Today, I found out that Judgement Day is coming up in 2 weeks: May 21, 2011. End of Days is set for October 21, 2011.
This time I'm pretty convinced it's real. After all, 5/21 falls on a Saturday and 10/21 is a Friday. It's just like the universe to make me work a whole week before deciding it's a good time to end.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
New hangout
Where's Ella?
In her new spot, of course!
She's just the right size to climb into the barstool and I'm pretty sure I've seen a bunch of similar pictures of me at her age climbing into a stool, too. I vaguely remember thinking it was a firetruck and I could climb up the "ladder".
In her new spot, of course!
She's just the right size to climb into the barstool and I'm pretty sure I've seen a bunch of similar pictures of me at her age climbing into a stool, too. I vaguely remember thinking it was a firetruck and I could climb up the "ladder".
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Another fun day
It's like the Sunday of my Stay-cation. My hours are dwindling.
Ella and I went to pick up grandpa and grandma from the airport. We had lunch at Nordstrom Cafe, and boy am I an oinker!
I had to try a cup of the tomato basil soup, mmmm! It's like a blended version of the Melt dipping soup. I also tried the Chinese Chicken Salad. That was really good, too! I ALSO had the avocado club panini, and finally a slice of caramel apple cheesecake! Not to mention, a taste of the spicy shrimp on angel hair and the creme brûlée.
I want to go back with Ryan, but it's dangerous! The cafeteria style of eating like at Shirokiya, causes us to go overboard (obviously) and we overspend and overeat. But YUMMERS!!! Can't wait. Heh.
We also checked out the new Bath & Body Works store that opened up yesterday. We finally have one. It's funny because my mother-in-law just came from the mainland, where she bought a bunch of the anti-bacterial hand soaps, when one just opened up and the tax is less and she wouldn't have to worry about over-packing her check-in luggage! I can't imagine how crowded the place is going to get during the holidays. Another reason I'm glad we moved out of the condo.
Here's the mischief the little munchkin was getting into today:
At this age, she's supposedly working on her gross motor skills, like "daredevil ATV rear-face riding" skills.
Ella and I went to pick up grandpa and grandma from the airport. We had lunch at Nordstrom Cafe, and boy am I an oinker!
I had to try a cup of the tomato basil soup, mmmm! It's like a blended version of the Melt dipping soup. I also tried the Chinese Chicken Salad. That was really good, too! I ALSO had the avocado club panini, and finally a slice of caramel apple cheesecake! Not to mention, a taste of the spicy shrimp on angel hair and the creme brûlée.
I want to go back with Ryan, but it's dangerous! The cafeteria style of eating like at Shirokiya, causes us to go overboard (obviously) and we overspend and overeat. But YUMMERS!!! Can't wait. Heh.
We also checked out the new Bath & Body Works store that opened up yesterday. We finally have one. It's funny because my mother-in-law just came from the mainland, where she bought a bunch of the anti-bacterial hand soaps, when one just opened up and the tax is less and she wouldn't have to worry about over-packing her check-in luggage! I can't imagine how crowded the place is going to get during the holidays. Another reason I'm glad we moved out of the condo.
Here's the mischief the little munchkin was getting into today:
At this age, she's supposedly working on her gross motor skills, like "daredevil ATV rear-face riding" skills.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Goodie bags
I spent another day off with Ella, so we went on a search for things to stuff into her birthday goodie bags.
We have a range of age groups to satisfy, so we grabbed a bunch of items:
I need a couple items for 3m - 6m, but I think that's good for now.
So far, we've also got a 9y and 11y, but these play packs are a little too "kiddie" for them, so I thought maybe a craft item may be more their speed:
I saw this kit and thought, "That's cool!" It's so something I would have enjoyed as a party favor (some 20 years ago...oh my, I turn 28 this week). I can separate each into it's own kit.
I may end up having to make these kits for all the "kids", like the 25-30yr old attendees!
We have a range of age groups to satisfy, so we grabbed a bunch of items:
I need a couple items for 3m - 6m, but I think that's good for now.
