life according to celia

long hair is dead (continued)

2012-01-26T10:54:00.000-08:00

Ladies, and the three guys who read this blog, can we talk? I was a little perplexed by some of the comments left on my last short hair post, so I thought I'd share my thoughts here. For those of you concerned with how your significant other might feel if you cut your locks, please. just. stop. I took a good look at all of you, and you all can and SHOULD rock short hair if you want to. In fact, I think there are VERY FEW women who can't pull off short hair. Just because you've had a bad cut or two in your life, does not mean you do not have what it takes to look good with short hair. Any stylist will tell you that short hair cuts are much harder than long ones; There's less room for error. You also have to work with your hair type. For example, I had a cut very similar to Ms. Seberg's when I was in High School, but sadly, my hair is MUCH too thick to pull that look off gracefully. Taking that into consideration, and the fact that I have a rounder face, bobs work best for me (oh, man... that post is hurting my heart right now). So yeah, find a good stylist and tell your boyfriends/husbands/girlfriends/partners that they better love you AND feel honored to be having sex with you no matter what your hair looks like.

Like I said, for me, right now in my life, it's a matter of convenience. The truth is, Joe does prefer long hair. I think it's a fairly common sentiment amongst straight men. When I met him, I was mucho poor and couldn't afford frequent haircuts. I had a grown out, shoulder-length bob, which I actually wouldn't even consider a bob anyway. In the just-about-seven years we've been together, my hair has been every length imaginable, but mostly short. I tried to keep it short through most of my pregnancy, but once the crazy hair-growing hormones kicked in, I gave up. Anyway, I am WELL AWARE that Joe not only prefers long hair on ladies, he prefers it on me. But the thing is, I feel more like myself, more confident, even, when I have it short. So, I weigh my options. Do I keep it long, because aesthetically, that's what he's in to? OR, do I wear it in a way that's going to make me feel my best, resulting in a better/happier attitude that can only contribute to the joys of our relationship? Is he less attracted to me when I have short hair? Um, NO he's not... and I am pretty sure your guy wouldn't be either. Besides, aren't men most attracted to their ladies when they get them naked, anyway? I think that's a definite YES. They're guys, which means they're just weird like that.

Now, go forth and cut those hairs! And if your loved one gives you any crap, you can tell him/her that Celia said to suck it. It doesn't matter that they have no clue who I am... I am confident it will leave an impact.

The lovely, short-haired, Jean.

pink

2012-01-25T22:36:00.000-08:00

EVERY SINGLE TIME I pee after eating beets, I scare the shit out of myself. You totally do the same, right?

*Cookie for anyone who has a credit for this photo.

speaking of scarves

2012-01-24T01:50:00.000-08:00

It's been absurdly cold here. Absurdly cold for California, that is. Last week while getting Cheech and I ready for a park date, I realized that I somehow, very accidentally managed to donate ALL of my scarves in 2011's annual "I Hate Everything I Own" raid. WHO DOES THAT? Me, apparently. So now, I'm in desperate need of a new scarf for my poor, little suffering neck.

I'm kind of over always buying loads of crap (something I've done for years when it comes to scarves), so I'm thinking of investing in a proper scarf that will keep me warm, and that I can love for years to come. I've been coveting Yokoo's thick and chunky scarves for, like, ever (who hasn't?), and I think it's high time I take the plunge.

Thanks, cevd, for reminding me. ;)

portlandia

2012-01-23T21:25:00.000-08:00

I may be a little late to the party, but Joe and I just started watching Portlandia, and OHMYGOD, guys, it's fucking brilliant. I haven't really heard much talk about the show, so I'm assuming not a lot of people watch it? Too bad if that's the case, because every episode makes me laugh until I cry. I HIGHLY recommend it.

soup club: corn and chicken chowder

2012-01-22T23:08:00.000-08:00

You want to know a dirty little secret? We watch football. Well, actually, Joe watches football while Cheech and I wait as patiently as we can for it to be over. In honor of this season being just about over, I've selected two heartier soups to post this week and next. You know, just in case that special football lover in your life has any interest in soup.

First up is this Corn and Chicken Chowder sent to me by Connie. I have to be honest and say that I haven't been the most thrilled about Soup Club as of late because the Bay Area has had a bit of a wussy pants winter thus far. These past few days, however, have been quite rainy, and a chowder is exactly the kind of soup I've been craving for warmth and comfort. Seriously, guys, who doesn't love chowder when it's wet out? This soup is super hearty, so make sure you are HUNGRY when you dig in. I have not tried the leftovers yet, but I am sure it will be phenomenal tomorrow after all the flavors have had time to hang out a little longer.

Corn and Chicken Chowder

6 ears of fresh corn, husked and silks removed (or 1-30 ounce can corn and 1-15 ounce can cream corn)
6 slices bacon, chopped
8 scallions
3 medium potatoes (I use Idaho potatoes)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
2 cups chicken stock
2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 small can (4 ounces, I believe) chopped green chiles
2 cups roasted chicken, shredded (a Rotisserie chicken from the deli works great for this!)
Salt and pepper, to taste
handful of grated cheddar, for garnish

Directions

In a large stock pot, fry the bacon pieces until crisp. Remove from the pan, leaving the drippings, and set aside.
Peel and chop the potatoes into bite sized chunks. Slice the scallions very thin and separate the greens from the whites.
Place the potatoes and white scallion pieces into the stock pot and cook over medium heat until the scallions have softened, 2 or 3 minutes.
Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute.
Pour in the milk, chicken stock, Old Bay, thyme, parsley, cayenne, salt, and pepper, stirring well. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Reduce heat to low and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Add corn (If using fresh corn, cut from the cob with a sharp knife. Use the back of your knife to release the pulp from the cob.), chicken, and green chiles. Cook over low heat until heated through, about 5 minutes. Garnish with scallion greens, bacon, and cheddar cheese.

Notes

- I added the spices and the herbs in when sauteing the potatoes and scallions. To get maximum flavor out of all spices and herbs, it's best to cook them in fat vs. adding them towards the end. Fats (oils, butter) are excellent flavor absorbers, so this process is key. If you're looking for a brighter, fresher flavor from your herbs, however, add them at the very end.

- Instead of adding milk, I made the soup with extra broth and added a touch of half and half (about 1/3 cup) at the end. Personally, I like this method a little more when making chowders.

- Corn is not in season right now, but canned corn is not at all my thing. I used frozen organic sweet corn, and it worked really well.

- I skipped the chiles because we've started sharing our food with Cheech, and I didn't want the soup to be too spicy for her. I thought the soup was great without them, but if you want to add them, I HIGHLY suggest you roast your own chiles. They are so much better that way, and look how easy it is.

- I love me some Cheddar, but I felt it was a little too predictable for this style of soup. I used a raw milk Gruyere instead. It was perfect.

long hair is dead

2012-01-19T07:58:00.000-08:00

I'm getting my hair cut today. Well, not exactly cut... more trimmed and reshaped. Like I mentioned a while back, I'm growing it out. Not because I want long and luscious locks, but because with my hair type, it's easily a million times easier to keep it on the longer side. I've had short hair most of my adult life, and man, do I miss it. It just seems to suit my personality a little bit better. When I look at pictures of myself with my longer do, it doesn't even feel like I'm looking at myself. It's almost as if I'm looking at my imaginary twin sister, or something. Isn't that peculiar?

Sadly, given the thickness and texture of my hair, short hair has always required a ton of work and upkeep from me. I hate to sound like that mom, but with Cheech, I really just don't have the time to be styling a killer bob. So for now, I'll keep pinning styles I love onto my "long hair is dead" board, and perhaps once she reaches that special stage where I won't have to be watching her EVERY SECOND to make sure she isn't face planting into furniture, I'll take one of those pictures to my stylist and get this mop off my head for good.

january, shmanuary

2012-01-18T06:34:00.000-08:00

Lat year, at this time, I was pregnant and I was hormonally a mess. We live up the street from a nursery, so on extreme off days, I would haul my huge pregnant belly out of the house and roam the aisles of endless plants. Typically, I'd come home with a plant or two to brighten my spirits, and for some reason, it always worked. I bought A LOT of plants last January. We ended up with way more than we could care for (roughly 15-20 is our limit), or even had room for. After a few months, many didn't end up making it. It hurt my heart to see that my need for some simple cheering up had selfishly resulted in their inevitable doom. Joe put me on a strict "no plant-buying" regulation, and I've followed it ever since.

In a recent email exchange with a friend, I came to the realization that I'm not too keen on January. It has nothing to do with whether or not I'm pregnant. Perhaps the start of a new year just feels so daunting in a multitude of ways, or maybe January is a not-so-friendly reminder than time moves too fast in our not-so-long lives. I don't know about you, but the older I get, the more it feels like I'm spending my days treading water and constantly trying to catch up (to what, I don't know). It's also possible that I'm simply over thinking it all, and this whole distaste for the first month of the year is actually a common epidemic. I have a tendency to do that. Over think things.

I feel that now that I'm aware of my internal issues with January, I can take the proper steps to avoid being such a poopy pants for an entire four weeks. Half way in, and I'm deciding to turn my stupid frown upside down. To not be so hard on some insignificant month. To not be so hard on time, on life, on myself. There won't be any plant-buying involved, obviously. Actually, I'm not sure what it's going to involve, but it's going to be awesome.

Flowers, Fredric Akum

.

2012-01-16T22:27:00.000-08:00

Two Albino Scouts swim with the ship. They're supposedly very intelligent, although I've never seen any evidence of it.

-Steve Zissou

The next best thing to watching the new Wes Anderson film is watching an old Wes Anderson Film. CAN'T WAIT.

whoopsie

2012-01-16T08:33:00.000-08:00

This past Thursday, Cheech was playing near her designated shelves on one of our bookcases when she lost her footing, fell forward and hit her cheek on one of the shelves, and fell back and hit her head on the floor. She's currently sporting a superhero bruise on her right cheek. On Saturday, after a few days of fussiness, she woke up from her morning nap with boogers all over her face and her first nasty cold.

So yeah, I've been a little preoccupied and completely and totally forgot about Soup Club this past week. I'm sure most of you didn't even notice, which I wouldn't expect you to anyway... trust me. I just like to make note of my shortcomings. Must be a scorpio thing, or something.

