The Nutcracker Ballet

Bum-ba-da-bum-bum

Bum-bum-bahh...

One of the festive activities over the holiday was going to the Keller Auditorium to see the Nutcracker Ballet with my mom and sister. My family used to go every year when I was young, and my siblings and I would put on shows from the various wintry scenes afterwards in our living room. OBT must have started doing a different version because I distinctly remember dancing around with wooden spoons from the kitchen....yet no chef to be found this year!

This show was especially fun to watch because Madeline, a sweet little gal I babysat after college, was dancing in the production. She fought off mice as a sentry in the first half and returned later from underneath the enormous skirt of Mother Ginger (the replacement for the enormous chef from my childhood I think!). She's in seventh grade now and practically as tall as Alyssa and me. My, my how time flies.

Seattle Photo Op

The week before Christmas my mom and I drove up to Seattle to see my sis Alyssa, her boyfriend David, and some of my best college pals. Even though I felt miserably terrible with a cold, we met up at Brave Horse Tavern for some brews and good laughs. My mom took on to the role of beaming photographer and -- in true motherly style -- took pictures of people taking pictures. (Please note David rubbing his flash-shocked eyes in the background of photo #6. What a trouper.)

Side Note

Do you like Brussels Sprouts? I'm kind of in love with them. I tried this recipe on Thanksgiving and made them again last night. So easy and tasty...together we can rid them of their bad reputation!

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts

3 tablespoons good olive oil

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

(some crushed garlic and red pepper flakes are a nice addition too!)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut off the brown ends of the Brussels sprouts and pull off any yellow outer leaves. Mix them in a bowl with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Pour them on a sheet pan and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Shake the pan from time to time to brown the sprouts evenly. Sprinkle with more kosher salt, and serve immediately.

Recipe via the Barefoot Contessa and Food Network, found here.

Home for Christmas

We traveled home to Portland, OR for nearly two weeks over Christmas and did a lot of Portlandy things -- ate at the Alder food carts, browsed books in Powell's, shopped local at the Saturday Market, and filled up on some Oregon brews at Bridgeport and Deschutes. We knew we were back in the Northwest when we arrived at PDX and saw a sign for the bike assembly area. Despite of all the gray and rain, Portland will always be home to us!

A Fresh Start

January, as of two years ago. How far we've come! 

(And how much warmer it is, too!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! More Christmasy posts soon.

Christmas in the Northwest

I'm typing this from the cozy armchair in front of the fireplace at my dad's house near Portland, OR -- it's so wonderful to be back with family and friends for two weeks this holiday. Unfortunately I've come down with an awful cold that's kept me in bed all day today, but I hope to drink enough tea to be back on my feet tomorrow to prep for all of our Christmas activities. Cat is holding down the fort in Richmond with my friend Holly, probably being bad by drinking the tree water but still acting cute enough to get away with it. Oh, Cat.

Merry Christmas all! Enjoy your time with family and friends.

Gratitude + Turkeys

Thankful for a good spot in life with a loving family (Cat included!), new and old friends, rediscovered hobbies, and a simple enjoyment of the day-to-day. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

Turkeys hand-crafted by me and my School-Based Little Sis.

Design*Sponge

Earlier this week I was able to take a flex day and accompany my pal Rupa to a luncheon featuring  Grace Bonney, blogger extraordinaire and author of the new book Design*Sponge at Home! Grace was such an inspiration to keep on with the hobbies/talents/interests you love and continue to get out in the world and explore. By the way, Grace is ADORABLE and also has a cat. Need I say more?

Design Sponge at Home (Official Book Trailer) from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.

The DIY section is the best, especially around Christmas time. Projects are categorized by difficulty, cost, materials and techniques. Craft away!

Home for Christmas

See you in ONE month, Portland! 

Three Cheers for Cat!

Happy Birthday to our little mischief maker... Cat turned FIVE today! 

See some of her greatest moments right here.