cheery.

By Emily | Published: January 29, 2011

No matter where you find yourself today—here’s something to smile about. Brought to you by twin girls and a big ol’ box of hand-me-down shoes. And more shoes.





How very sweet. To toddle around in any of these with big eyes open to what the day has ahead.

Happy day to you!

—
Thanks maggie and emma for letting your auntie em take a few snap shots—love love to you.
Thanks to the generous shoe giver. If ever wanting to unload some mommy size shoes—I’m a 7.

Posted in CREATIVE, fashion, happy, kid story | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

restful thoughts.

By Emily | Published: January 21, 2011

Trying to keep some peace—find where it resides in myself and be open to more.


Isn’t she lovely? So down to earth she is. She may be a bit tired after all the cutting and clearing away of the flowers—of which I am so proud of her for leaving a few undone. Yes, let go and rest. Be. I love her arms open wide, and her eyes open. She seems hopeful to me, down to the color on her cheeks. She appears to be savoring this moment and I imagine she does this kind of thing quite often…

What I don’t picture in my minds eye is her heading off into yet another hockey tournament weekend. (And forsure not in that outfit.) It’s possible hockey season is done and this is her way of hiding out and celebrating for an entire month or so.

Hope you each find some peace this weekend. If like me you don’t have access to a flower filled grassy knoll, maybe somewhere there’s a visual of this feeling inside of you. Hoping so.

—

Illustration found on weathergirlshop, by aimee sicuro, healthy boundaries.

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more me.

By Emily | Published: January 17, 2011

I’ve been spoiled of late. Like major. Lots of birthday to me – em as in more of me – focus.

Think ginger, chocolate, cranberry and goat cheese. And that was just Tuesday afternoon. Afternoon snack? No—even better—these are some of the layers that were gingerly spread on my face with a bit of neck massage, steam, masks, moisturizing, and hydrating going on.

And on.

I’m talking 75 minutes where the only conscious brainwave I had was “hmmm….do I smell chocolate? Or is that citrus….or…..who cares.” Heaven. My birthday gift from Mr. K to me.

Fusion Lifespa. That is Fusion, Lifespa friends. People. Husbands. Men. Boys. Guys—buy a facial gift certificate. For your wife, mother, gal-pal, sister, daughter, grandma—somebody. Anybody. Seriously, I’ll even take it off your hands.

After recovering from all that loving – I am full swing into days of morning to evening, early to late solo parenting. Mr. K was no where to be found. Gone. Sightings at several ice rinks, but with all the coaches running about in those black coats – who really knows for sure. I had just….enough….fuel to keep present to the others’ needs that I am committed and honored to care for. Those constant needs, like waves they keep coming and coming – rapping onto the beach. Smaller and bigger there is no stopping them. The unending joy.

I wake with crystal clear focus on Saturday. It’s all been communicated – lined up and set—I have the day off.

Off to more pampering.

Hee hee.


Makeup free face forward I sit and ponder about some more bits of color in my locks of hair. I have these flecks of natural streaks – and based on that God given palette Cole and I decide to make me even more natural. Yes. That’s the train of thought.

Cole uses the words—caramel, honey….and chocolate.

Yes, I agree with those words and the process to come that will make me even more naturally beautiful. Yes.


Nothing odd about this at all. No. Just soaking in the honey and chocolate -  it will do what it naturally chooses to do.


Wa-laah! Ta-daah! Do you see what I see? It is like someone put the light on. Just a little shimmer – shim sham. Oh, naturelle mocha with two pumps of caramel and a honey drizzle.

Thanks Cole for what you do. Your holy hands making things even more than the before.

Going into 35 even more me—em.

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three times three.

By Emily | Published: January 10, 2011

With a post holiday stay of brother Dan and sis plus bonus friend Beth comes twin 3 year old girls and AJ, their 5 year old boy.

Toss 3 year old Mr. C in the mix and here we go!!



And go.



And go again.

Run-run and rumpus-about.


Love the little sip and dog Mini making the scene.

I don’t like endings. So it is very convenient that the Christmas Spirit lingered for days afterward, there just wasn’t a moment to spare for any post holiday blues.

