Life with a two-year-old

Jonah.

 

The sweetest, most cheerful baby I've ever met, has suddenly realized something: he's two years old.


 

His opinions on things are so strong, that he says "NO" with his entire body.


 

Nothing that I suggest is "OK" with him...until he suddenly decides that it was HIS idea all along.


 

Mr. Sunshine has turned into Mr. Make Mommy's Life A Stressful Wreck, and there's no help for it.


 

Some days, by the time Greg gets home from work, I've had the "fight" beaten straight out of me, and I don't feel able make even the smallest decision.  Someone asks me if they can have more dressing on their salad, and I turn into a stammering mess.  My nerves are shot; it's exhausting.


 

But then there is that delightful smile.


 

And the belly laughs.


 

And once again, I am charmed by my little social terrorist.

This too shall pass....

Color of the moment

Yellow.


 
(Click through for the image sources of these beautiful photos)

This spring, all that I can think about is yellow.  Any shade, from pale lemon to bright sunshine, it cheers and inspires me.

A few weeks ago, I saw this canvas fabric at Ikea, and had to take home a few yards.


 
 

I'm thinking about a large handbag...

Link-tastic Friday (Saturday)

A few days ago, the boys came home from school, and after completing their homework, took turns at playing games on the computer.  Or at least I thought they were taking turns.  When I checked in on them, I found them sharing the keyboard (Andrew is right handed, Elijah is left handed).  Apparently, it's easier to race a car with two people.  Sometimes it seems like they're sharing the same brain.

 

 

Link time!

Looking Fabulous: 

• My Aunt Terry gave me this lipstick once, and I've been buying it ever since: Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey.  It looks super dark, but goes on sheer and moist -- somewhere between a lipstick and a gloss, with no stickiness at all.  My only complaint is that it has to be re-applied fairly often, but the color looks incredible on everyone I've tried it on.  I just wish it came in more colors than one!

Crafty:

• Part crafty, part food -- I can't really decide: Jenny Price Illustration Pancake Art.  (Thanks Heather for the link!)  I don't actually feel drawn to making pancake art myself, but these creations are amazing and super fun to look at!
  
• I love kitchy brooches, but somehow don't have any.  I think that should probably change.  Very soon.  Novelty Brooch at Tuppence Ha'penny Vintage.

Food (savory):

• Molly Wizenburg is talking about braised radishes, and suddenly that's all I want: Butter Glazed Radishes.
• The weather here has been in the 80's and 90's this week, but I just can't get away from my love of soup.  This one is definitely going to be on our dinner table this week: French Onion Soup via Smitten Kitchen.
• My favorite thing about going to an Indian restaurant is the amazing flatbreads that are often on the menu.  I've always been frustrated that I can't replicate it very well at home, but maybe that's all about to change: Naan Indian Flatbread via Mel's Kitchen Cafe.
• Yes, I just posted about Ramen last week, but I'm talking about it again: Kicked Up Ramen via Mel's Kitchen Cafe.
• When it starts to get hot outside, I turn into even more of a Mostly-Vegetarian than I already am, so this Brown Rice Veggie Burger is looking pretty delicious right about now.  Also, if there's any chance that I can get my family to eat brown rice, this would be the way.
• Cabbage is inexpensive, versatile, and delicious in so many ways, but this is my new favorite: Braised Cabbage with Apples and Caraway Seeds via Spilled Milk Podcast.  (Also, my current favorite podcast!!)
• This Crock Pot Baked Beans recipe is simple and delicious, but make sure you cook your beans first until they are just soft enough before adding them to the crock.  (.....this public service announcement after 14 hours in my crock-pot....and they still weren't quite soft).  (Via Weelicious)
• Just made these two days ago, and they're so delicious and addicting (and healthy!): Sweet and Spicy Zucchini Pickles via 101Cookbooks.
• I love having a bowl of this Healthy Bread In Five Minutes A Day dough in my refrigerator, all ready to go.  The longer it sours the better.  After 24 hours it's wonderful, but after 1 week, it's truly special.  And it's made with mostly whole wheat flour!

Food (sweet):

• I'm not in much of a "sweets" mood this week, but as soon as my sweet tooth finds me again, I will definitely be baking this Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake for my next gathering of friends.
• For my brother Jonathan's birthday, these Honey Vanilla Bean Marshmallows were his only gift request from me, so I mailed him a batch of them yesterday.  But then I made a second batch for a party that I was going to this afternoon, and started thinking, how much better would these be if they were dipped in dark chocolate....?  (VERY, my friends.  VERY.)  Sadly, Jonathan is deployed with the Army to a super hot desert location, so the chocolate would not have made the shipment.  I'll have to make it for him next time he's here in person.

 


 

What I Wore Wednesday: Concrete Minerals

Today, instead of an outfit, I've dressed my face!  That only sort-of made sense.  Right.  Moving on.  I've been trying out six different shades from Concrete Minerals this past week (using L'Oreal De-Crease primer on my eyelids first, to help the eyeshadow to last), experimenting with different combinations, and have photographed my look each day.  (Please excuse the differing shades of natural light -- these were taken at different times every day.)


