Friday, March 30, 2012

Foodie Friday: Fresh Salsa

I'm starting another series called Foodie Friday. Someone recently told me they looked through my blog and was surprised by how few recipes I had posted. For some reason, this really cut me deeply because I have this idea in my head that I have a fairly frequent running rotation of recipes on here. Apparently I don't, but....going forward.....every Friday. I still refer to my blog every single time I make a pizza crust.



When we were in Florida we made fresh salsa almost every day. We averaged a bag of corn chips a day during a stay and I became really really addicted to it by the end. I've always strived for a good fresh salsa blend, but for some reason I have always missed the mark. The recipe Katie and I (mostly Katie) put together in Florida was pure perfection and I wanted I to share it with you.

Roma Tomatoes, chopped into pieces
Onions (we used sweet) chopped into pieces
Jalapeno Pepper (1-2) chopped into very little pieces
Bell Pepper, chopped into pieces
Garlic (optional) 1 clove, minced

....and the crucial ingredient half a Lemon or Lime squeezed and Salt to taste.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Dirt Lovers and Sunscreen

playing in the dirt at an onion field in Florida

Last summer Aubrey wasn't really mobile enough to fully enjoy the joys of the outdoors. A sandbox would have been way more than she could handle. And when the first few days of muddy spring broke around here this year, it seemed that she wasn't a fan of dirt (she would fall onto her wrists so avoid getting her hands dirty) but when we went to Florida a whole new side of Aubrey appeared and it seems our daughter loves dirt. It really was a job trying to keep this girl clean for more than a few minutes.

moats and sandcastles. And of course....dirt!


Also, completely unrelated to Aubrey's love of dirt but definitely just as interesting. Ingrid learned about proper sunscreen application on this vacation. Check out the fingerprints on her legs where she stopped applying lotion. I think spray on sunscreen was made for people like you, Ingrid!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Wear It Wednesday.

Another new series! I'm seriously on a roll here. When Ingrid was home she really inspired me to become a more creative dresser. I wouldn't really call myself a bad dresser, but I'm a very unoriginal dresser - I find an outfit I like and then I wear it again and again and again. I mean for years.... My favorite sweater I've had since freshman year of high school. I wear jeans until they literally disintegrate. But it's not only the longevity of my clothes that's a problem - it's the actual outfits (the longevity just points towards my general thriftiness which I'm not going to dispute, deny or disavow) When we were in Florida together I realized a skirt and tank top combination I wore on the last day is the exact skirt and tank top that I wore to Martin's brother Gabe's high school graduation...in 2006. And I've worn that combination countless times in the last SIX YEARS. Clearly, my wardrobe can use a change of scenery. So....I'm trying to switch things up slightly, be a little more edgy with my apparel and create new outfits with my old clothes. So...to help me stick to this goal, I'm starting this Wear It Wednesday series and you can tell me if you love it, hate it, or could take it or leave it.


Last Friday night Martin, Gabe, Ingrid and I went for dinner and drinks at The Crooked Door. I wore a tank top, a yellow cardigan, skinny jeans and heels. This might not seem all that edgy but two years ago I would have never bought skinny jeans. Two months ago I wouldn't have worn them without knee boots over them. And I rolled them a little. Look at me, getting edgy all over the place.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Big Shoes to Fill


After dinner but before bathtime this evening Aubrey, Martin and I were playing in the living room. Martin's work boots were tucked in the corner by the door and Aubrey decided to try them on for size. Clearly, she has a ways to go before she fills them, but its moments and pictures like these that make being a mom the best job in the world.

Baby Fever


We went to Florida with our good friends Katie and Ryan and their baby Karalyn. Then Martin's sister, my amazing sister-in-law, Ingrid met us a few days into our trip. I think by the end of her stay she was definitely suffering from baby fever.


And when I say baby fever please don't misconstrue that for put a baby in my belly fever because that is the opposite of what I am referring to with that statement. What I am actually referring to is the nausea that can at times overwhelm a childless person when in the presence of too many children.