Also, I have no idea what a llama in a scarf has to do with any of this, but isn't he cute?

motomu

two times

2012-01-12T09:41:00.000-08:00

I've always been so intrigued by Elizabeth Taylor's and Richard Burton's relationship. If you look at photographs of them they never seem to be very happy. If anything, they usually look quite miserable. Yet, they managed to marry twice. Isn't that peculiar?

Joe has a friend whose parents, after 25 years of marriage, and then 12 of being divorced, remarried again this year. Quite honestly, I found the news to be touching and hopeful, but at the same time, completely difficult to relate to. Not only does divorce terrify the living shit out of me, but I've really never been one to revisit the past. I can't tell if this makes me sensical, or a total nonromantic. I don't know, I guess remarrying the same person probably isn't the kind of life decision that people really plan on.

Photos via dorothy-hamil and beastandbean

what gives?

2012-01-11T07:02:00.000-08:00

I've decided to once and for all grow out my bangs. I don't know who you guys think I am, but if I'm going to spend all this time focussing on my skin, then other things are going to have to be sacrificed. All jokes aside, I really am just so tired of keeping up with my fringe. My hair grows at an absurdly fast rate, and seeing as I don't even have time to update my "About" page (as quite a few of you have noted by this point*) these days, I most certainly do not have the time to be getting bang trims once a month. Which means, they are out of here.

Now, here's why I am actually writing this post: WHERE CAN I FIND RAD BARRETTES? These bangs have gotten to the point of total mayhem. They are no longer cute if I try to still style them as bangs, but ohmygod somebody please get them off of my face PRONTO. I figured an easy solution would be to clip them back with some awesome barrettes until I can pass this awkward stage. You know, something a little more interesting than just plain bobby pins. Problem is, finding a super rad, awesome barrette (yes, even just one) seems to be an impossible task. Is this a universal problem? Am I looking in the wrong places? Is the new barrette criteria that they must all be made of felt or some sort of sparkly material... or be a flower or a bow... or even worse, a MUSTACHE? Do people really want to wear mustaches on their heads? It's all so perplexing to me. Please, weigh in.

And on that note, Marc, I really love you and all, but I don't exactly feel the need to be rocking YOUR NAME in my hair. Jackass.

Photo, LittleFlair

hypothetically speaking

2012-01-10T09:40:00.000-08:00

Let's say you're looking to plan a small (about 3-day) family vacation with a baby that's around a year old. Driving or flying would be fine. You still have not applied for the baby's passport, so it would have to be to one of the 50 United States. Actually, something on the western side would be preferable, but you're open to anything new. Where would you go?

Photo of the trailer Ida stayed in when visiting Austin.

how to spot a hipster

2012-01-09T12:48:00.000-08:00

Saturday night conversation at our house.

C: I like (Blank)'s* style.

J: Really? It's a little hipster, don't you think?

C: Would you call that hipster? He always looks too nice to be a hipster.

J: Yeah, hipsters look nice.

C: No, hipsters have grungy hair and shop at American Apparel. Like, (Blank) and (Blank), or (Blank) and (Blank); They're hipsters.

J: No, they're more like LA indie kids. (Blank) is a hipster. You know, that "vintage cardigan and skinny tie" look.

C: I don't know... he shops at J. Crew. Do hipsters shop at J. Crew?

J: Probably. You know who else is a hipster? (Blank). He's definitely a hipster.

C: I would consider him more metro than hipster.

J: I think San Francisco hipsters are just more polished.

C: So would that make (Blank) and (Blank) hipsters?

J: Oh, yeah. They're definitely hipsters.

C: Fascinating.

*Names have been concealed to protect the innocent hipsters.

Illustration, Valero Doval

soup club: ribollita

2012-01-08T19:37:00.000-08:00

After a nice holiday hiatus, Soup Club is back in action. I wanted to start the year off with one of those Italian Soups that inspired me to start this club in the first place. Jenny sent me a link to a ribollita recipe, and seeing as there are few things I love more than wet bread, I knew I had to try it.

These days, Cheech is obsessed with being in the kitchen while I'm cooking, and since kitchens aren't exactly safe spots for babies, I like to be in and out of there as quickly as possible. Therefore, I was in such a rush when making this soup, that I ended up following the instructions in the wrong order. The final product still resulted in a lovely soup, however, and it goes to show that cooking has so much more to do with confidence in what you're doing, than following a recipe word to word.

Ribollita

(serves 6)

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus some for drizzling on bread
1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
4 ounces pancetta, chopped
2 cloves garlic, 1 minced and 1 whole
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 pound frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 (15-ounce) can cannelloni beans, drained
1 tablespoon herbs de Provence
3 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1 (3-inch) piece Parmesan rind
4 to 6 ciabatta rolls, halved lengthwise or 1 loaf, sliced
Grated Parmesan, for serving

Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, pancetta, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook until the onion is golden brown and the pancetta is crisp, about 7 minutes. Add tomato paste and stir until dissolved. Add tomatoes and stir, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to release all the brown bits. Add the spinach, beans, herbs, stock, bay leaf, and Parmesan rind. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Drizzle the ciabatta halves with olive oil. Toast until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and rub the top of the toasts with the whole garlic clove. Place the toasts in the serving bowls and ladle the soup over the toasts. Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve immediately.

Notes

- Because of it's fat content, pancetta, like bacon, has a tendency to burn if you're not ultra careful. In order to avoid a disaster, I always brown my pancetta first (by itself), remove it from the pan, and add it back to a recipe once all the other ingredients are in. I've never had problems doing it this way.

- One of you, at some point, had mentioned something about cooked spinach being the devil, or evil, or something along those lines. Although I wouldn't take it that far, I do have to admit that I'm not exactly a fan either. The thing is, there is such a spectacular selection to choose from in the greens family, that choosing spinach always seems so boring. I opted for purple kale for this particular recipe. The color was beautiful, the flavor was more intense, and the texture was quite a bit heartier. If you're not so big on spinach either, or if you're just looking for something new to try, I highly suggest you go with kale as well.

Since kale is a heartier green, it requires a much longer cooking time than spinach (especially frozen spinach, which is already cooked). I chopped my kale and sauteed it with my onion, carrot, garlic and spices. Then, once I added all the liquids, I brought it all to a boil and let it simmer for double the amount of time suggested. That allowed for the kale to really tenderize, and it resulted in a stewier soup. BIG win!

- The recipe suggests you toast the ciabatta, but in my humble opinion, GRILLED bread is where it's at.

#BOOBSWEEK, the podcast

2012-01-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

Hey, guys, If you've been following my #BOOBSWEEK guest series over on ESB, then please stop by for the ultimate finale to a BOOB-TASTIC start to the new year... our #BOOBSWEEK podcast. Listen in as we discuss all things "boob", including bra washing and boob wrinkles. That's right, I said boob wrinkles.

Have a splendid weekend!

Pam Grier in Coffy

wishful thinking

2012-01-06T00:16:00.000-08:00

I don't have nice hands. They're really small which at least makes them cute, but beautiful, they are not. I've always envied women with slender and impossibly long fingers. For some reason, those women usually tend to have lovely nails as well. Instead, I am left with little breakfast sausage fingers. So when I come across gorgeous rings such as this one, I simply take a moment to admire, and then have no choice but to just move on with my life. Bummer.

Ring found via Courtney Cerruti's Pinterest page. Do you follow her? You should.

the year of the face

2012-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

So don't laugh, but I've decided that 2012 is the year I get serious about skincare. For the most part, I've been pretty good to my skin over the years. I've never been a smoker, I've stayed out of the sun, and pre-baby, I always made sure to get plenty of sleep. Truth be told, however, I've been very fortunate in the complexion department when it comes to genetics. Having naturally good skin has always made me a bit lazy when it comes to my skincare regime. If I told you how many times I went to bed with a full face of makeup on, you'd probably be appalled.

Pregnancy hormones really did a number on my face. It's not that I wasn't familiar with a zit or two, but I was experiencing breakouts on a whole new level. And I'm pretty sure that being pregnant added a few years to my complexion, as well. Things started to normalize again once Cheech was born, but my skin seems to feel so much more congested and dry. Yeah, the breakouts are gone, but so it the luster.

Skincare can no longer be an option for me; It has to be a necessity. A friend of mine recommended Dermoligica's Dermal Clay Cleanser to me and after about a week of use, I'm happy to report that I have never been more thrilled with a cleanser. My skin feels squeaky clean yet not dried out, and I actually look forward to washing my face twice a day. Now that my cleanser is set, I'm in need of a great nighttime moisturizer and an eye cream that helps with the fact that I haven't had a solid 8 hours of sleep in over a year. Look, I'm no fool. I'm not trying to turn back the clock here and am fully aware that I'll never look 25 again, but slowing it down a bit would be AMAZING. Any suggestions?

Collage, fotosdealmanaque

what's next?

2012-01-03T14:50:00.000-08:00

If the last three years have been any indication, my life seems to have gone into overdrive. Since December of 2008, I've gotten engaged and planned a wedding, started this blog, had said wedding, turned 30, made a pretty big move, unexpectedly got pregnant, gave birth to the most awesome Cheech that ever lived, and took a smallish chunk out of our savings account to start a business. Part of me is just plain exhausted, yet the other part is excited to see what's yet to come. We're really putting in the effort to buy a house this year, so maybe that will be the next thing? Who knows? Whatever the case, my life already feels so full and instead of writing down a list of resolutions, I'm going to take this year to just appreciate and enjoy it.

Happy New Year, everyone!

#BOOBSWEEK!

2012-01-02T16:13:00.000-08:00

Do you have a sizable set of knockers? I sure do. In fact, I haven't been a member of the itty-bitty-titty committee since about the 7th grade. I spent most of my life hating them and doing everything it took to make them appear smaller, but I've gotten over my hangup as I've gotten older, and have learned to be happy with and dress for my body-type. So, when East Side Bride asked if I would provide some pointers for some of her buxom readers, I JUMPED on the opportunity.

I've worked on a 4-part guest series that will go up this week, and I highly suggest you check it out. I've been sporting these boobs around for about 20 years now, so I have LOTS of experience in this department. ;) Let's start with BRAS!

P.S. I'll be back to my regular scheduled posting tomorrow. I miss you guys.