 

First, a very subtle look.  This is Vegas on the lid, Ruse in the crease.  Brown pencil eyeliner on the outside edge of top and bottom.


 


 

Smokey eyes.  I used Swamped as a liner all the way around, Vegas on the lid.  Black gel eyeliner on top, black pencil on bottom.

 


 

This one is the wildest of the bunch.  Longtime readers will remember my distaste for orange, so I have an announcement for you: ORANGE is back!  I am totally in love.  This is certainly not an "everyday" look, but I love it for it's punch and vigor.  I could have done a little better with the liquid eyeliner though (macro-zoom = yikes!)

Napalm on the lid and crease, Vegas on the inner corner, black liquid eyeliner.

 


 

This is my favorite combination: Temptress in the outer half, Croma on the inner half.  Black gel eyeliner on the top only.

 


 

Greg's favorite.  Swamped on the outer half, Ruse on the inner.  Black gel liner on the top, black pencil on the bottom.

 


WOW that was a lot of freckles.  Also, I totally tweezed my eyebrows with Photo Shop.  Because I rock like that.

Overall impression of Concrete Minerals: this is pure color with no parabens, fragrances, dyes, talc, and other bad stuff.  It goes on smoothly, and the jars have little shaker tops so that you can dispense a small amount of product at a time, rather than risking a full spill of your new favorite shade.  How can I not love it?  Now I'm just dreaming of which shades I'll try next...

South by Southwest 2011

So I guess I should have titled this post, “Better Late Than Never,” since SxSw music festival happened nearly three weeks ago.





I started this years’ fest by checking out the debut of the highly anticipated/publicized Third Man Records mobile record store. Third Man, as you might know, is run by none other than Jack White, which of course means every release is only on vinyl (the only proper way to listen). I wasn’t really interested in buying anything from the truck since I already have everything I need (and probably a lot that I don’t) from the label. But it was sort of historic anyway. I mean, who just starts a mobile record store that travels all over the country selling vinyl and encouraging bands to plug into their built-in PA? Pretty cool I think.





After seeing the big yellow truck, it was a few blocks down 6th Street to see Long Beach favorites, The Fling play to a disappointingly small crowd. Sort of problematic to be playing at 1:00pm I suppose.














After The Fling I had several hours to kill before seeing Nicole Atkins’ set at Clive Bar. I wandered around Rainey District and ate two amazing Morocan Lamb Sausage wraps at Cazamance African food stand. And Nicole Atkins killed. She has such a powerful voice.





The next day began with Atlanta’s Gringo Star, which once again yielded a poor attendance due to the 1:00pm show time. They’re a really good band though, I recommend checking them out.





LA’s Night Horse rocked pretty hard as well despite not being able to find their drummer for the first three songs. Not to worry though, a good friend filled-in until the real drummer showed up and the rock continued.











One of my favorite things about a festival like this that literally takes over an entire city is all the random awesomeness you happen upon just walking the streets. Like this very impressive old time jug/string band, 20 Dollar Bill Wishing Well who spent their afternoon busking for passersby. Complete with washboard, banjo, washtub bass, resonator guitar, and a bevy of homemade instruments, these four lads really drew a crowd.








As did this 20-foot tall dancing robot further down the street.














The final show for me was longtime favorites, The Greenhornes, featuring Jack Lawrence on bass. This was actually one of his first bands before moving on to bigger bands like The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather. I’ve really liked these guys for quite a few years and it was nice to see them draw a big crowd.











After the show I decided to check out a nearby restaurant we’ve been wanting to try for a long time. Péché’s claim to fame is being Austin’s first absinthe bar, after the recent relaxation of the laws previously forbidding this drink. Absinthe is fine I guess but I was there for the food. I started with crispy pork belly confit, followed closely by a veal sweetbread salad with sunny-side-up springdale farm egg, and ended with a brandy alexander milkshake made with Austin’s own local Amy’s Ice Cream. Mmmm. A great ending to a great festival.

Healthy and vegetarian: Pasta with Zucchini and Tomatoes

Two nights ago, I made the Pioneer Woman pasta salad recipe that I had posted in last week's  Link-tastic Friday.  I made a few changes (not cooling the pasta, because I wanted the heat of it to cook the raw zucchini just a little, adding crushed garlic and beans), and it was both super delicious and filling, so here's my take on her recipe.
 
 


Pasta with Zucchini and Tomatoes

Adapted from Pioneer Woman Cooks

Ingredients:
1 lb farfalle (bowtie) pasta
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 whole lemons (more to taste)
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 cups cooked chick peas/garbanzos
1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
2 whole zucchini, cut into small, thin wedges
10 ounces, weight grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
⅓ cups finely chopped fresh parsley
6 ounces, weight crumbled feta cheese (plus extra to serve)

Cook pasta in salted water until just done. Drain and put back into pot. Add olive oil and lemon juice, then add salt and pepper to taste (do not undersalt). Toss to combine. Add chick peas, garlic, zucchini, tomatoes, parsley, and feta, and toss to combine. Adjust to taste.  Squeeze in a little more lemon juice/drizzle more olive oil if it needs more moisture.  Serve warm/room temperature with extra feta at the table if desired.  (It's also great cold the next day for lunch!)

Enjoy!