Thanks friend :)

My friend Jen, who I came to know through a scrapbooking website, who I have now seen in person three times, who is also a court clerk, who's husband is a police officer, who talks like the Barefoot Contessa, who is my siamese twin (except for the fact that we were never physically joined - ha!), sent me a little package the other day:

She knows about my One Little Word - 'peace'. She sent me this cute little mirror that I will keep in my purse to remind me each day of two things: seeking peace, and how thankful I am for such a great friend who lives clear across the country.

Thanks friend :)

New glasses for the new year

I always have my eye exam and order glasses the first week of the year. I have a cadillac vision plan from work, I get two pair of glasses *every* year. I always get a new pair of regular glasses (because I always misplace mine and therefore it is good to have about 5 pair strewn throughout a 1200sf home) and a pair of prescription sunglasses.

Of course, I couldn't decide between hot-mama fashion sunglasses and sporty sunglasses, so I splurged and got a second pair of sunglasses because I got a multi pair discount :)

The first two pair arrived today:

And just a photo of the cute little bag they come in (with all the goodies) including a giant candy bar! That's a sweet treat every time I get glasses ;)

Snowboarding and Skiing

Emma: snowboarding for the first time.
Me: skiing for the first time in probably 15 years.

Super fun day for both of us - I love that we both enjoy the snow and Emma is showing an interest in snow sports.  She was a natural, took a lesson for the first half of the day, and then we all skied for the rest of the afternoon.

It dumped snow the whole day, and while I'm no good at judging I think it was 8". Definitely something we want to do again :)

Doesn't she look ready to hit the slopes?

Can't believe she is so tall!

Friends Amy & Sierra :)

Bless Amy's heart for working with Emma after the lesson for a bit.

Total blizzard driving home, glad to be in a big 4x4 truck

Stopped here for hot cocoa on the way home, wouldn't you say that's 8" on the picnic table??

Lazy Saturday here...

Thought I'd throw out a couple of random pictures from the first week of 2011:

Technically 2011, because it was after midnight :)

Emma, don't be mad at your Mama... you're so stinkin' cute I can't help myself.

This is what my dining room table looks like at this very moment.

Guess what we're off to do?  Clear that table :(  Other than that, we dropped my car off today for a few hiccups it's having electronically; went to the knitting store (seriously, I don't think I'm going to finish these fingerless glove(s) - I am okay paying homage to Michael Jackson and completing one); had Chipotle for lunch; took a nap; heading over to a few friends' houses to borrow some snow gear for tomorrow; and then coming home to watch a movie with my girl :)

To-Do List of 2011

I have some things I want to do, go to, experience, during 2011 and the first one I have thought of is this:

I want to eat traditional dim sum at a fun Chinese restaurant in downtown Seattle.  It intrigues me :)

That is all.  I have nothing else to add to the list at this moment - ha!

First OLW Challenge:

Find a quote that uses your word, that speaks to you.  This is mine:

"Peace is not something you wish for; it's something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away".

-Robert Fulghum

So true...

One Little Word.

I'm participating in this year long class from Ali Edwards.

My word is:

Peace


Update:  Emma's word:

Give


What's yours?

Top 10 of 2010

Here's my first attempt at creating an annual recap - I kinda like the idea, this will be fun to look back at in the years ahead:

Top 10 Favorite Layouts:

Tracy is one of my very best friends, and she and her family have adopted us into theirs - for which I am so grateful.

I still love my car :)

Love these two girls together.

She's growing up so quickly.

First snowfall in our new home.

Fun school (boy) memories :)

Tons of personal meaning.

{Us} perfectly captured.

Ruling the school this year.

Love Emma's style.

Top 10 Favorite Photos:

I don't know what happened, but I can't turn the underline off.

This was one of *many* spirit days at school that Emma went all out :)

I love my new house.

Love that these cousins have so much fun together.

To say that Emma loved this floating platform would be an understatement - that's her jumping :)

The photos from this shoot mean the world to me.

I love Emma's laugh and smile - even though it looks like Kennedy is confused :)

I just love this pic of Coop :)

Very fun trip.

Just a fun pic.

She is such an awesome player!

Top 10 Favorite Memories:

Buh-Bye 2010!

Emma and I will be doing some leftover Christmas celebrating tonight with the Robi's, and then the decorations come down tomorrow.  She will be whooping it up on NYE with Carl and lighting off the remainder of the 4th of July fireworks (hey, that's how they roll)... and I will be kicking up my heels with Kathy from Jr/Sr high school days and having a good old-fashioned sleepover.  Can't wait to wake up on Saturday - new year, new direction, new goals (and that's how I roll) :)

Happy New Year!!

Aarti Party - you likey?

I love this new Food Network show!  Aarti is showing how to make Indian food easily, and I'm loving it!  This is my new favorite recipe, just made it last night and had it for lunch today... try it!

Broccoli & Dill Raita Slaw
1/2 cup plain whole milk yogurt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1 tablespoons minced fresh dill
1 tablespoon Garlic-Ginger Paste, recipe follows
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 medium shallot, minced
2 (10-ounce) bags broccoli slaw
1/4 cup dried cranberries (optional, can substitute pomegranate seeds)
1/2 cup skinless sliced almonds, toasted

Directions:  In a large bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients except the broccoli slaw, cranberries, and almonds. Taste for seasoning and adjust according to your palate.  Add the slaw, cranberries, and almonds and gently toss. Chill before serving.

Ginger-Garlic Paste:
1/2 cup cloves garlic
1/2 cup (1/2-inch slices) fresh ginger
1/4 cup canola oil

Throw the garlic, ginger, and canola oil in a mini-food processor and let it go until it forms a semi-smooth paste. There will still be tiny little pieces in there, but overall, it should resemble a paste.

Save what you don't use in a small glass jar; it should last in the fridge for 2 to 3 weeks. It's a delicious addition to marinades, pasta sauces, stir-fry sauces, slow-cooker recipes, gravy etc. We always had a jar of this stuff in our fridge growing up.

More digi class projects

Really enjoyed my self-paced class, I highly recommend classes from Jessica Sprague:

Sleepover in Seattle - *photos*

I'm too lazy to go back and edit a post, so I'm just continuing on with photos from our stay.  To say it was very fun would be too easy, I loved spending time with my girls :)  (Emma, by birth of course, and Kennedy by choice :)

Bad lighting, but beautiful girls next to the tree in the lobby of the Edgewater Hotel.

Isn't this gorgeous? I *loved* the large windows and watching the ferries go by.

Nice room, but the girls did *not* like the faux bear foot stool :(

The hotel is on a pier, and the rooms all above the water as well. I simply opened our window to this gorgeous view - thank goodness no cruise ships were in town to block my photo ;)

Outside fireplace waiting for the shuttle to arrive to take us shopping!

Bubble Tea - a new for Emma and me - we loved it! Em had a kiwi 'frost' with two kinds of jellies; Kennedy had a watermelon Bobochino (milk added I think, like a smoothie) with jellies; and I had a milk tea (traditional with tapioca and some kind of jellies - I told the guy to just make his favorite, and it was delicious!)

Trying on flower headbands inside Nordstrom. We all found a favorite ;)

I know this is out of focus, but I love it - being downtown in December is magical :)

We were in this shop for probably an hour. The girls found tons of knick-knack-bric-a-brac to keep them busy while I bought a few gifts ;)

Emma liked the top hat headband!

We found traditional ribbon candy at a store and it was 50% off - the girls loved it. Brought back a ton of memories for me, we ate a lot of it when I was a kid.

Room service breakfast. Perfect way to end our stay :)