*Photo of Jayne Mansfield. Homegirl had BOOBS.

from my peculiar little family to yours

2011-12-23T17:27:00.000-08:00

Joe is taking an extra long weekend, so I won't be posting here until the new year to spend lots of time with him and our Cheech. Because they are the ones I love the most. Here are a couple of my favorite, recent videos of Cheech the Peach. You probably won't find them as adorable as I do because you're not her mom, but whatever, watch them anyway. Or, don't.

The first one was shot when she was just learning how to crawl, and you can't really tell, but she crawls straight into that pole (hence all the laughter). The second one was me trying to take a picture of her, and not realizing that my phone was on video mode. Please excuse my voice; I do not smoke two packs of cigarettes a day, but I do suffer from severe seasonal allergies. Actually, just watch that one on mute.

Wishing you all a warm and fuzzy holiday.

-C

what has become of me?

2011-12-21T23:40:00.000-08:00

Guys, I cannot believe how hardcore I am geeking out over my new iPhone. I can check the weather whenever I want (one of my all-time favorite things to do), use *my* (and not steal Joe's) phone to take endless pictures of Cheech, andandAND (this one might be my favorite) I can text like an olympic texting champion now. It used to be that I'd get a text, grovel under my breath, and have to decide how important the text was and whether or not it really needed a response. And then if it did, I'd have take a good 2-3 minutes of my [very valuable] time to text one stupid sentence. Now, however, I can write WHOLE PARAGRAPHS in 2-3 minutes. I know I fought this advancement in technology for so long, but now I'm not sure exactly why.*

Anyhoo, now that I'm addicted, I want the most badass looking phone on the block. We went to the apple store today, and although their selection was kind of meh, I did manage to come home with a case that I loved. But now, I'm thinking that maybe I want a couple cases? You know, to switch up depending on my mood. These cases, using Kate Kosec prints, are at the top of my list.

*Sorry, Lauren, Rachel and Nikki. See you on the dark side, maybe?

cookie diet

2011-12-21T08:40:00.000-08:00

(The other day in our car)

C: Hey, do you want a cookie?

J: What kind of cookie?

C: Mexican wedding.

J: Sure.

C: (Hands cookie to Joe)

(About a minute later)

C: Do you want to split this chocolate chip cookie with me?

J: How many cookies do you have back there? (I sit in the back with Cheech)

C: (Laughing) Just three; They're leftover from the ones I took to Hannah's last night.

J: OK.

C: (Takes bite of cookie and hands it to Joe)

J: (Takes a few bites of cookie and hands it back)

C: (Eats rest of cookie)

J: (Reaches hand back for more cookie)

C: Shit, sorry! I ate the rest.

J: YOUD DID?!

C: I thought you were done when you handed it back. I just can't seem to eat enough cookies these days.

J: Oh yeah? How many weight watchers points is that?

C: Oh, I gave up on that about a month ago.

J: So what are you on now, the cookie diet?

You guys, when I said I was eating a lot of sugar as of late, I should have specifically said it was cookies. I don't know what it is, but the Cookie Monster's got nothing on me these days. I was always a cake person, but in the past few years, since knowing Joe, I've slowly morphed into a cookie person. And in the last couple weeks, it's been ALL cookie ALL the time. To my credit, I've managed to lose all my baby weight, so maybe there is something to this whole Cookie Diet.

Photo from CEVD'S gorgeous collection of Instagram photos.

sunday monday

2011-12-20T00:25:00.000-08:00

Christmas came early to our house this year. We spent Sunday evening at our friend, Hannah's, celebrating the holiday with lots of babies, and even more cookies. I devoted the rest of that night to wrapping gifts that really should have been taken to the post office last week.

Joe got himself a new iPhone for Christmas and it came Monday morning. When he accidentally opened my Christmas gift to him that also came with the mail that morning, I broke down and told him the Christmas was ruined. I couldn't help but be a Sally about it; Shit's been tough for me as of late. Feeling bad about the mess up, he handed me the box with the iPhone in it and wished me a Merry Christmas. He ordered two. I'm one of those cool kids that's STILL rocking a Nokia flip phone, so my new phone is a pretty huge deal. Honestly, I wish Christmas would be ruined more often... it's kind of fun that way.

These days, it feels like The Cat is more interested in Cheech's toy basket than Cheech herself. Currently, she likes to spend her free time pulling our potted succulents in the general direction of her face and hauling ass toward The Cat's food dish. When she's not risking scarring up her face and choking on kibble, she's napping A LOT. Must be exhausting being such a daredevil.

soup club: four corners lentil soup

2011-12-18T22:23:00.000-08:00

I'm hoping it's just my excitement for the holiday season, but I have consumed SO MUCH sugar in the past couple weeks. In an effort to help counteract my massive sweet tooth, I looked through my Soup Club file and tried to pick one of the healthier soups of the bunch. Sunna's recommendation, Four Corners Lentil Soup, was exactly what I was hoping to find. This soup is as flavorful as it is light, and I love that I could have eaten the whole pot and not have felt an ounce of guilt. The cumin and lemon flavors brought me back to all the Mexican soups and stews my grandmother used to make when I was a child. And I don't even think I have to mention how stunning those ruby and amber hues are.

Four Corners Lentil Soup

Ingredients

1 cup red lentils, picked over and rinsed very well

1 large onion, or a couple leeks, chopped

5 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp. minced ginger root

1 Tbsp. Ground cumin

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

1 15 oz. can of tomatoes; or 4 large, fresh tomatoes, chopped

4 cups stock

salt to taste

1 un-waxed, organic lemon

Directions

1. Rinse the lentils very well until the water runs clear.

2. Heat oil in a medium pot and sauté onions, garlic and ginger for 5 minutes until soft. Add a pinch of salt.

3. Add spices and stir for another minute or so, until fragrant.

4. Add tomatoes, 3 slices of lemon and rinsed lentils, then add vegetable stock. Stir well.

5. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the lentils are soft. Squeeze in the rest of the lemon juice.

6. Serve hot with some cilantro, green onions or parsley on top with a slice of lemon. Delicious!

Serves 4.

Notes

- I used chicken stock instead of veggie. I'll most likely stick to using chicken stock from now on because I always have it on hand.

- Tomatoes are way out of season for us at this point, so I used canned.

- Instead of adding lemon slices to the soup, I added the zest of one lemon when I added the spices. This added a POWERFUL citrus punch. I'm big on lemon in soups, but if you prefer a more subtle flavor, I would stick to using the slices as suggested.

meh.

2011-12-15T23:36:00.000-08:00

Alright, I fold. This week has officially been nutz-o. Cheech and I were leaving a friend's house this evening, when this load of bologna happened... I was putting her in her carseat, but having trouble adjusting her straps because my diaper bag, which was draped across my body, was in the way. I pulled the strap up and over my head, and I felt it tug on my right earring. The star earring. Panicked, I immediately went to feel my ear and the earring was still there. I continued to buckle Cheech in her seat, shut the door walked toward the driver's side, when all of a sudden, I felt my earring fall out. FUCK! I'm pretty sure that's what I yelled out. It was already dark out. I looked down and the sidewalk was COVERED with leaves, yellow ones. I was trying to find the tiniest GOLD earring in mounds of YELLOW leaves in the DARK. I opened my car door and used my cell phone for some light, but the earring never came up. I drove home on the verge of tears.

Thing is, I'm SO paranoid of losing jewelry that once it goes on, it never comes off. That's why I own/wear so little of it. I've spent the last six weeks constantly checking my beloved earrings and making sure their backs were on securely. I'd even check in my sleep. So, it's not like I can be mad at myself for being careless, or accidentally leaving them somewhere. Instead, I have to be mad at the universe for being so stupid. And that's kind of worse.

Tomorrow has to be better, right? RIGHT?!

Teen Witch, Rookie Mag

a case of misfortune

2011-12-14T22:39:00.000-08:00

You know when you spend an absurd amount of time on the internets looking for the perfect winter shoe that is not only rain-friendly, but with the help of that very-much-appreciated gift card to Zappos your MIL got you for your birthday, is quite budget-friendly as well (see exhibit a)? But then, your friend who seems to always be taunting you with shoes that are WAY out of your budget (we're talking SO MANY dollars), tweets about a pair that just happens to be *that* much more perfect, but also *that* much more expensive (see exhibit b). Between this ordeal and the grilled cheese fiasco last night, I think it's safe to say I have no business buying a lottery ticket this week.

all i wanted was a grilled cheese

2011-12-13T23:29:00.000-08:00

We don't haz butter.

We haz bread.

We don't haz cheese.

We haz bread.

We don't haz butter.

I am a sad, sad lady right now, guys.

Grilled Cheese by David Schwen

sunday monday

2011-12-13T21:21:00.000-08:00

I haven't been very good with taking pictures lately. It's not laziness; My memory card has been full since we got back from NH, and I've been hesitantly deleting photos ever since in order to make room for new ones. Of course, the solution to that problem is as easy as simply ORDERING A NEW ONE, but as Joe famously likes to say, "You'd forget your tits if they weren't attached". Truer words are rarely spoken.

So I've ordered a new card, and we should be back to our regular scheduled weekend photos in no time. Until then, please enjoy books stacked on top of our dining table (I'm assuming they'll stay there for a while because of you know, Super Cheech), An egg fried in truffle oil (did you know truffle oil isn't made with actual truffles? You've been duped, guys), and our tree that desperately needs trimming (and that Cheech favors as a snack).

soup club: chorizo, bean & spinach soup

2011-12-10T23:59:00.000-08:00

Um, so I somehow completely bastardized Emma's soup recipe, and I'm gonna go ahead and blame it on my bananas week (read last post). For the most part, I really make an effort to stick to your recipes with maybe just a few, minor revisions. This soup, however, can pretty much be considered a whole new soup. Whether it was because I forgot, or they were mistakenly not placed in my bag, I ended up without almost half of the ingredients in the recipe (you can see my revisions in the notes below). By the time I realized it, Joe was off to work and we were approaching bedtime, and leaving the house really wasn't an option. So, going back to my chefing days, I did what any professional cook would do... I made sure not to panic, I looked in my fridge and my pantry, and I improvised. The result was quite fabulous, if I do say so myself. Reading the recipe, I can tell it is also quite fabulous the way it was truly meant to be made, so you can decide for yourself which route you want to take. I plan on making it again the right way just to compare.

P.S. Emma, coincidentally, got married yesterday. BIG congratulations to her.