At one point I overheard her talking to a friend, There's babies all over the place here. We're on a very strict schedule. We get up at 5:00 every morning and we call it vacation.


In her defense, there was a few trying moments - like this one pictured above when Aubrey got sunscreen in her eyes and cried for two hours.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Lovin' Mondays

I have a million things to post about from our amazing vacation and would have been equally amazing if I were not working post-vacation with Ingrid but today I'm sharing a couple cool things I've found on the internet. This is a new series I'm starting (and hopefully sticking to) called Lovin' Mondays because I figure...it's a Monday and being as drab as Mondays usually are, we could all use a little something to love up on.

First off, don't you love this ring??? I'm not usually one for rings (my engagement ring felt really weird to me when I got it and I didn't know if I've ever get used to it) but I love the idea of a wooden ring with some stones. So simple and amazing.


And check out this underwater restaurant in the Maldives. How awesome would it be to eat your lunch while watching hundreds of sea life swim around you? It's definitely made my bucket list!

Happy Monday!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Pedicures



On our recent vacation to Florida I got my first ever pedicure. To call it amazing would be a gross understatement. It was absolutely fantastic! I'm officially hooked (and I secretly knew that was going to happen which is why I've put the inevitable off for so long. I actually was in a wedding last year - shout out to Katie Mason Epstein! and when all the bridesmaids went to get pedicures I went with them but didn't partake. That's how determined I've been to avoid this absolutely in love with pedicures sure I'll get another one before the summer is up situation).

When we arrived in Florida two Thursdays ago, Katie declared that the two things she really wanted to do that day were go grocery shopping and get a pedicure. I wasn't going to argue with that so we headed out. And besides the glorious feeling of someone massaging your legs and the ridiculously amazing massage chairs you get to sit in, it was an added bonus that my feet looked super cute afterwards.

I couldn't stop looking at them and Martin couldn't stop talking about how great they looked. He must have brought up my feet at least four times in the following two days. At one point he even said, If I had a foot fetish I'd totally be into that.

Who wants to join me for my next pedicure?

Wednesday, March 14, 2012


Hello! We're headed to sunny Florida tomorrow morning! (our flight leaves at 6:35 AM.....crossing our fingers that Aubrey will sleep on the plane) Not sure what the internet/computer situation will be down there but I may post some updates throughout the trip. I definitely will be having an amazing time soaking up the sun, celebrating St. Patrick's Day, hangin out with our good friends Katie and Ryan and their adorable baby Karalyn, and also my Amazing sister-in-law Ingrid!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Apologies


I am getting really excited about our vacation on Thursday! But, I am also getting really nervous. I've spent most of the day stressing over everything I need to get done before we leave (both at work and at home) and there's an ever present knot in my throat from all the nervousness. (Does that ever happen to you, where you get totally overwhelmed for no reason at all? I'm usually pretty good at letting chaotic situations roll off my back, but then sometimes the smallest things can send me into paranoia.) I tend to treat Martin unfairly and irrationally when I get into moods like this, yelling at him for asking a tiny question, etc. So tonight (when I was home for one hour between six and seven to fold laundry, pack and make and eat dinner before heading back into work for a bit) I decided to fix the problem before it arose. I shaped our pizza into a heart! That way, I figured, when I treated Martin unfairly at some point in the next couple of days, maybe just maybe, the heart shaped pizza would compensate.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Bath Time



 Aubrey loves bathes. The excitement she shows whenever bathtime is suggested would really bring a smile to anyone's face. Beside playing in the bath water, she really relishes in the ability to run around naked right before the bath. And who would pass up the opportunity to take her toy duck for a ride in her boat?


