cheer

I've posted about Improv Everywhere before, its just that sometimes they really make me smile. And I like to share.

Full story here.

Christmas pt 1

I know my last post was on Thanksgiving but... Merry Christmas. My big brother and his wife left their new home in Arizona to spend the weekend pretending it was the big C, since Grant and I leave for Washington later this week. We've missed that little frogger, and it was really nice being all together.

happy thanksgiving

I'm thankful.
I hope everyone has a wonderful day.


(image from realsimple.com)

cool weather beach camping

We went camping this past weekend with some friends on the beach. We spent the days lounging on the beach and the nights eating lots of good food by the campfire. It was great.

And guess what?! I saw whales for the first time! They were swimming by as we were making dinner and I spotted at least 4 different whales. So great. I also saw a pod of dolphins in the morning (which we see almost every morning when camping at the beach) riding the waves and shooting out of them, it was so beautiful.

So thanks again Matt & Jamie for inviting us, you guys are the best. And I promised the girls I would post my dutch-oven peach crisp recipe. I've been tweaking it all summer so I was excited everyone liked it so much (sorry I never take enough photos of stuff, we still don't own a point-and-shoot camera).

Dutch-oven Peach Crisp (with blueberries)

serves 6-8

3 32oz cans of peaches

1 pack fresh blueberries

1/2 cup (1 cube) butter

a couple Tbsp vanilla bean paste

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

Mix dry ingredients together at home and put in a ziplock bag.

While the coals are heating up, strain peaches and pour into the foil-lined dutch oven. Drizzle vanilla bean paste over peaches and blueberries and stir. Sprinkle topping mixture over the peaches. Thinly slice butter to coat topping. Place over coals, line lid with more coals, and leave for around 30 minutes. Serve with milk. Enjoy!

*Note: When making this at home just mix the butter, melted, into the topping before placing on fruit, then cook for 25 minutes at 350º.

*Another Note: If you don't already have it, this is vanilla bean paste. Its my favorite ingredient for baking and one bottle goes a long way, so I definitely recommend picking it up next time you're near a Williams-Sonoma. I have to warn you it makes things like pies and home-made ice cream look and taste so much better! But, if you don't want to use it just add another few tablespoons of sugar, we're still friends.

Update: I stole a couple of Kate's photos from facebook. Top photo: me crushing G. Bottom photo: Peach crisp in dutch oven.

threes

I've obviously been neglecting the blog but I've had some good reasons, so I hope I haven't lost you. Among other things G and I just celebrated our three year anniversary. We've finally been married longer than we dated, which I think is pretty great. I bet you can guess what I think is better than great... yeap, being married to this guy. So thanks for being so wonderful, G. I'm really into you!

good design

I'm afraid I'm depressing everyone with the photos from that house. So these are my new stamps- they make me smile every time I stick one on a piece of mail.

hows the house hunt going, you ask?

Not great.

This gem of a property just showed up in the email of new listings in our price range that I get everyday. I thought I would share the huge bummer that it is being a first time home buyer in San Diego. Yes, even in this market!

Blurg.

fantastic mr. fox

How have I not heard of this?! Wes Anderson made a stop-motion animated film based on a Raul Dahl book, with the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, and Bill Murray, which comes out this weekend. My head almost exploded when I saw a trailer of it this morning. I've been listening to the soundtrack while photo-editing and I think its another classic Wes Anderson soundtrack.

My step-mom read all the Raul Dahl books to us when we were kids but we somehow missed this one... I really want to pick it up today and read it before I find some kids to take to the movie.

haylie & ross

This is very late, but, you know... life. I was in Portland a few weeks ago for my cute cousin Haylie's wedding. The wedding was gorgeous and I had such a wonderful time helping Haylie plan it. I even got to be the one with her in the bride's room at the temple. Here are a few snapshots I took, even though she gave me the day off...

You can see more photos of the day by the talented Rachel Thurston right here. I got the day off because Haylie wanted to me to be a guest at the wedding after all of our planning, and it was such an honor! I shot their engagements (which you can see here) as well as her bridals (coming soon), and then recommended Rachel because I am a fan. She did a fabulous job and I anxiously await an excuse to book her for another event or family photo.

Also, some of you may remember the dress from a few years ago. =) Haylie gave me the compliment of all compliments and borrowed my wedding dress. I really like the veil and shoes that she choose, she totally made it her own (and I love that someone else wore it, it justifies the price a little!).

I am seriously bummed I'm not helping anyone plan any weddings now and am wondering if I have found a new calling... Anyway, congratulation Haylie and Ross, you guys are the best and I love you.

Happy Halloween

Eventually, one of us will get you.

money buying happiness

After 4 months of searching and test driving 15 different wagons... we found The One (the same week our truck died, thank goodness). Its a 2007 VW Passat station wagon with only 25,000 miles. It has a salvaged title which is why we got it for about 40% off what they normally sell for... otherwise theres no way we would ever own something so new or so nice. We already got Thule racks for it too!

We've had it for a week and I still find myself thinking about it when its not around...

in the past two days...

Our truck died and got sold for parts (it was the one car to our "one car family") and our brand new laptop crashed.

I have nothing more to say.

I'm still in the Pacific Northwest helping with one more family wedding before heading back home. Its been a fun and busy vacation!

My Mom just emailed me this photo of my dog back in San Diego. I love it.

G and I made our way south on a train yesterday from Northern Washington to my Dad's house just outside of Portland. The beauty makes me sigh (and the housing market makes me cry).

So many more photos to follow!

seattle day

When visiting Grant's parents we must always spend a day in Seattle at Pike Place Market. And we must always eat our way through it.

... Taking the monorail into town from the Space Needle.



We started with some incredible macaroni and cheese from Beechers. Then moved on to some authentic tamales, russian piroshkys (my very favorite), and then fish'n'chips and clam chowder. Topping each little meal off with gourmet sodas and assorted pastries is the only way to go if you are really going to be a glutton!




7 grandkids under the age of 6...


The flowers at this market have a style all their own... my mom knows about it because I'm always trying to arrange my flowers at home the "Pike Place Way."



I took a really fun series of photos of our niece feeding the seagulls...
(click to enlarge, but you knew that already)



Yeap.


... If only I could convince myself I walked off all that food. Its so worth it!