P.P.S. She sent me the photo below with the following message...

I read your soup post today and I felt compelled to share my favourite with you. It is not a link but a photo. When I was little my mum had (and still has) a large desk diary that she stuck her favourite recipes in - cut out from magazines, handwritten by friends, and written in herself. I loved it so much that I started my own when I was 10, and I still use it today. So my recipe is in photo form, of a cut-out from a weekend newspaper supplement.

I just about died of happiness.

Notes

- My checker forgot to put the MOST BEAUTIFUL heirloom rainbow carrots in my bag at checkout. The whole way home I thought about how excited I was to use them in this soup. When I finally realized they were nowhere to be found, I was pretty annoyed; It's quite difficult to fake a traditional mirepoix. I decided to use potatoes instead. Although potatoes have a COMPLETELY different flavor, I knew they'd add the starchy quality that carrots would have.

- At the butcher, when I asked for chorizo, they gave me Mexican Chorizo instead of the Spanish kind. In retrospect, I should have been clearer, or at least made sure to pay attention to what they were packing for me. If you don't know the difference, you can read about it here. I am a huge fan of just about any type of chorizo, so this mess-up didn't bother me too much. I do think that the Spanish chorizo would have added a nice textural element, so I'm excited to see how my soup turns out next time.

- I completely forgot to buy parsley and creme fraiche. Joe's really not down for parsley, so I might have skipped it anyway (we eat soup leftovers for days!). I was torn up about the creme fraiche though. In a pinch, I decided to use a dollop of whole milk yogurt that I've been feeding to Cheech. Surprisingly, the tartness of the yogurt worked quite well. Since Mexican chorizo tends to be on the fatty side, I felt the yogurt helped to cut the richness a little.

mess

2011-12-09T22:28:00.000-08:00

Did you know that babies can fall off a sofa [backwards], hit the back of their little heads on top of a marble coffee table on their way down, and not only survive, but just kind of brush it off as it was no big deal at all? I did not know this... but now I do.

We've entered mobile territory in babyland, and I cannot stress enough how much I hate it. I hate that she has all these cool toys, yet all she wants to do is pull big, heavy books off of our bookshelves and rip the pages out. I hate that she's determined to climb our wall-mounted gas heater. I hate that she's attracted to electrical outlets like flies on shit. I hate it all. As soon as she started crawling a few weeks ago, I started to REALLY hate our coffee table; It's been barricaded with our sofa pillows ever since (I know, attractive), but those pillows did not work their magic during the big fall. So now, we basically have a stupid looking living room with a dangerous coffee table. Pretty awesome, let me tell you.

I'm worried all the time... worried that I can't protect her from all things all the time. I never used to be this way. I was, perhaps, the most worry-free person I'd ever come across. But then, long story short, I got pregnant and had a pretty big miscarriage scare in my first trimester, and I've been worried about almost everything ever since. I guess I just feel like I've been given so many get out of jail free cards in my life, and I'm simply waiting for my luck to strike. It sucks, and I need to put a stop to it or it's going to consume my life. I don't want to be that mom, let alone PERSON, who is always prepared for the worst. I'm well aware that I can potentially waste my life if I continue on this path.

This fall was inevitable, and I knew it. I told Joe two weeks ago that I was bracing myself for it. I don't think I've ever heard of a parent who hasn't dealt with some sort of blow to the head when it comes to their baby or toddler. And so, it happened. Cheech and I were home alone. She screamed, and I cried. I tried to sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" through cracks in my voice to get her to calm down. It was late. I called her on call doctor. I called my mom. They both reassured me and told me what signs to look for in regards to a serious head injury. I texted Joe at work and told him the coffee table was going on craigslist first thing in the morning. She cried off and on for 20 minutes. She cried in a way I had never heard her cry before. I told her I was sorry. I hated myself (if you're wondering, I was holding her when she fell, but she wiggled herself free). I waited for her to start acting normal again, and then I reluctantly put her to bed. I woke her every 20 minutes to make sure she was ok. This annoyed her immensely. Joe came home and I broke down and sobbed. He told me he was sorry and that she was fine. I believed him because he's usually right about these kinds if things. I crawled into bed all weepy eyed, nuzzled my face into the back of her neck and thanked her for being ok. I took her to her doctor today to confirm that everything is just as it should be, and it is.

I've spent the last coupe of days feeling messy. Messy in my head, and messy in my heart. I can't help but constantly relive the events that took place. Guilt is quite powerful. I'm not going to lie to you guys... this whole "parenting" thing is hard in ways I never would have expected. Sometimes it seems as if I love Cheech too much; It is, at the same time, the best feeling and the scariest feeling. Right now, I am learning. I am learning to do my very best to focus on all the good things, and not constantly fear all the bad things. It is not easy, but I am determined to succeed.

Photo from Rachel Bee Porter's series, The Joy of Cooking

colors and shapes

2011-12-06T23:12:00.000-08:00

I'm mesmerized by these Andy Gilmore graphic illustrations. They remind me of looking through kaleidoscopes when I was a kid.

how to rock a caftan

2011-12-06T14:42:00.000-08:00

I was pleasantly surprised last night when ESB emailed me inquiring about this dress. When I first pulled it out of storage, I was enamored with it, but my love quickly turned to sadness when I realized that I'd probably have a tough time selling it. In fact, this was my response to her...

it's fucking AWESOME. this is the kind of stuff that i feel people don't *get*, but i know if they actually saw it properly worn on someone, they'd be so jealous. THANKS FOR GETTING IT. ;)

Judging by the response she got, I was totally right. Often times, I feel that people hear the word, "caftan", and their brains immediately go here. And with pictures like these roaming around in the world, I can see why. Truth be told, the caftan is not for everyone, but if it's for you, I suggest you jump on the its train as soon as possible. When caftans are done right, they are so effortlessly cool it can blow your mind.

So, how do you know you're caftan material? Well, first off, they are body specific. I would not suggest one for a girl who is very petite; They seem to work best on girls who are in the average-tall height category. Contrary to what many people believe, boobs look good in a caftan. Not huge ones, but ones that won't get lost in all that fabric. If you're trying to hide yourself in a caftan, then you have no business wearing one. A caftan will only make your wide hips and thighs look THAT MUCH wider. On that note, if your hips and thighs aren't a problem area, the flouncy cut and delicate fabric that most caftans are made of will actually compliment that area. And last, you need the confidence it takes to know you look good and not care what anyone else thinks to rock a caftan and look amazing. As soon as you start feeling insecure in a caftan, or any article of clothing for that matter, it will show and you will not look good.

Alright, you probably have a better idea of whether or not the caftan is right for you. Next, you need to know how to accessorize a caftan. The best advice I can give in this department is to keep it simple, stupid. If you're not careful, you can very easily wind up looking like some hippie gypsy woman that prefers to go by "Moonshine" instead of her actual name. Guys, you DO NOT want to look like that woman. If you're going to add jewelry, it might be best to stick to one piece. Even the simplest caftans tend to be fairly bold garments, and they don't exactly need an excessive amount of bedazzling. As for the shoes, I tend to think that a nice chunky wedge keeps caftans looking fresh and modern, and not so dated and, well, old lady.

Now, go on and rock a caftan; trust me, you'll look like that girl all the other girls want to look like.

Photo, Vanessa Jackman

lucky number sevenTEEN

2011-12-05T12:54:00.000-08:00

A big, huge congratulations to #17, Sarah, for winning the $50 gift certificate! Thanks to all of you who participated, and be sure to stay on the lookout for future giveaways. :)

ancient swimming

2011-12-05T09:27:00.000-08:00

Can someone please take me to the ancient pool of Pamukkale in Turkey (all expenses paid)? I would REALLY appreciate it.

soup club: butternut squash soup

2011-12-04T13:42:00.000-08:00

Come every October-December, I become obsessed with roasting all the fall and winter squashes. There are, truly, fewer foods more mouthwatering to me than a slowly roasted butternut or acorn squash. Knowing that the season won't be around for much longer, I knew I needed to pounce on Amanda's Butternut Squash Soup.

I often forgo making any sort of pureed vegetable soup at home because I seem to have this impression that they aren't very filling. I guess I want a meal out of my soups, and recipes such as this one (no protein/no carbs) give me the impression that they're, I don't know, kind of flimsy. The truth is, though, they're really not. After just one bowl of this soup, I felt like I was going to pop, and sometimes, It's nice to know you have that feeling from butternut squash soup and not pizza. Sometimes.

Butternute Squash Soup

(Adapted from Real Simple: Meals Made Easy)

1 3-pound butternut squash

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 teaspoons kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 large yellow onion, chopped

3 celery stalks, chopped

1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves

1 32-ounce container low-sodium chicken broth

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Peel and seed the squash. Cut it into 1-inch cubes and place them on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the oil, 2 teaspoons of the salt, and the pepper and toss to coat. Spread in a single layer and roast for 15 minutes. Turn and continue to roast until softened, about 15 minutes more. Meanwhile, heat the butter and the remaining oil in a stockpot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and sage and cook until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the broth, 2 cups of water, the remaining salt, and the squash and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat. Let cool for 10 minutes. Working in batches, transfer the soup to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to the pot and warm over medium low heat.

Notes

- I slow roasted the squash until it was super caramelized, and not just cooked through. I find that cooking it this way makes for a richer and sweeter flavor. Also, you don't even have to peel the squash if going this route; It will practically slide right off once cooked.

- Instead of adding water, I used chicken stock for all of my liquid content. I never add water to soups, only stocks.

- I find butter to be a variable in most recipes (not baking, of course). I added more than 1 tablespoon. You don't need to know exactly how much. ;) I also used salted butter.

- I would wait a little longer than 10 minutes before blending your soup. You don't want to risk an explosion and burn scars on your face. Or, you can use/invest in the handiest kitchen appliance of all time, an immersion blender.

- I finished my soup off with a splash of half & half. This is a step that you obviously do not have to do, but why would you not? I also served it with some homemade croutons.

a special day

2011-12-02T16:15:00.000-08:00

A very Happy Birthday to my husband who sometimes drives me mad, but who mostly makes me happy. And who also, I might add, happens to be the best father I've ever come across.

Happy day to you, Joseph! We'd be lost and so sad without you.

