One Bag a Day...

Remember the Blue Diamond Almonds commercial?  "One can a day is all we ask."  Well, I  found my "can a day."  I can't tell you how many bags of tortilla chips John and I have gone through since we discovered Tacupeto (locally made and available at Sprouts and Whole Foods) via a foodie friend (I don't like the word, "foodie" - gotta coin another).

Ripe avocado + salsa = instant fiesta!

Easy Peasy

Easy Party

Easy Dinner

Easy Decorating

In the Thick of Summer

Summer is in serious full swing. John laid down the law for Kelly and Katie on the first day of summer vacation. No Love = Horrible Summer!!! A massive fight between the two precipitated the equation. He also limited their TV/Computer time to 4 hours. 4 hours?! Seems like a lot. Growing up, my dad limited tv viewing to one hour. He would hide the tv cables before he left for work in the morning. Luckily, my sisters and I were adept at seeking out all of his favorite hiding places (i.e. the fireplace). I was not so good at hooking up the cables so thank God for Susan, the handy dandy sister. As soon as we would hear the garage door open, we would quickely place the cables in its hiding place and everyone was happy.  

A few days later, Kelly edited John's rule.  I like the positive spin!

We finally purchased a grill!  We are going to grill all summer - and perhaps into fall and winter. After all, the possibilities are endless. 

No summer is complete without a trip to the happiest place on earth!

Scenes from a Birthday

Did you hear?  38 is the new 37.  

This was one of my favorite presents.  My baby sister framed an old picture of me and her (when she was about Katie's age).  

Like a Phoenix...

I recently emerged from the ashes of a brief cooking slump.  I mostly enjoy cooking but there are many a days when the mere thought of making dinner puts me in a funk.  The solution usually involves foodnetwork or a trip to the library to checkout some cookbooks.  The latter did the job and I am newly inspired.  Plus, I tend to eat proper portions when I do the cooking.

Seafood scallion pancake (haemul pajeon) - not the best thing to make on a hot summer evening.  The recipe called for rice flour which made the pancake more dense (which i didn't like) and more crispy (which i liked) than the flour only recipes.

I was in the kitchen for what seemed like hours and this is the fruit of my labor.  Doesn't look like much.  On the left is corn jeon (pancake) and I don't think I will be making any sort of jeon in the next few months.  Jeon should be left for the non-summer months.


Inspired by my error, I decided on a more season appropriate menu.

Angel hair pasta with tomatoes, basil and fresh mozzarella.  I always enjoy angel hair more than I think I will.  There are certain foods which I think I don't like but actually do - like mint.  But more on food prejudices at another time...

Daddy's Weekend

To celebrate Father's Day, John suggested a family hike.  So off we were...but first, a little breakfast.

The hike took about an hour and a half and the girls felt a sense of accomplishment when we were done.

There were lots of cactus plants.  The flowers on this one were so pretty.  I do have to say that being married to John has increased my appreciation of nature.  I would not have noticed such a plant eleven years ago and actually, I didn't notice it on this hike either.  John had to point it out.  Generally, John notices a lot more things than I do.  


Did you see that lizard (about 300 feet away and in the bushes)?  
Uh no.
Look at all the clusters of cactus plants on that hill.
Oh, I thought they were just bushes.
There are so many fish in this lake!
Where?


I grew up being dragged to Yosemite at least once a year and 17 mile drive whenever we had guests visiting.  Let's just say it wasn't my idea of a good time.  John, on the other hand, is a nature man.  He participated in Outward Bound, by choice and has climbed Mt. Whitney more than a couple times, again, by choice.  I sound like I'm bragging because I am.  He is the Man!  

I hope our girls remember our outdoor activities and grow up appreciating nature.  I hate to label the kids early on but I would have to say that Kelly reminded me a lot of myself (complaining, freaking out about the bugs, wondering when it was going to be over) and Katie was a lot like her dad (no complaints, even running towards the end).  


Here's to the first of many hikes to come!

C'est la Vi-vier

The moment I saw it, I wanted it!  I needed me a Clare Vivier.  The messenger bag was everything I was looking for.  The long/short strap allowing for the in the hand/cross body/in the crook of the arm carrying combination.  Nothing was wanting in this simple, slouchy design.

I obsessed over it a few days.  Should I order it online, should I visit one of the LA stores that carry the bags, or should I wait for the feeling to pass?  It never passed.  Lucky for me, Clare is local - Echo Park.  So on an unusually gloomy afternoon, I drove on over to her studio (which turns out to be a back room in her lovely two story home).  She was as kind as can be - offering tea and coffee.  After some thought, I settled for the gray messenger 

and the black la trop.  Then I got the heck out of there before I purchased anything else (like her adorable clutches).