Yes – we are quite innocent sitting here. But don’t let their eyes fool you—they really aren’t that tired here.

Eventually each is tucked into ni-ni, and we parents don’t miss a beat, we take full advantage of this after hour special.

Ahhh….

We savor.

And we regret how late we stay up, and do it all again.

And now onto an ending. I’ll miss you Dan and Beth. Thanks for getting me hooked on Psyche (a very cheesy show with random tangents and good dry humor – though I notice I don’t LOL quite as much without you.)

Until our next visit to your Mountain - love you.

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have you met my mother?

By Emily | Published: January 5, 2011

I spend time with her about every other week.

She can hold her own.

She is is sturdy and curvy.

She ages beautifully.

She is a there when and I need her and I even take her out from time to time.

She never lets me down.

Meet The Mother:


She’s a big deal — from boil to broil, she can take the heat.

I will never forget when I got her for my very own – that sacred Christmas morn of 2007.

I already knew her name – it came one day when I believe Heath and I were cooking together in her kitchen and as we were looking for the right pan I asked for her Mother. And it stuck—because it fits.

Everything fits when you cook with this 6 quart saute pan.

My real life mom is not offended by me using her name in vain – not one burnt bit. She takes it as high praise as she sees for herself the relationship I have with this sacred pan.

The latest thing the mother cooked up for me is Parmesan Chicken. With my family of 5, and with the additional 5 guests in the house, it’s time to get The Mother involved.

Slice the raw chicken into strips. I don’t mind if it’s slightly frozen. And if so I warm up the plate with hot water and let it sit for a few minutes to defrost.

The dip –  eggs. The dredge –  flour, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. And the roll – grated parmesan cheese. (Microplane for grating highly highly suggested.)


Coat The Mother with some cocount and olive oil and put on medium heat.

Cook for about 3-4 minutes a side. Adding more oil before the next batch. If you need the middle to get cooked further – cover the pan for a minute or two. You can keep the strips warm in the oven on 200 degrees.

I served this family-friendly-filling style with some steamed broccoli atop a pile of noodles — coated with salt/pepper/butter and more parmesan. If you happen to have greens in the house, (or are willing to go out in the snow to purchase) these strips are sooo good atop of bed of greens with any kind of vinaigrette.

Num!! It goes pretty quick – the prep and the eating both….

And to clarify, The Mother is not required in order to prepare this meal, just suggested.

To get your own mother, click here.

And yes, there’s nothing cheap about her.

—

Parmesan Chicken Strips
Adapted from the Family Style cookbook by Ina Garten

Ingredients
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts (3 to 4)
3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 extra-large eggs
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan, plus 1/4 for sprinkling
Coconut oil
Olive oil
skewers (optional)

Directions
Slice the chicken into strips. Beat the eggs with 1 tablespoon of water on into a shallow dish. Combine the flour, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper into a second dish. Grate the parm onto a third dish. Dip both sides of the chicken into the egg mixture, dredge on both sides in the flour mixture, then roll in the parmesan, pressing lightly to coat.

Heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan and cook the chicken strips on medium-low heat for about 3 minutes on each side, until just cooked through. Don’t crowd the pan. Add more oil and cook the rest of the chicken strips.

Enjoy!

Posted in cooking/baking, FOOD, how to | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

happy january!

By Emily | Published: January 1, 2011

And happy 2011!

Don’t you just love turning the page of your calendar?

Or how about starting fresh all together?

It’s crazy how for me a visual of the month can get me motivated for all sorts of crazy things— from going through my tupperware drawer to looking up some soup recipes with pen in hand.

It’s all these little little things.

Us both/and girls would like to gift your new year – one month at a time.

That’s right, we are breaking it down into small pieces for you.

Let’s begin with January.

For your very own print of this January calendar page open either PDF below – color or black and white – and simply hit print.

Post up on your fridge, on a little clip board, or just tack onto something near your desk top.

For color: Color Month of January | for the both and

For black and white: Black and White Month of January | for the both and

Enjoy!

