jamie wants to remember

Here, now...

2011-01-02T22:38:00.002-05:00

Here, now, we eat popcorn together. Unreserved time has suddenly become fleeting. I panic a bit as break comes to end. I really love being home. I love the relaxed slowness, living with no real schedule, moving from one moment to the next without a sense of having to get something done. Down time reminds us to just be. It's hard, but I love it. I want another week.

New goals on the horizon. Challenges, albeit good ones. Hard personal challenges that I hope will shape me into a better version of me. Perspective. Keeping perspective.

Welcome 2011

2011-01-01T23:02:00.002-05:00

Another year is here. It's the first day of 2011. 1/1/11. My one little word for this year is PERSPECTIVE. I hope to document more of this year with photos and words. I miss doing that. I enjoy going back and reading my old blog. Lots of new ideas for the new year.

Sunday Share

2010-01-10T19:15:00.004-05:00

Cold but beautiful end of our day...there is something so peaceful about watching the clouds change and become illuminated. It's so cold everywhere right now. The daylight is getting longer, but it is still getting dark fairly early.

{iphone photo on my way home}

New shoes for a new opportunity....she's been asking for ballet lessons for awhile and it just so happens that tap lessons are part of the deal. She's been practicing in full attire this weekend. So excited (I'm so excited for her!)

Thanks to Meg for this recipe. I set out all the ingredients, wrote out the recipe, and we made one batch with me directing. I let her make the second batch solo....and she was totally able to do it. I bought the dropper for 99 cents at the pharmacy. Needed to add a little more water because I think the dropper was slightly smaller than what the recipe calls for. Great play dough recipe that makes small batches.

(looks like Barbie is doing the backstroke on our wood floor!)

She was so happy to try something new, and of course something independently. We talked about what leveling something off meant. She measured carefully. I was proud of her.

On another note...She is reading silently now...no more reading aloud. She's started to show interest in chapter books with less pictures. I'm amazed by her abilities every day....I feel blessed.

two soups

2010-01-09T15:49:00.004-05:00

I love soup...and I love making it, especially when it's cold outside. Currently, I have two favorites....Chicken Soup and Broccoli Soup. They are both super easy to make, last for days, freeze well, and taste delicious.

Chicken Soup

{I make it the way I was taught by my mom}

I buy 2 whole chicken breasts, skin on...bones in. This is a lot of white meat.

In a large stock pot I put: whole chicken breasts, 2 sweet onions (vidalia) cut into quarters, 4-6 celery stalks cut into thirds, 4-6 large carrots, cut into thirds and a huge handful of parsley. Just roughly cut it all up and throw it in. Next, I put in just enough cold water so that everything is submerged. Add a few teaspoons of kosher salt, and bring to a boil.

I boil it rapidly for about 10 minutes, skimming off any fat/froth. Turn down to a low simmer for 1-2 hours with lid on, but cracked. Then I turn it off, put the lid completely on and let it sit for at least an hour....more if I have time. After it sits for a while I take out all the chicken and veggies and strain the stock. I shred the chicken and put it back in the stock. (I toss all the rest...not into soggy onions and celery.) I add at least a 1/2 bag of baby carrots and once again bring it to a rolling boil for about 15 minutes or until the carrots are tender. DONE.

I make pastina in a separate pot and add it as I eat my soup...I don't like pasta-bogged mushy soup. Freezes exceptionally well. Many times, I have so much chicken, I use about half of it for another meal.

Broccoli Soup

{Adapted from Apples for Jam by Tessa Kiros}

This soup is so tasty, super healthy (minus the milk/cheese) and goes great with grilled cheese.

I roughly cup up about 6 cups of broccoli (this is a lot), quarter a red onion, quarter about 3 Yukon Gold potatoes (skinned) and throw them into a large stock pot. I add a few cups of chicken stock, a few teaspoons of kosher salt and then add cold water to cover the ingredients. Bring it to a boil, then turn down and simmer on low for at least an hour. Take off the heat. Let it cool slightly. If I notice that I have tons of liquid I pour a little off and reserve it. In small batches, run it through a food processor or blender until smooth. I add about a cup of whole milk or heavy cream when I blend the last batch. I pour it all into a large bowl as I'm working. Last, I pour it all back into my pot and reheat it and mix it well. If it is too thick, I'll add a little of the reserved stock...but rarely need to. Adding a little shredded cheese on top with salt and pepper tastes delicious.

a week down

2010-01-07T20:43:00.004-05:00

today is the 7th of January

enjoying the everyday

trying to take more photos

here is what I saw today...

{clementines}

{an interest in books}

{cardinals: a dude and two ladies}

{newly learned skill, thanks to big sis: what the frog does}

{love}

moments

2010-01-06T21:51:00.004-05:00

It's little moments like...

eating popcorn with my little one

(taken with my iphone)

having a cookie and juice before gymnastics

watching the birds eat on my deck

feeling the heat in my house

browsing the newest Anthropologie catalog (I always wonder where it was shot)

...that make my day complete!

written...

2010-01-05T19:22:00.004-05:00

I was so sad when everyone went back to school/work. The holidays and Christmas were prepared for and thought about for so long in my little world...having them over was a bit of a downer for me. Coupled by freezing cold temperatures just made it a bit more of a bummer. So it goes....

(taken with my iphone: snuggling with my little guy: early morning)

I was so thrilled today to see that Sharilyn had restocked her shop with much coveted address files. I've been wanting one for quite a while, and ordered one in maple. I can't wait to fill out those little cards with friends and family....addresses, email addresses and phone numbers....a little treasure of information. Handcrafted goodness. I've enjoyed reading through her blog as well...good stuff!

11 months old...be still my heart

2010-01-02T19:59:00.002-05:00

My litttle man is 11 months old today...I can hardly believe so much time has passed. I can hardly believe I'm already planning his first birthday party. He is loving black beans, anything sweet, music, his big sis and as of a few days ago, walking. I look at my two little ones and see my heart outside of my body. I see miracles and am reminded how blessed I am...I am reminded how amazing my God is. My faith is instantly renewed.

I came across this little "letter" of sorts through a blog I read, and it moved me, hit me hard....
the idea of "leaning in"....hmmmm....
http://www.mommycoddle.com/2009/12/a-christmas-letter.html

I was thrilled to get my handmade bag from moop....came today...
pretty package with handwritten note....

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37688267

I LOVE IT! It is more beautifully made than I could have imagined. The color is dark and rich, and just what I wanted. So happy with it. I need to clean out my old bag, and switch over my wallet to this one I purchased from Anthro.... (in taupe)

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=943336&navAction=jump&search=true&parentid=SEARCH_RESULTS

Supporting fellow crafters is important to me...and the products they make are so superior to mass-made items.

My amaryllis in full bloom....she bloomed Christmas morning....right on cue!

I put a little birdfeeder outside on our deck, and suddenly our backyard is ALIVE! I could sit all morning and watch the beautiful birds feed. SO MANY! The bluejays love the sunflower seeds. Isn't he handsome?

Cheers to knowing how to build a sustainable fire that allows us to use our woodstove and turn off the heat when it is well below freezing! I'm proud of that accomplishment!

Welcome 2010!

2010-01-01T20:00:00.000-05:00

Goodbye 2009, it was a great year!

Here's to walking away from bad habits, guilt, excuses and unnecessary worry....

Cheers to:
> establishing better habits
> eating more whole foods and exercise
> enjoying every moment of my time home
> taking photos and blogging again
> trying new things
> learning how to let things go
> staying organized, one day at a time
> remembering the stories that mean so much
> growing relationships
> being gracious when it's hard to be

A new start is always intimidating and exhilarating at the same time for me....a chance to begin anew while keeping in mind little lessons that have shaped who I am today. I've grown so much this past year in so many areas of my life....so here's to "leaning in" to 2010....bring it on!

11.11.09

2009-11-11T17:21:00.000-05:00

I'm excited about getting in on the Holiday Exchange. Check out the badge in my sidebar for details....what a great idea. Veteran's Day today....so we hung out as a family and enjoyed running a few errands.

Big J got a set of bongo drums, and I picked up the last of the things I needed to make my December Daily. I've decided on what I want my Advent Calendar to look like....I'll have to post more as I begin.

Need to post some photos too.

10.15.09

2009-10-15T08:06:00.001-04:00

thinking about yesterday...

when I took this photo, this is what I saw, and what I thought about....lately I feel like I am riding that fine line between calmness and chaos....just like the line in the water where the wind has begun to make a ripple...

acorns totally remind me of fall....for this shot I just set my camera on the ground and pulled the trigger...

interesting mix between beautiful color, the greeness of the clover before the frosty weather sets in and the already browned up leaves....summarizes this time of year...

*yesterday, big J and I had this conversation...look ma, it says "carpenter" on that truck in that driveway....the dog in that house must have peed all over the carpet and the "carpenter" must be fixing it.

10.13.09

2009-10-13T21:24:00.001-04:00

*cleaned all morning....I often wonder what it would feel like to have everything in its place...what would I do?
*while at the commons, little j fell asleep in my sling, while big j fell asleep in the stroller....nothing like an extra 60 pounds of pushing and hauling to make for a good workout in the brisk fall air
*keep asking myself, do I really need it? is it useful or beautiful? will it improve my quality of life?
*love lululemon's manifesto....scored a mini poster while there today....wish their products were cheaper
*wanting to give myself more me time....need to take better care of myself
*wanting Halloween to be over already....I'm ready for the holidays....so much fun with two
*clean sheets tonight....my favorite
*mandating quiet...no tv/no computer time during the day....what a difference even an hour makes....I miss quiet....it's so nice
*meatballs and spaghetti for dinner....hit the spot
*not looking forward to busy wednesday....
*...."do you suppose", "that's hilarious"...favorite sayings today from big j
*little guy is teething big time.....
*wanting to clear out the garden....
*must photograph the foliage....it will be gone all too soon

10.12.09

2009-10-12T22:00:00.000-04:00

because my mind has gotten a bit mushy
and I've become indecisive
and always end up changing my mind
wanting a clean start, starting, then never completing much

wanting to remember things
so here's where the remembering begins...

*firehouse visit, reds, seeing new friends again
*more colds, wondering about his teeth, wishing for a peaceful sleep
*creating memories through family customs and realizing that I can be a catalyst of new things
*figuring out how to have more by having less (stuff that is)
*wishing I could complete more tasks
*knowing that accomplishing even the littlest things makes me feel good
*needing to set some realistic health goals and acting on them