Hugs and Kisses,

Banana and Cheech the Peach

2011-12-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

I am a total sucker for Christmas movies. Every year, after Christmas Burgers, Joe and I curl up on the couch under lots of blankets to sip hot cocoa and watch our two favorites, Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story. I can hardly wait for Cheech to be old enough to join in on the fun. Although I do find those to be the absolute best Christmas movies, I'm looking to expand our horizons a bit. So, what's your favorite Christmas/Holiday movie? Generally, I'm not a fan of musicals, and I find It's a Wonderful Life a little too down for my upbeat Christmas spirit*, but I'm open to taking some chances here.

*Christmas is one of the few times a year I find myself "upbeat"; I don't want to ruin it.

ready, set, shop.

2011-11-30T20:22:00.000-08:00

Alright, guys, the sale starts in just under 12 hours. When you've done all your shopping and are ready to check out, just enter the coupon code, HOLIDAYSAREAWESOME20. Remember, the sale is only 24 hours and will last until 8am, this Friday, December 2nd. Also remember that the discount is not valid for gift certificate purchases, so please purchase them separately if you are planning on buying other items. And one last thing, you still have time to enter the giveaway. Thanks for being so supportive, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

sunday monday*

2011-11-29T12:43:00.000-08:00

It feels like I am surrounded by babies these days, and honestly, I love it. Cheech has acquired a gaggle of baby girlfriends in the past couple months, and I try to make as much as time as possible for her to hang out with them. Unlike her dad and I, she seems to be extremely social and it's a quality I really admire in her.

So after lots of baby time this weekend, we bundled her in her stroller and walked up the street to our local Christmas tree lot. I'm not going to lie, walking home with her very first Christmas tree for her very first Christmas, I couldn't help but get a little teary eyed.

*Joe's schedule has changed YET AGAIN, so our new weekends will now be on Sunday and Monday.

holiday sale, gift certificates, and a GIVEAWAY

2011-11-28T21:14:00.000-08:00

With The Holidays right around the corner, I wanted to list some lower priced items in the shop that would make perfect gifts for the vintage lover in your life, or even for yourself. There are lots of great pieces under $40 for sale right now in the shop, including both of those blouses, that adorable green cardigan, and that burgundy trench dress.

To give you an even bigger break on those great prices, I am having a 24-hour sale to kick off the biggest shopping season of the year. This Thursday, December 1st, at 8am PST, ALL clothing and accessories* in the shop will be 20% off. The sale will end on December 2nd at 8am PST. I'll give you guys the coupon code to use at checkout here, on the blog, this Wednesday night. Stay posted...

And, if you want to buy a gift for someone, but aren't sure what they'll absolutely love, I'm offering gift certificates! Exciting, huh? They're sold in denominations of $25, $50, $75, and $100. You might also consider putting one of these gift certificates on *your* wishlist this year if you're a little tight on funds but are desperate for a little vintage shopping spree.

And, and, AND... (yes, it's about to get better) I am holding my very first giveaway on this blog and offering a FREE $50 gift certificate to one very lucky reader. If you'd like to enter, just leave a comment below and I will pick a winner (using an automatic number generator) next Monday. You can keep the gift certificate yourself, or gift it to someone you love. Good luck!

*Discount cannot be used for gift certificate purchases.

no soup for you

2011-11-27T14:59:00.000-08:00

I decided to skip Soup Club this week. For one, I figured many of you are still working through your Thanksgiving leftovers, and second, It's been a rough couple of days for Cheech the Peach. Between teething, going down to two naps a day, and making the big transition to her crib, she's pretty worn out. And in turn, I'm worn out too. If I'm up to it, I might post a soup mid-week on top of my regularly scheduled soup next Sunday. We'll see.

Photo by Ursus Wehrli from The Art of Clean Up, via Juxtapoz

giving thanks

2011-11-24T15:47:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving, guys! This year, I am extremely grateful for that perfectly round face. Hope you guys are having a fabulous day with the ones you love the most.

xo

P.S. Dinner isn't for another hour and I've already had two bowls of stuffing. :/

greed

2011-11-22T22:14:00.000-08:00

After calling me a hippie for wanting earrings for my birthday (don't even ask me what that's supposed to mean), Joe unexpectedly got me these. I'm crazy about them and haven't taken them off since, but what I really want is like half of the whole shop.

our trip, in pictures

2011-11-21T07:27:00.000-08:00

Like I mentioned, most of our time in New Hampshire was spent stuffing our faces but for some reason, I managed to not take one single food shot. The weather was surprisingly pleasant, so we made sure to take Cheech out and see plenty of Joe's scenic hometown. We also got to feed my inlaw's chickens and hang out by their barn. But, the absolute best part of my vacation? Waking up at 7 AM with Cheech, walking down the stairs to the kitchen, handing her to my MIL, and climbing back up the stairs to crawl back into bed for some more sleep. It was glorious.

soup club: escarole & white bean soup with orzo

2011-11-19T20:03:00.000-08:00

When Mercie submitted her recipe for Escarole & White Bean Soup with Orzo and mentioned that all she's wanted since becoming pregnant is soup, I couldn't help but laugh out loud to myself. You see, when I was pregnant, all I ever wanted was the biggest bag of Cheetos I could possibly find. Cheech STRONGLY favors orange foods, and I often wonder if it has anything to do with the amount of Cheetos I consumed while she was growing in my belly. That being the case, I can't help but find it oddly hilarious when I hear expectant mothers speak of their cravings for wholesome and healthy foods.

On to the soup, which was fantastic for the cold days we've had around here. I love the simplicity of this recipe; I wholeheartedly believe that a small handful of simple ingredients are more than enough to concoct a superb dish. These also happen to be ingredients that I typically have on hand, so I'm sticking this recipe in the "make any time" file.

Escarole & White Bean soup with Orzo

8 c low sodium organic chicken broth

6 c roughly chopped escarole

1 c orzo

1 can Northern white beans

3 garlic cloves, minced

3 T olive oil

Fresh ground pepper

Locatelli

Makes 4 main course servings

In a medium soup pot, bring 8 cups of chicken broth to a boil.Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Add oil. When oil is hot, add minced garlic. Saute until just brown and add escarole. Lower heat to medium-low. Let escarole cook down a bit and then add beans, including liquid. Cook on low heat.Once the broth is boiling, add the orzo. Let simmer for about 8 minutes and then pour into escarole and bean mix. Bring everything to a boil. Add pepper and Locatelli to taste. Personally, I like a lot of Locatelli as I think it makes the soup. But it's up to you. I don't add any salt since the broth, beans, and cheese already have a salt, but you can add if you like.

Notes

- I do whatever it takes to avoid washing extra dishes, so I made this soup all in one pot. After adding the beans to the escarole mixture, I added the broth in the same pot, brought it to a boil, added the orzo, and then cooked it until al dente. This resulted in a somewhat creamier vs. brothy soup, but it was worth it to spend less time at the sink. ;)

- Personally, I like biting into big chunks of garlic, so I never mince it. Instead, I roughly chop it.

- I've been on a pesto kick, so I served the soup with a small dollop on top. Although it does not need it, it was a lovely addition. I also served a big hunk of toasted bread along with the soup to soak up all the broth. TO. DIE. FOR.

it's beginning to look a lot like...

2011-11-17T09:22:00.000-08:00

We bought eggnog yesterday, so yeah, the holiday season really is right around the corner. Seeing as I'm not big on traditional Christmas colors, I'm kind of loving the idea of using very non-Christmas wrap for the few gifts we're buying this year (babies will suck your bank account dry, just in case you were wondering). Honestly, wouldn't it be tons more fun to open a present wrapped in beautifully printed and colorful paper such as these by minimega?

vacation from my vacation

2011-11-16T08:16:00.000-08:00

Isn't it funny how you always feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? Although our time away was relaxing, I'm already starting to slightly panic over all the things that now need doing and tending to... including, going on a steamed vegetable diet this week. Did you know it was possible to eat about 50 lb. of pizza in the span of about five days? Apparently, I was up for the challenge. But, I digress.

Today, I'm going to start making lists. My life has been feeling grossly overwhelming lately, and I'm hoping committing to daily lists will help me get my shit together. We'll see. First up on the list, upload pictures I took on our vacation with my *actual* camera. I will share soon.

a few things

2011-11-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

I cut Cheech's hair for the first time yesterday... and cried.

Starting tomorrow, I'll officially be on vacation in New England, relaxing, spending time with family, and eating my weight in lobster rolls.*

I've spent the last few days listing lots of great stuff in the shop to prepare for this vacation. These are some of my current favorite pieces.

To celebrate my MUCH NEEDED vacation, I am bringing back that 10% discount offer on all orders [for readers only]. Just enter "VACATIONTAKE10" in the coupon box when you check out. This offer is ongoing until I get back, on the 16th.

I always knew I could count on you guys for underwear advice.

Today, I am 32.

My new glasses should be ready in about two weeks! Thank you, all, for voting. Honestly, I know they came NOWHERE near winning, but Joe and I were partial to the green. I went with the tortoiseshell, however, because many of you were spot on when it came to their versatility.

*I was four months pregnant when we took that trip. Cuh-razy.

mention your unmentionables

2011-11-07T22:34:00.000-08:00

When my mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday this year, I could honestly think of nothing that I really wanted. Something about being a new parent makes you all weird and selfless. I did, however, tell her that I was in dire need of new underwear, and she graciously sent me a very generous gift card to Nordstrom. Now I have this fabulous gift card to a store that has a lovely, grownup underwear department, and I don't know what to buy. Here's the thing, since I started buying my own underwear in my late teens, I would dig into one of those mega-sale bins at places such as Urban Outfitters and buy like 10 pairs of underwear for about 20 bucks. But I don't want to do that anymore. Mostly, because I'm no longer eighteen, but also, because I'm no longer nineteen either. I want to buy and wear good quality adult underwear that doesn't make me feel like I'm forever 21. Catch my drift? So, what do I buy? What brand(s) do you recommend? Seeing as I had a baby seven months ago, and some of my body parts may be a bit more wobbly than I'm prepared to accept, I'm looking for something with some coverage. I'm not exactly talking about those hideous Just Jockeys we all used to wear in junior high, but if the chones are barely covering my cooch, they're not making the final cut. Oh, and as simple as possible would be preferable. Covering my ass in ruffles and bows is not my idea of a good time.

photo, grandylion

soup club: muddy water gumbo

2011-11-06T15:46:00.000-08:00

When Lauren sent me a gumbo recipe that was a blend of her dad's recipe, her grandma's recipe and this recipe, I was ON IT. I have a serious soft spot in my heart for southern food, and although I've always wanted to, I had never tried my hand at gumbo before. Overall, the recipe seemed pretty straightforward, EXCEPT for a few concerns I had regarding some of the ingredients. I emailed Lauren about these concerns and tried my very best to not sound like some ignorant Californian. Her reply was so sweet and genuine, and smothered in that Southern Hospitality you always hear about, that it warmed me heart to know that some people actually *are* just that kind. I've left all of her answers to my questions in the notes below.