—

Posted in art, celebrating, CREATIVE | Tagged , | 1 Comment

shouldn’t be so kind.

By Emily | Published: December 30, 2010

This little cabinet of mine – it went from drab pine – to aqua shine.

The golden knobs from Anthro, of course.

I have liked liked—

but not loved loved.

*

*

*

*

*

Maybe I treated it too kindly?

Stop

the

madness.

This is very much
indeed what I would
love.

Like forever heart.

A rough sand paper job, maybe rub some white chalk, some dark stain here and there, a crackle treatment perhaps?

Now maybe I could – and I think I really really should.

Do you agree?

—

Cabinet to love photo forwarded to me by Julie, from Brabourne Farms

Posted in almost an after, art, CREATIVE, decorating, DREAMING, how to, painting, she made it/might | Tagged , | Leave a comment

action—packed!

By Emily | Published: December 29, 2010


Sprinkle sprinkle—!


Urrrr….whirER-ER-ER-ER-ER……


green…blue….pink…purple….


“Ah—Oh! There it is!!! Got it—whoa!”


Slide—”My Uggs!!!”


“Choo choo!”


RING—”I got a phone for Christmas – ”


Slice—”prime rib anyone??”


Smooth—peanut butter creamy cream creamiest….


Scritch, scratch, scribble—the A of the family sketching his slippers.


Click—”I got it!” Way to go little AJ.


Lick—mmmmm…..

Lots of good moments to take in over this Christmas. I can say I have been having a very very good time. A very Merry Christmas. And it feels like it is ongoing—no chance for after Christmas blues. (Not yet anyways!)

Trying not to spread myself too thin and take some moments in the midst of it all—

Breath—”Ahhhh……”

Thanks Dboy for my new exercise ball. You asked me what I wanted and remembered. How sweet.

{This is honestly the best thing for that mid-shoulder—I’ve wrapped one too many gifts, spread a little too much dough, carried one too many shopping bags—kind of pain. Take a deep breath and you get your own massage from the pressure of the ball on your shoulder blades and your full lungs, slowly release your breath and repeat.}

Take care of yourselves!

—

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last minute!

By Emily | Published: December 24, 2010



Ahhh…..

Left feeling a pound lighter and ready to spread this warmth around.

Here’s to self care. Make those appointments friends…one and all.

—

Posted in full caf, me, the ordinary | Tagged , | 1 Comment

week four: the plan

By Emily | Published: December 23, 2010

Christmas Christmas now is here! (Almost!!)

We spend the Eve in the comfort of our own home with the B4 (or 4 and a 1/2) as guests. Cozy and nummy we will share a pot of  heath’s stew, crusty bread and my peanut butter banana cream pie that I just found a recipe for. I was inspired by heath’s dessert and couldn’t get peanut butter out of my head. Nor would I want to.

LITTLE is just not the right word when it comes to our Christmas day gathering. I love this chance to see family—and there’s a lot of them!! Here’s who we get to share Christmas Day with:


There’s Nana and Papa in the middle surrounded by their little string of the alpahbet—A,B,C,D, E (that’sme) along with spouses and flocks of children. As Papa says – Christmas Day is his favorite day of the year. And Nana – gotta love her. I remember her once saying “grandkids – you just don’t expect them – or feel entitled – they are an complete bonus.” She’s been blessed 17 times.

The day after Christmas—no post Holiday blues for us! We drive a bit out of town and enjoy the company of  Mr. K’s side of the family – here they are all neatly in a row:


36 grandkids total here. This photo was a fun project – it was Grandpa and Grandma’s Christmas gift last year and here they finally receiving it. (Post Christmas by about 6 months!) I love the joy in Grandma and Grandpa’s eyes as they hold all this life in their hands. Each and every life.


Can’t wait to wish each one a Merry Christmas! There will be lots of conversations, lots of food, lots of kids coming and going – lots of “watch your step,” “who’s crying—or is that laughing?’ Lots of catching up and love in the room.

Check out what Julie and Heath’s Christmas plans are too!

Merry Christmas!

—

Posted in celebrating, finn-land, homespun, me, mr. k | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments