Our Trip to Sacramento

As soon as we got off the plane, I had to get in the water.  The ocean was sparkling.  Of course these are of Robby.  He got in after me.

We love Grandpa Andy

Just some of our November birthdays.  Brian, Liz, Charlie, Emily, Kaitlyn, Char, Karen and me.

Liz made these cute flower clips for Monet.

Brodie and Monet.

Little Rosie sleeping on Grandpa Andy.

The beautiful trees changing color.

Monet loves Rosie.  We made her wear a shirt covering her mouth to protect baby girl.

We went to visit our family in Sacramento...especially the latest edition, little Sienna Rose.  Monet likes to call her "Rosie."  Monet climbed trees and had sword fights with her cousins, Logan and Brodie.  Grandma Carol was so sweet to host a birthday party for some of the family born in November.  We drank hot chocolate and told stories about Grandpa Austin with Grandma Mimi, Karen, Nan and Dave.  Mostly we hung out at Liz's house and got to know little Rosie.  

I also got to wip Charlie in ping pong and hang out with my dad a lot.  Charlie had no idea I could even play ping pong.  He tried all his fancy spins, but he didn't know about my snappy back hand!!  Monet is still talking about Grandma Char.  My parents are so good to their grandkids.  

Poor Man's Coconut Curry Soup

This soup is the bomb. I made it poor man's style...because that's what I am.

It takes about 30 min to make. Here's some easy directions with some variations included.

Ingredients:

2 cloves garlic finely chopped.

1 small white/yellow onion cut to your desired consistency for soup

2 cups veggies (I used carrots, green beans, and cauliflower from a bag of frozen veggies...let them thaw before adding them.)

3 large potatoes cubed (I used my favorite: red)

2-14oz cans chicken broth

1-14oz can coconut milk (Use the regular kind. It's naturally unsweetened)

2 tsp curry powder (I used the yellow/greenish kind. It's very mild.)

1/4cp milk

2 Tbs flour

1 Tbs butter or olive oil (I used olive oil)

(If you want it to be a chicken soup: add meat from a rotisserie chicken or a couple cans of cooked chicken after the potatoes are cooked. Or, you can use raw chicken. Just, throw it in with the garlic and onions until browned. Continue cooking it with the potatoes.)

Directions:

In one of those huge soup pots, heat the butter or oil with the chopped up garlic and onion on low/med heat until lightly browned. (If you want to add raw chicken, add it now and don't continue with rest of ingredients until it is browned. Now, add the chicken broth, veggies and potatoes. Cook about 20 min or until potatoes are fork tender. In a separate cup, mix milk and flour until thick. Add to soup until dissolved. Add coconut milt and curry powder. I garnished with some avocado. It gave it a buttery taste...soooo good and easy.

This soup reminded me of the kind Grandma Mimi would make when I was staying with her and Grandpa during my college days. Robby even like it and he doesn't like curry.

October

Notice the shoes on her baby.  so funny.  She loves this alien looking baby.

I love this shot because I caught the birds flying over.  Robby and Jim went out for Jim's birthday.  It was super high tide and the waves were breaking pretty steep, closer to the shore.  So, I didn't get a lot of good surfing shots this day.  It was so beautiful out.  The sun was out early.

Apple Crisp

I got a big bag of apples at the 99 cent store. They actually have produce there and I usually find kids Good Earth cereal bars and snacks there too. That's one of my favorite brands and it runs on the expensive side at my favorite health food store.
Here's a tip I learned from Rachel Ray: You can squeeze the lemon like this, so the seeds don't fall in your food.

Super easy apple crisp:

Ingredients:

8 cups firm tart apples, sliced

4 Tbs sugar

2 Tbs lemon juice

2/3 cps flour

2 cps oats

1 cp brn sugar

1 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

2/3 cps melted butter

(I added chopped walnuts to mine)

Directions:

preheat oven to 375 F

In 9 x 12 in baking dish, combine apples, lemon, & sugar. Set aside. Mix flour, oats, brn sugar, salt & cinnamon. Toss with melted butter until crumbly. Top apples with mixture. Bake 30-35 min or until apples are tender. Yum-easy!

Samoa

my thoughts are with Samoa....

around surf city

enjoying...

I was just thinking about some things I've been enjoying lately...(not actual images. Just ones I liked online)

Yerba mate tea...in my french press...yummmmm. Best breakfast ever.

Reno 911...makes me laugh just thinking about it. This guy that is never without his roller skates...are you kidding me!? So silly. I love his matching bandanna around his neck too. Finding new recipes and making them for guests or myself. So fun. Most recently: Chicken and Corn Cornbread Pie AND Cucumbers and Shallots in a Vinaigrette.

Sewing. I have had so much fun sewing. I only get to do it for short ampunts of time. But, I love creating something new or fixing something old. I'm so glad I bought my sewing machine last October. I wish it was as cool looking as this one, but I have no complaints.

I recently found some semi professional headphones at Ross. (seriously, how professional could they be if I found them there :) I love how music sounds in headphones. Everything is so clear...

I've been using my ipod in so many different ways: jogging, plugged into speakers at home or work.

I found a jogger stroller at Play-It-Again Sports. I'm a huge fan of that store. I use it almost daily.

After a few years of gravity flattening and one separated sole later; I finally got myself some new running shoes. For myself, new running shoes are like cushiony caffeine for my feet. I suddenly have all this extra energy and I want to work out more. I can jump up stairs instead of crawl. I can do lunges and jog up mountains....

I love jogging. I feel so good after. I need to do it more.