Alright, let's talk gumbo. Guys, this recipe is off the chain. I want to make gumbo all the time now. And by "all the time", I mean at least once a week. It was actually miles easier than I was expecting it to be. The only mistake that I'm pretty sure I made was not cooking the roux long enough. I think I was just so freaked out I might burn it, that I pussed out and stopped at the milk chocolate stage instead of taking it to a darker and richer chocolate color. Now that I feel more comfortable with the recipe, however, I'm sure I'll have the confidence to make it properly next time. And just in case you're wondering, it was still insanely good and I couldn't help but practically devour the spoon every time I'd give it a stir. Without further ado...

Quick Note: If you suffer from heart problems of any kind, it might be best if you stayed as far away from this recipe as possible.

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo aka Muddy Water Gumbo (6-8 servings)

1.5-2 lb. chopped cooked, shredded chicken + 2-2.5 quarts chicken stock, or more if you like it soupier (I do this by boiling a small chicken for an hour and shredding its meat)

3/4 c. vegetable oil

3/4 c. flour

4 ribs celery, diced

2 medium or one large onion, diced

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

2 bell peppers, diced

5-10 okra (optional--I know some people hate them, and they're not really necessary in this kind of gumbo)

1 lb. smoked sausage (preferably andouille or kielbasa)

1 bunch Green onions, green parts chopped

2 bay leaves

1/2 tbsp. filé powder (it's ground sassafras, and comes in a green shaker)

1/4-1/2 tsp. cayenne, or to taste

Cooked rice, hot sauce (I like Louisiana), buttered Saltines (a must!), for serving

Chop all of the vegetables.

Make the roux: In a heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat oil and flour over medium, stirring slowly and constantly with a wooden spoon, for 20-25 minutes, or until it turns dark brown, the color of chocolate. Alternatively, you can make the roux in the oven (see link above), but I warn you, your whole house will smell like roux for a long time.

Add the onion, celery, and peppers (the holy trinity) to the roux and stir until soft and wilted, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook another minute. Add the sausage, spices (other than file), chicken, bay leaves, okra, and a generous amount of salt. Slowly whisk in the broth, stirring to incorporate it into the roux. Raise the heat and bring the soup to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for an hour or two. Fifteen minutes before it's done, add in the file and green onions.

Remove bay leaves and serve over cooked rice. I always serve it with buttered saltine crackers on the side, for dipping in the soup (seriously, this is insanely delicious), and Louisiana hot sauce.

Notes:

- So, filé powder totally stumped me. I had never heard of it, never seen it, and had a feeling that it wouldn't be so easy to track down. I was right. Lauren sent me a link for this brand, which I had absolutely no luck with. I called Whole Foods hoping they carried it (or any filé powder), but just like me, they had no clue what it even was. It's ground sassafras, for those of you who are unaware. She informed me that it's mostly used as a thickener, and I could just use extra okra if I didn't end up finding some. But I was determined to make this recipe right, and luckily, remembered a market in my neighborhood that carries some obscure ingredients. Although they didn't have the specific kind Lauren uses, they did have Zatarans, and as far as I can tell, it worked out just fine.

- Since we're on the subject, who hates okra?! It better not be any of you. If I were to change one thing about this recipe, it would be to add MORE okra... maybe like 10-15.

- Like a total asshole, I asked Lauren what she meant exactly by "Louisiana" hot sauce. I started thinking that Louisiana, as a STATE, must make some pretty fabulous hot sauce if she recommends it so highly. Well, put a dunce cap on me and call me stupid, because it turns out it's actually CALLED Louisiana. Duh. They didn't have it at my market, so I stuck with my favsies, Cholula. And I added lots and LOTS of it.

- Did you know that people spread butter on saltines? Is that crazy or what? It is crazy, but even more so, it's crazy fucking delicious. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to eat a plain saltine again.

- Lauren had originally written "cups" for the stock measurement. The soup should come out a fair amount soupier than pictured. ;)

your vote counts!

2011-11-01T14:21:00.000-07:00

As predicted, I need glasses. And, as not expected, my eyeballs are a bit of a mess. I have problems focussing both near and far, but my distance vision, turns out, isn't too bad. It also seems that I produce an excessive amount of tears (due to allergies), so not only do I have trouble seeing, but my eyes are trying to focus even harder through a perpetual thin layer of liquid. My optometrist compared it to constantly walking around with a glass of water held in front of my eyes. I was prescribed drops, and I can't tell if they've helped my vision, but my eyes are considerably less itchy and irritated. Win! Now, my major issue is that I have eye muscle problems. You know when you focus on something that's fairly close to your face, your eyeballs come together to help you get a clear image of that object? Well, mine don't do that. If I try to focus on something that's less than a foot and a half away from me, my eyes pull apart, causing me to see double. So basically, since most of my work is done on my computer, I've completely exhausted my poor eyes. I am trying to always force them do something that, naturally, they don't know how to do. This explains the endless amount of headaches I've been dealing with. To be totally honest, I've known about this condition for years, but had no clue that it was as bad as it is or that it would eventually lead to vision mayhem. I simply thought it was more of a minor nuisance, and not something that really needed tending to.

My optometrist gave me two ways to remedy this eye muscle issue. One was to get corrective lenses that will help my eyes to not see double. They will not fix the problem, they are only a crutch. The other is to do daily eye exercises, twice a day, for 10-15 minutes at a time. Over a period of time, these exercises should teach my eyes to focus properly and the condition should go away. Since, apparently, corrective lenses can't be made into bifocals, and my distance vision is only bound to get worse with age, he suggested that I work on the eye exercises so that I wouldn't end up with two pairs of glasses. I laughed and told him that I don't even have 10-15 minutes a day to fold the never-ending pile of laundry that's been hanging out at the foot of my bed for months. So, this girl is taking the easy way out and will be sporting two pairs of specs when the time comes.

This is where you come in. After checking out the selection he had to offer, and reading price tags that equaled half my rent [or more], I decided vintage glasses would be right for me (the frames above are both vintage). Little did I know, however, that vintage frames can run nearly as much as new ones. Crazy, right?! As much as I would love to have $$$ to spend on a pair of glasses, I simply don't. And even if I did, it might be immediate grounds for divorce in this household. What I'm planning on doing now, is buying a pair from either Warby Parker or Spex Club. After trying on lots of different styles, I know the general shape I want. I tried on some similar to these, which I found to be quite cute, but as soon as Joe compared me to Harry Potter, I could not get them off fast enough. My trouble comes in deciding on color and chunkiness of the frames. Are we feeling tortoiseshell, or a lovely green or even red? Does a thicker frame suit my face better than a thin one? Perhaps you like the idea of a thinner frame in tortoiseshell, or a thicker, colored frame? Option one is killing it on twitter, but I wasn't too specific about what I was actually looking for as a response, so I'm interested in what you have to say here. This is a serious decision, guys. I don't wanna be looking like no fool.

fin de semana

2011-11-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

Since I'm trying to take a break from my computer to aid my poor eyes, we ended up having a pretty eventful weekend. It really is alarming how much time one can spend on the internets.

On Saturday, my besty and I took our girls to a pumpkin patch in Livermore. The plan was to have them wear their costumes, but it was so hot that Cheech ended up in just her diapers. The thing about pumpkin patches, I've discovered, is that there really isn't much to do at them. After a couple hours of "look at those pumpkins", "check out that donkey", and "had I known there were going to be so many damn bees, I probably wouldn't have worn a floral top", we drove the 50 minutes back to Oakland. Cheech slept the whole way home; After months of a baby who would scream when just looking at her car seat, I can't tell you what an accomplishment that feels like.

Sundays are typically lazy days for us, but we met up for brunch with some friends and spent the morning indulging in lots of yummies and hanging out with a gaggle of babies. Later, we walked all the babies to a park where they squealed with delight on the swings. Once I realized that Cheech was slowly being lulled to sleep by swinging back and forth, I knew it was time to go home. I should really get better about scheduling events around her naps.

soup club: indian dahl soup

2011-10-29T23:08:00.000-07:00

If there's one thing I've learned from Soup Club it's that you guys are quite fond of lentils. I think I got more lentil soup recipe submissions than anything else. I do plan on posting all of them, and will try my best to space them out so that you guys don't get lentiled out... although, I have a funny feeling that's not possible.

So first up in the lentil department, is a recipe for Indian Dahl Soup from thefruitpursuit sent to me by reader, Nathaly. I LOVE this soup. If I could marry this soup, I'd buy myself a new wedding dress and register for an endless amount of soup bowls at Crate & Barrel. It is so heart-warmingly delicious. When I came up with the idea of Soup Club, I was truly hoping someone would send me some sort of marvelous curry concoction, and Nathaly totally delivered. This soup is rich in flavor and incredibly filling, so you really won't need much. Great for those of us who are trying to watch what we eat.

Indian Dahl Soup

Serves 4-6

Adapted from cleaneatingmama

2 T coconut oil

2 red onions

2 cloves garlic

2 zucchini

6 carrots

6 cups (~1.5 liter) boiling water & veggie broth powder/cube1 can full fat coconut milk

2 cups brown lentils (dried)

2 T red curry paste (supermarket, health food store, toko)

2 T sucanat (or other sweetener)

2 T turmeric (kurkuma)

1 T dried basil

1 T dried parsley

for serving: pappadams

Cut veggies and heat oil in a large stock pot. Add garlic and onion and stirfry for 3 minutes. Add zucchini and carrot and stirfry for a few more minutes. Add veggie broth, coconut milk and lentils and bring to a boil. Add curry paste and spices and mix well. Cook for about 45 minutes or until desired consistency (soup will thicken up with time, because the lentils absorp a lot of water).

