getting a chance to watch Dear Genevieve last night and dreaming of her making over our kitchen!! 
• walking to the mailbox with my boys and finding this dress from Anthropologie waiting for me!!!  Bonus:  it fits really well and I love it!!  I can see me getting a ton of wear out of it!

happiness is...

• finding $10 in my baby ergo carrier
• eating Hershey's kisses with caramel inside
• my friends bringing home their new baby girl today (and announcing her name finally)
• big toothy baby grins and giggles from my little man
• finding out another friend is expecting *
• building my son his very own mouse house this weekend - inspired by Dear Genevieve.  You can see photos of her design here.  (I'll post photos of our version once it is completed.)
• big fluffy snowflakes falling ever so gently
• the promise of sunshine tomorrow
• planning a quick drive to the city tomorrow
• finding time to work on a new knitting project (play-pants for my little man) 

* (feeling totally baby crazy here today - and loving it)

Checking in

We had a small reprieve from the rain the other day and a glorious sunset I just had to share.  Today we are back to the soggy weather again!

Keeping me going on a rainy day:

Hanging out with my boys

Making a batch of rice crispie squares (and eating them too...)

Tiny Buddha

this dress and this dress from Anthro website (so cheery and sunny!!)

dreaming of taking a road-trip to the Oregon coast

homemade aloo gobi for dinner tonight!