One new thing she has really taken to lately is getting her hair washed. The girl loves laying with her head back and the water and will sit there FOREVER laughing and smiling, pretending she wants you to help her sit up and then quickly sliding back into the water (because that's clearly the most halarious joke in the world). The only thing that will snap her out of the water is the chance to get out and BRUSH HER TEETH. No Way! It's so amazing! Please mom, let me brush my teeth!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Farm Girl






Aubrey walks around in sneakers now. This is basically the most adorable thing in the entire world and she looks like such a little person! She loves running all over the farm and especially loves the cows. Oh Brownie! You've grown so big - I remember when both you and Aubrey were babies!

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Tidy Up




The other night, Martin walked in the door from work and set his lunch box down on the floor. Aubrey promptly walked over to the box, picked it up and started making her way to the kitchen with it to put it away. It's a toss up whether this habit or her predisposition to pass out beers to everyone in the room is more endearing.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Polaroids

I just recently downloaded Picasa for editing photos. It's free....AND I can turn my photos into Polaroids.

Shake it like a Polaroid Picture.....

mmm. subs.....

hide and seek behind the shower curtain

I'm naked! Chase me!

I can hold this block over my nose and look like a little piglet
Bringing back the 80s. Everybody Dance Now!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Text Messages

A few of my favorite recent text messages (and facebook messages):

Katie Keeler: 132 days til the finger lakes wine festival....I wanted you all to know!!!

.......

Martin: ( from the Verizon store) Are upgrades free if you get the standard phones
Me: (from the parking lot) I don't know. Not all of them. You're the one in the store.

......

Amanda Ann: Ahh I can't wait to see Aubrey....I've taken up this new thing...called knitting...Yes...I've turned Minnesotan....anyways I'm practicing doing baby sized stuff so I'm working on a hat for her. JORDAN....WE ARE SO EXCITED!
Katie: Ditto! (except for the knitting)

.......

Aunt Martina to Aunt Anne: Have you seen this Dutch trait....LOL (accompanied by this link) http://stuffdutchpeoplelike.com/2011/05/28/dutch-directness/
       and the following comments to the link
Me: I read this to Martin this morning. His response: "So true. Please don't wear this as a badge of honor"
Aunt Anne: Love this article.....and soooo true!!
Aunt Anne: And Jenna, it most certainly is a badge of honor!

Monday, March 5, 2012

A Proud Member of the Case Club


I noticed the other day that my wine stash was running kind of low. So when Martin passed by a favorite local winery of mine on Sunday morning, I yelled out for him to pull in so I could refil my stash. The giant wooden banner hanging above the doorway said closed and we were about to pull away dissappointed when somone opened the door.

"We don't open till twelve, but if you're just buying bottles you can come it"

Then I went inside and picked out ten bottles of wine......

"Oh, you've got to get two more. Then you'll be part of the case club and get ten percent on all purchases. ALWAYS"


Needless to say, it wasn't difficult to twist my arm and I now enjoy ten percent off all my wine purchases PLUS I get free tastings FOR LIFE.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Bringing Back the Eighties



This afternoon, we went to Martin's mom's home for lunch. Then we spent the afternoon there. Aubrey went down for a nap threw up ALL OVER EVERYTHING. Unfortunately, we hadn't packed any spare clothes for her. FORTUNATELY, we had a yellow onesie Mary got for Aubrey in Miami, a pink zip-up sweatshirt she had taken off upon arrival, and I happened to be wearing knee high socks (which covered Aubrey's entire legs).


She's really trying to bring back the 80s aerobics instructor look and certainly is pulling it off.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Looking Back



I'm fairly uninspired with stories from my own life to relay to you on here tonight, but I did see this amazing series by Tom Hussey on A Cup of Jo and I thought I would share. I hope that someday when I'm old I'll look at myself in the mirror and still see a twenty-something smiling back at me.

Friday, March 2, 2012

A Kiss Goodnight



Every night Aubrey gives kisses good night before she goes to bed. A kiss from Aubrey is like the most amazing gift one can possibly receive and afterward you feel all giddy and excited. I was having a really difficult time snapping the picture during the actual kiss, but you can see Martin getting his goodnight kiss last night.