Notes:

- Instead of going out and buying a slew of ingredients that I don't typically use, I substituted extra virgin olive oil for coconut oil, and turbinado sugar for sucunat. I'm pretty sure any brown sugar would be just fine.

- Also, I'm going to be a little snobby here and tell you that I'm just not a fan of dried herbs. Personally, I feel they loose SO MUCH flavor in the drying process. Therefore, I always use fresh. I chopped up some fresh parsley and basil, and you would not believe how much the cleanness of the herbs brightened up this pretty intense soup.

- I halved the recipe and it made A LOT. Enough for me to have dinner for four days. I also ended up with a much less brothier soup, and I think it might have something to do with cutting the recipe. Fine by me; I tend to like my lentils to be more stew-like than soup-like anyway.

- I had some leftover cauliflower from last week's soup that I didn't want to go to waste, so I used that in lieu of the zucchini. Obviously, I haven't tried it with zucchini, but I highly recommend you also, at least, add some cauliflower.

- Instead of pappadamas, I threw some flat bread into the toaster oven and cut it into wedges for serving. So yum!

stupid celia

2011-10-26T22:15:00.000-07:00

Remember back when I needed glasses? I wrote that post two days before I found out I was pregnant. I was told that your eyesight can go kind of bonkers when you're expecting a baby, so it's best to postpone any eye exams until after you give birth. Well, it was true; I was practically blind as a bat through most of my pregnancy. About a month after Cheech was born, my eyesight started to slowly come back to it's pre-pregnancy, not so ship-shape state, but after not being able to see for so many months, it didn't feel as bad anymore. So given my ability to ignore matters that need tending to, I never ended up making an appointment for that much needed eye exam. As you can imagine, the shit has hit the fan. Lately, I find myself struggling to focus on just about everything, and as of last week, I've been plagued with nightly headaches. I finally got it together and made my exam for this Friday, but for the time being (or until my eyes start feeling better), blogging is going to be on the light side. Staring at a monitor isn't exactly helping my situation, you know? Hopefully, I can get this cleared up quickly.

I'll still see you guys for Soup Club on Sunday, but until then, please enjoy this gorgeous "Exploded Flowers" series by Fong Qi Wei.

what type are you?

2011-10-24T22:57:00.000-07:00

I've decided there are two types of people in this world: those who wear socks to bed, and those who don't. I'm in the "don't" category. The others are weird.

socks by balalade

fin de semana

2011-10-24T15:43:00.000-07:00

1. I got all lazypantses and took virtually no pictures this weekend. Knowing my reputation for being "on top of things", this comes as no surprise to me. (FAIL)

2. Cheech and I were two lucky ladies who got to meet and have a lovely brunch complete with bourbon cocktails with this insanely amazing lady*, and I still managed to take no pictures. (EPIC FAIL)

*You know when you read someone's blog and you think they're so awesome, and then you meet them in person and they're even more awesomer than you imagined AND they have perfect hair. Yeah, that.

soup club: ten minute couscous soup

2011-10-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

Last week ended up being absurdly busy for me, and just when I felt like I might have to take a week off from Soup Club, I remembered Gemma had sent me a link for a 10-minute soup. I tweaked one step and with prep, it ended up being more like a 15-minute soup. I have to admit that I wasn't too sure about this one at first; The recipe seemed to be almost too simple and I felt that the soup might turn out to be a little boring. Much to my surprise, it was actually quite lovely. I was also concerned that it might not transition well as leftover soup. Often times, I find that pasta tends to get mushy in soup if left too long. The couscous did expand overnight, but it really worked. As long as you don't overcook the vegetables, it should be fine. If anything, just like with most soups, it was much better the next day and the days after.

Ten Minute Couscous Soup

7 cups great-tasting vegetable broth

2 or 3 pinches crushed red pepper flakes

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 cup whole wheat, barley, or regular couscous

1 1/2 cups broccoli florets, cut into tiny pieces smaller than your thumb

1 1/2 cups cauliflower florets, cut into tiny pieces smaller than your thumb

4 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (opt)

4 green onions, trimmed and thinly sliced

an ounce or two of goat cheese

In a large pot heat the broth, red pepper flakes, and olive oil. When it comes to a boil remove the pot from the heat and stir in the couscous. Wait two minutes and stir in the broccoli and cauliflower. Wait another two minutes - just long enough for the vegetables to loose their raw edge, and ladle into bowls. Top each bowl with some sun-dried tomatoes, green onions, and a bit of goat cheese.

Serves 4-6.

Notes:

- Like I said, I tweaked one step. I felt the the chili flakes needed to be absorbed into the oil to deepen the flavor. I'm also not a fan of plain steamed or boiled vegetables, so I sauteed the broccoli and cauliflower florets in the olive oil (you'll need a bit more than 3 tpsp. for this) on medium-high heat until their edges were golden. Then I threw in the chili flakes to infuse them into the oil. I removed the veggies from the pan and followed the rest of the recipe as written, adding them back into the broth after the couscous. Caramelizing the vegetables a bit added a nice nutty flavor. I also cut the florets slightly larger than thumb size so that they could retain a bit of a crunch.

- If I were to make this soup again, I would definitely use chicken stock. I know it's supposed to be a vegetarian soup, but I bought some organic vegan stock base, and perhaps it was just the brand, but I found it to be EXTREMELY bland. I ended up adding lots of salt, which is something I don't normally do when I use chicken stock. If you want to keep it veggie, I've found that mushroom stock is extremely flavorful and would be great with this recipe.

- The sun-dried tomatoes are optional, but I highly recommend you use them. Their sweetness paired with the tartness of the goat cheese is TO DIE FOR.

truth and lies

2011-10-20T22:08:00.000-07:00

I hate to admit it, but I'm totally guilty of this. This is quite typical of me too. For more Truth and Lies, go here.

Justin Barber

i want

2011-10-19T22:07:00.000-07:00

Vivien Cheng is an artist and designer who specializes in customizing vintage handbags with original hand-painted motifs. I am in love with her, and we all know I'm not much of a handbag lady.

celia light

2011-10-18T18:37:00.000-07:00

So about three weeks ago, I joined Weight Watchers. I know it's totally cliché for new moms to complain about their weight, but omigawd I'm really over these post-baby pounds. Joe thinks I'm being ridiculous because quite honestly, I really don't have that much to lose to reach my original weight. I gained 45 pounds during my pregnancy, and depending on who you ask, that's either really good or really bad. It freaked me out; Every week I'd get on the scale and be in disbelief. My doctor kept insisting that there was no need to worry because I was retaining a higher amount of water than normal, and she was right. Within four weeks after Cheech was born, I had lost 32 pounds. I was down another 2 pounds the next month, and continued to lose an extra pound each consecutive month after that. Although it was falling off slowly, it was coming off and I was optimistic. By the time we took our trip to LA, I only had 6 more pounds to go. But the following month, instead of being down that extra pound, I was up two more.

I guess the issue comes down to the fact that now that I've come to accept the fact that my old body isn't coming back, I'd at least like to be my old size. Yes, I understand that weight is just a number and pounds are bound to fluctuate from time to time, but I'm just not happy or comfortable with my physical self right now. Perhaps you never really are though. Looking back now, I'm not ashamed to admit that I looked pretty fantastic. I wish I would have realized that then. I don't know, maybe this is just a valuable lesson I have to learn... that it's all relative. I have a feeling that ten years from now, I'll be pining over my current body. Or maybe, hopefully, I'll finally be over my issues with 6 measly pounds. But for now, I guess I'll be counting points.

toothpaste for dinner

fin de semana

2011-10-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Not much to report. We took it pretty easy again this weekend. On Saturday, Cheech and I took a trip to Flora Grubb to meet up with a friend and her houseguest. And yesterday, after eating our weight in banana pancakes and fried chicken with grits at brunch, we took a walk through the neighborhood in hopes that it would burn off *some* calories.

Check out Cheech's new kicks! I bought them for our trip to New Hampshire next month. Aren't they a little reminiscent of baby Clarks?

soup club: chickpea and chorizo stew

2011-10-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

You guys, the response to Soup Club has been AMAZING. A very big thank you to all of you have submitted soup recipes, and even to those of you who are excited simply because you love soup. I promise you, the cold and wet season this year will not be short on some fantastic soup and stew recipes.

Alright, first up is Emma, who writes all about honeymoons and is giving me a major case of wanderlust. I knew her Chickpea and Chorizo Stew was the right introduction to Soup Club because it's the kind of recipe that's virtually impossible to mess up. I'm totally serious; Even those of you who aren't incredibly confident in the kitchen should have no problems with this one. You can add more or less of just about any of the ingredients and still come up with a great result. And like Emma mentioned, "you can pretty much throw anything in, so quite often [she makes] it to use up whatever veggies [she has] in the fridge (butternut squash is always a good addition)". Because of the chickpeas, chorizo, and smokiness of the paprika, I found this soup to be extremely reminiscent of American chili, but more of a Spanish-style version. So naturally, it was even better the next day.

Chickpea and Chorizo Stew

(Adapted from "In the Mood for Food" by Jo Pratt)

Olive oil, just a couple swigs

One onion, chopped

Two cloves of garlic, chopped

Two or three large leeks, chopped

Chorizo (as much as you like), chopped into cubes

Six tomatoes, chopped

2 cans chickpeas, drained

Ground cumin, to taste

Cayenne pepper or paprika, 1 heaped teaspoon

Large glass of red wine

Creme fraiche and hot french bread to serve

Heat the olive oil, and start frying the onions. As they begin to soften, add the garlic, the leeks, and the chorizo - give it all a good stir and let it soften for a few minutes. Once the chorizo is cooked or beginning to crisp up, stir in the tomatoes and the spices. Let it bubble up for a couple more minutes, and then stir in the chickpeas, followed by the glass of wine. Bring it to a boil, and then let it simmer for a while - generally I find that if I leave it for over half an hour it's best, but it's still usually pretty good after about twenty minutes. You may want to add more wine if you feel that it's losing too much liquid. Check the spicing and add more as appropriate. Serve in bowls with a dollap of creme fraiche and some crusty bread.

A few notes:

- Personally, I think this stew would be just as lovely if you omitted the chorizo and chose to make it vegetarian. Well, almost as lovely.

- However, the creme fraiche REALLY makes it, so don't skimp on that.

- I used paprika instead of cayenne.

