Gifts!

Spoiler Alert: Rachel do not scroll down if you do not want to know what is in your package!

We (okay, maybe just me) have been having fun shopping lately for future-babies. Last Sunday I went to a shower for Christie, and today I sent off a package to Tom & Rachel. Here's some of the goods that received approval from my snobby self (Ahem, I really have a very selective, designer taste when it comes to the construction, look, and feel of things. Poor Dan found us in the baby aisle at Target much longer than he probably anticipated, with me shaking my head at almost everything he picked out):

(For Darren and Christie's future-baby)


(For Tom and Rachel)

It's Not a Lima Bean, It's a Potato!

Rachel finally got her test results back and had her first ultra-sound today, confirming her & Tom's little baby is 9 weeks along with a healthy heartbeat! Hooray!



She thought the baby was only the size of a lima bean, but I guess it is about as big as a potato at this point? I read up on weekly fetus growth on Robyn's Nest, finding out his/her major organs are developing, and he/she should have dark spots on the head where the eyes and nose will develop. Oh, and he/she is about the size of a tennis ball, but Tom and Rachel said the arms and legs are just spuds, so I'm picturing a potato. A sweet potato!!! ;-)

Menu for August 26th - 30th

A short list this week since we will be spending Friday and Saturday night up at April and Jason's in Orting, Washington. Leah has also begun a gluten-free diet, which makes for really interesting grocery shopping. What is a vegetarian with a gluten-free wife to do?

-Good old fashioned spaghetti (with rice noodles), garlic bread, applesauce. (1 slice of garlic bread is Leah's freebie for the week, at least until we can locate gluten-free fresh bread.)

-Curry chickpea and tomato hash over brown rice, and something with pears.

-Fried bananas and our take on the infamous Portland "Whole Bowl," a comforting pot of rice, beans, salsa, garlic sauce, avocado, cilantro, olives, and cheese.

-Stuffed peppers, baked with fake ground beef, onion, pepper, chili powder, and hearty salads.

Snacks/lunches for Leah:
-Sea salt and pepper rice crisps
-Fruity-tooty salad (bananas, peaches, pineapple, strawberries & cottage cheese)
-Spinach, walnut, grape salad
-Chinese chicken salad
-Assorted gluten-free yogurts
-Celery sticks & peanut butter
-Morning blend juice
-Chicken poppy seed salad

My Favorite Poem

...From LIT 358 Latin American Literature (Translated) "Before Names" I don't care about the word, that commonplace. What I want is the grand chaos that spins out syntax, the obscure birthplace of "of," "otherwise," "nevertheless," and "how," all those inscrutable crutches I walk on. Who understands language understands God, Whose Son is the Word. It kills you to understand. Words only hide something deeper, deaf and dumb, something invented to be silenced. In moments of grace, rare as they are, you'll be able to snatch it out: a live fish in your bare hand. Pure terror. by Adelia Prado of Brazil

Family Creed:

1st Place: Dad H
Runner Up: Darren
Just a few hours apart!

So Much Going On...

- Dan left me to fend for myself for six days and five nights. I ate 1 microwave mac n' cheese dinner the whole time, completely unaware what to do with myself and the whole thing to do with "dinner."

- I TOTALLY made the mistake of taking rocco to work with me last monday because I was meeting girly girls for drinks across the street...It was fun, but I can't say I'd ever take him with me again. (Most frustrating moment: taking him out over my lunch break and having him pee all over the sidewalk outside a fancy restaurant, complete with a squirt on their sign.)

- Dan spent six days in Illinois, seeing friends and family (and I was super jealous).

- I got my script back with a big, fat "A," and notes encouraging me to finish it.

- I had a two day class to finish up my summer term at Marylhurst, which puts me 12 credits away from graduation.....!

- We finally won thursday night trivia at Mckenzie's Pub (after a year of weekly efforts), making FRED THE OWL ours!!!!!

- We found out that we are going to be an AUNT AND UNCLE!!!! My sister, Rachel, and her partner, Tom, are expecting a future-baby!!!!!! :-) We couldn't be happier!!!!!!!

Speaking of Garlic Bread....

My husband makes the best garlic bread on the PLANET.

Go ahead, try to make garlic bread as good as his.

To try:

He gets a fresh loaf from a bakery, or the bakery at the grocery store (como or ciabatta is common) and slices it, lathers it with butter and garlic, and pops it in the oven for 15 minutes at 400.

IT MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH....!

Mixed Bean Soup

We had this tonight....

Mary, Leah told you about it. ---Here's the recipe. Super good.

Mixed Bean Soup

"A really hearty soup, filled with color, flavor and goodness, which may be adapted to any vegetables that you have on hand."

Serves 4

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 red onion, halved and sliced
3 1/2 oz. potato, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 leek, sliced
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp chilli powder
2 pints vegetable stock
1 lb mixed canned beans (we like kidney beans, red and white, pinto beans) drained
salt and pepper

I also like to celery, bay leaves, and 2 tbsp pesto.
Serve with garlic bread.

The Only Thing I'd Buy From Little Piggy...

(The yellow tee reads, "I love mommy.")

The California chain, This Little Piggy, opened a store at Bridgeport Village, an outdoor shopping mall 15 minutes from our house in Tualatin. I have to say that I'm not a big fan of the store. I like that they carry a little bit of Small Paul, Mustela, and Tea, but it's overpriced and I'm not into the chain's line of clothing. However, at some point while browsing the store, I picked up this t-shirt (okay, two of them) because the cotton is super soft vintage-style, and I just about melted when I read that---"I love daddy!"

A Baby Shower

Dan and I had the pleasure of throwing our first baby shower for Josh & Jess, our dear friends who are expecting a little boy September 10th. (Although we all think he's going to show up early.)

Dan cooked up a smorgasboard of wonderful vegetarian/vegan food for our guests (Josh is vegetarian and Jess is vegan), and I provided a shitload of presents. (I've been stocking up since I started working at my first baby boutique in 2004. It was wonderful to see my favorite little designer outfits by Tea, Petite Bateau, and Petit Patapon, and blankets that I love by David Fussenegger and Aden + Anais, find a home at Jess and Josh's!

Weekly Menu 8/12-8/18

-Humus, Vegan Artichoke Dip, Veggies, Fresh Fruit, Cheese Pizza
-Gnocci (Trader Joe's frozen food...The Best!)
-Indian Food & Naan Bread (Trader Joe's Again!)
-Seared Tempeh Wraps with Thai Peanut Sauce
-Leah's On Her Own While Dan is Gone...!?

Yes, Dan's a Vegetarian #1

Menu This Week:

Sunday: Humus Platter: Humus, onion, tomato, cucumber, pita toasted with mixed herbs
Monday: Sloppy Joes & Green Beans (Tofu disguised as ground beef)
Tuesday: Tacos (Tofu disguised as ground beef again! + Lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado)
Wednesday: Pesto Rice with Garlic Bread
Thursday: Spaghetti & Arugula Frittata
Friday: Potato, Peppe, & Mushroom Hash
Saturday: Pasta Primavera

Weird Things Our Dog Does #1

(Rocco, our 2 year old Rat Terrier, as if he is posing for a Renaissance painting)


When I put pants on, Rocco comes running into the closet and sniffs them. EVERY TIME. If I decide to wear a different pair of pants and change, Rocco has to sniff the new pants. This is the only time EVER that he sniffs my pants. ONLY when I put them on. Not when I am wearing them, taking them off, or if they are laying on the floor.