- I do recommend leaving it to simmer for at least half an hour; You want to give the flavors a chance to blend harmoniously.

- For those of you who aren't sure, "chickpeas" is the word used for garbanzos in the UK (and Australia too, I think?), and creme fraiche is France's answer to sour cream... but it's lighter, and overall better.

red

2011-10-14T21:14:00.000-07:00

Alyson Fox photographed more than 100 women who all wore the exact same shade of red lipstick for their portrait. I'm in love with all of the photos, but these three are definitely my faves. You can get a copy of her book, A Shade of Red, here.

Via where the lovely things are

etsy home

2011-10-12T14:35:00.001-07:00

Before I had Cheech, I used to love to search through Etsy's pages and pages of vintage home decor. I could honestly do it for hours. Stuff was just so much cooler back then. Who knows... perhaps that's what they'll be saying about most of today's boring household items twenty years from now. Anyway, just thought I'd share a few of my current favorite items from some of my favorite shops.

(left to right)

Vintage Atomic Age Yellow Enamel Saucepan by rhan

Modernist Shore Bird Sculpture by luola

Milkglass Coffe Mugs with Bright Floral Print by ameelia bedelia

the bang gang

2011-10-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

(Last night)

J: Go to gangbang.com

C: Ugh. I don't want to.

J: Just do it.

C: (starts typing in site)

J: NO, not gangbang, banggang.

C: You said "gangbang"

J: No I didn't. It doesn't matter.

C: (types in banggang.com, which apparently leads to a completely different site) Ummm...

J: Wait, that's brazilsex. Try it with just one "g".

C: (annoyed, types in bangang.com) What the fuck is this?

J: Wouldn't that be a cool name for a band? The Bang Gang? Just wanted to make sure it wasn't taken.

FOOTNOTE: One of Joe's favorite pastimes is to come up with new names for bands. Is he in a band? No. Is he looking to start a band? No. Is he the biggest weirdo I've ever met? Yes.

Gemma Correll

fin de semana

2011-10-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

Cheech had some shots and, as a result, was a total mess for the latter part of last week. We went out for lunch on Sunday, but other than that, we decided it would be best to give her some rest and lay low.

(Top to bottom)

1. My most successful baby food combination.

2. A new toy and new pajamas.

3. Breakfast.

4. We eat LOTS of pizza.

5. It really is Fall.

6. Packages for the shop.

7. A reason to celebrate.

8. Zuni Chicken, which was SUPERB. Next test run, Thomas Keller's recipe.

all ages

2011-10-09T18:00:00.000-07:00

Contrary to what some people may think, my friend, L------, does exist and she made a movie that premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival this weekend. How insanely cool is that? Congratulations, ESB! You are the cat's pajamas and there's a special spot in my heart reserved just for you.

do something good, get something good

2011-10-07T08:16:00.000-07:00

Remember last week when I was talking about having a bad news day? I had just come home from hearing some bad news, I dressed Cheech in her pajamas to get her ready for bed, and I put her next to me on the couch for some end of the night play time. That's when I read Kate's post about her boyfriend, Will, having testicular cancer. My heart went out to them; I couldn't imagine what they were going through.

To add insult to injury, Will doesn't have medical insurance. For those of you who don't live here and don't understand how overwhelming that must be, I just had a baby with REALLY GOOD insurance, but still ended up paying THOUSANDS of dollars out of pocket. In an effort to help cover his medical costs, Kate and Will have opened an Etsy Shop selling prints of their work as a fundraiser. So if you can find it in your budget and in your heart, please do something good and take a look at what they're selling. Buying something will give you something good in return on so many levels. I bought this one, and I love it! And please feel free to repost this if you have your own blog. Let's get the word out, and in the process, tell this country's healthcare system to suck it.

i need shoes

2011-10-06T16:44:00.000-07:00

Remember my poor feets? Luckily, the swelling went down within a month of giving birth, but I ended up with feet that are now a whole shoe size bigger. How twisted is that? I keep putting off the fact that I need new shoes, because, I think, somewhere in the back of my mind I'm hopeful that I'll wake up one day and my feet will once again be a size 6 1/2. It's been six months, so obviously I'm living in some sort of bullshit dreamland.

I took a two block walk to the market this very bright and sunny afternoon when out of nowhere, I got soaked in a torrential downpour... in my gladiators. Seeing as I'm really only fitting into my sandals right now, I've been avoiding this rain we've been having like the plague. But enough is enough. I need new shoes bad! I want to buy myself a cute pair of sneakers and I was considering going back to my old staple, until I saw these. Pretty rad, don't you think? I don't know, all of a sudden the slip-ons are screaming "skater girl" to me and I'm not sure I'm very comfortable with that at this stage and time in my life. Were they *always* that way? Surely, not.

rad + in love

2011-10-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

Are you in the middle of planning your wedding? Are you in need of a photographer? More specifically, a super rad photography team that's willing to shoot your wedding for FREE?

I know, sounds too good to be true, right? My girl, Jamie, and her girl, Michelle, have decided to team up and and start shooting weddings and they're launching their fantastic project over on 100 Layer Cake by offering a FREE wedding shoot to one very lucky couple. How insanely cool is that?! For all the info and details on how to enter, go here. Go now!

soup club

2011-10-04T22:16:00.001-07:00

For those of you who asked, the recipe for the stew I posted a picture of on Monday can be found right here. When Joe and I were in Italy for our honeymoon a couple years back, we were most impressed by their incredibly thick and hearty soups. Considering it was about twenty degrees colder than we were expecting it to be, and I was battling a harsh sinus infection, these stews were just what the doctor ordered. So, we altered the Food and Wine recipe a bit and cooked the stew down until the beans and cabbage had completely disintegrated. The result was extremely reminiscent of our time in Tuscany. Also, our butcher ran out of ham hocks (must have been a popular day for hocks), and we ended up using good old-fashioned thick cut bacon. Joe said he felt the dish really needed the hocks, but I'm all for improvisation in the kitchen, so I disagreed.

On that note, the rainy season has started to slowly creep up on us here in Oakland and I can't tell you how excited I am. More than anything, what I love about this weather is the food we crave when it's cold out. Now that there's a baby in the mix, I'm all for easy dishes that can be thrown together in one pot, such as soups and stews. I was scouring food blogs, pinterest, and what have you, for some inspiration but kept coming up short. That's when I came up with the idea of Soup Club.

Here's how it's going to work:

1. Whether it be in comment or email form, you send me a link to your FAVORITE soup or stew recipe. Or, if you prefer, send me a recipe that you've come across that you're dying to try out but just haven't had a chance to get to yet.

2. Every week, I will make one of the recipes, take pictures, and post it here on the blog (giving you credit, of course) to share with everyone.

Here's why it's awesome:

1. I'll get lots of new and exciting soup and stew recipes.

2. You'll get lots of new and exciting soup and stew recipes.

3. We'll all be happy.

The Rules of Soup Club:

1. Be creative! Don't get me wrong, I love a good Beef Bourguignon, but seeing recipes for Beef Bourguignon just about everywhere isn't exactly riveting. That being said, Beef Bourguignon with a twist is something I can get on board with.

2. Packaged flavorings and dry seasoning packs have never had a place in my kitchen and never will. I'd also prefer to not used anything canned. Obviously, I will make an exception for things like tomato paste and tomato products in general, which for many situations tend to work quite well. Other than that, fresh ingredients only, please.

3. I eat everything (except raisins, for they are evil), and have absolutely no dietary/food restrictions, so please feel free to send me whatever you'd like. And if you want to send something vegetarian or vegan, I welcome that too.

There you have it. Go ahead and start suggesting your chowders, bisques and tagines. I'll be making the first recipe this Sunday and will post it the following Sunday. I'll keep it going through the rest of Fall and Winter. Fun, huh?

Traditional Fish Stew of Bahia, Kitchen Corners

fishs eddy

2011-10-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

My friend, Hannah, recently came back from a trip to New York and shared the wonderfulness that is Fishs Eddy. Their glassware alone has me all giddy. And don't even get me started on their prices, which are amazing.

Via akhmatova

fin de semana

2011-10-03T07:21:00.000-07:00

Cheech was very lucky and got to spend the whole day with her Papa while I worked that vintage flea on Saturday. When we got home that evening and Joe asked where I wanted to have dinner, I replied, "Any place where I can get a drink". The baby was in bed by seven that night and not much later, we joined her. On Sunday we did laundry, ate my favorite bay area pizza, and stocked up on some much needed groceries. Although not quite ready, I was excited to see the persimmons had started to come in. Fall has truly begun. We spent the afternoon at home, I read a new book from a dear friend to Cheech, and Joe made a Provençal cannellini bean and potato stew with gruyere toasts for dinner. I never got a nap in, but I couldn't ask for a better weekend.

friday, i'm in love

2011-09-30T08:57:00.000-07:00

The Cat and Cheech taking a little siesta

It's been a hectic week around here and I'm looking forward to a day of absolutely nothing and napping on Sunday. Just wanted to remind you guys that I'll be at that vintage flea on Saturday. Oh, and as a thank you for helping me start my shop out with such a bang, I'm extending that 10% discount through the weekend. Just remember to type in "LATC10" when you check out.

happy news

2011-09-29T21:42:00.000-07:00

If you guys read Heart of Light, then you already know that Rachel and D got married, but I just wanted to share the great news here too. I've probably looked at this picture at least a hundred times in the past few days; It's been my happy place. Is that weird? The amount of love that it exudes truly blows my mind.

Photo, Fresh in Love

bittersweet

2011-09-28T22:08:00.000-07:00

Life has been good lately; eerily good. Everything seems to be running smoothly and great things are happening to people all around me, including myself. But today, today was a bad news day. It started to feel like my heart would crumble into a million pieces if I heard one more sad story. It's funny how life always has a way of putting you in check just when you think you've got it all figured out.

We've been dealing with some harsh sleep regression issues around here. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's basically a nice way for new parents to say, "Will I ever get any fucking sleep again?". I put Cheech down this evening at about 7:30, and she peacefully fell asleep within minutes. Considering this has been far from the case for the last few nights, I was shocked. I laid in bed next to her and felt grateful for the little break she gave me tonight. Who knows if she'll give it to me again tomorrow night. I felt grateful because I realized that although I don't have much, I have it all.

*Does anyone have a credit for this photo?