So far, we've also got a 9y and 11y, but these play packs are a little too "kiddie" for them, so I thought maybe a craft item may be more their speed:
I saw this kit and thought, "That's cool!" It's so something I would have enjoyed as a party favor (some 20 years ago...oh my, I turn 28 this week). I can separate each into it's own kit.
I may end up having to make these kits for all the "kids", like the 25-30yr old attendees!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Water babies and Chicken and Wild Mushroom Quinoa Risotto
We spent the day at a pool party at Ryan's aunty's house. It wasn't Ella's first time in the water (we have a small 3x3 inflatable pool for her to splash in), but it was her first time in a big pool. She was so excited, as fearless as she was with the goat on Friday, she approached the pool to check it out. Forget lunch, she wanted to jump right in!
We bought her a little goldfish inner tube with a sunshade. She thought that was fun, but wow, when I took her out and she could just kick around, she LOVED it! She was actually sad when we took her out to eat lunch.
And break.
For lunch, we did potluck, and I brought a Chicken and Wild Mushroom Quinoa Risotto. Inspiration here. It was so good and I got so many compliments (most were because it was the first time they've even heard of quinoa), I think I would make it again!
Here's the adapted recipe if you want to try:
3 pieces of boneless, skinless chicken
2 cans chicken stock
2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 Tablespoon Butter
2 Shallots, minced finely
1 garlic clove, minced finely
1 pound fresh wild mushrooms, chopped (I used 6oz eryngii and 10oz portobello)
Salt and pepper
2 cups traditional quinoa, washed, soaked for 10 minutes, and rinsed
1/2 cup dry white wine (I used $8 chardonnay)
1 teaspoon white truffle oil
Season the chicken with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Simmer the chicken stock in a pot. In a separate large skillet, cook the chicken through. Remove from heat and dice/shred. In the same pot, melt the butter in the oil. Saute the shallots for about 7-8 minutes until you can see right through them. Add the garlic, and after a few minutes add salt and freshly ground pepper. Add the mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes. The mushrooms should not be fully cooked, but reduced about 1/3 of the way. Add the chicken back to the mixture.
Add the quinoa and toast for a minute.
Use the wine to deglace and stir. Once absorbed, pour the stock 1/2 cup at a time until fully absorbed. The quinoa may be slightly al dente, which is preferable. Cover and let cook for 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat.
Fold in the white truffle oil.
Even Ryan complimented me on the dish (he first heard of quinoa yesterday, when we bought it, heh), he had seconds, possibly even thirds!
Back to swimming.
Ella had so much fun, she kept trying to go back to the pool after lunch! This little girl has got her daddy wrapped around her finger because "Mr. I hate the sun and swimming" plopped into the pool to wade around with her.
What a great daddy! I have some other adorable pictures that I'll try to get up.
We bought her a little goldfish inner tube with a sunshade. She thought that was fun, but wow, when I took her out and she could just kick around, she LOVED it! She was actually sad when we took her out to eat lunch.
And break.
For lunch, we did potluck, and I brought a Chicken and Wild Mushroom Quinoa Risotto. Inspiration here. It was so good and I got so many compliments (most were because it was the first time they've even heard of quinoa), I think I would make it again!
Here's the adapted recipe if you want to try:
3 pieces of boneless, skinless chicken
2 cans chicken stock
2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 Tablespoon Butter
2 Shallots, minced finely
1 garlic clove, minced finely
1 pound fresh wild mushrooms, chopped (I used 6oz eryngii and 10oz portobello)
Salt and pepper
2 cups traditional quinoa, washed, soaked for 10 minutes, and rinsed
1/2 cup dry white wine (I used $8 chardonnay)
1 teaspoon white truffle oil
Season the chicken with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Simmer the chicken stock in a pot. In a separate large skillet, cook the chicken through. Remove from heat and dice/shred. In the same pot, melt the butter in the oil. Saute the shallots for about 7-8 minutes until you can see right through them. Add the garlic, and after a few minutes add salt and freshly ground pepper. Add the mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes. The mushrooms should not be fully cooked, but reduced about 1/3 of the way. Add the chicken back to the mixture.
Add the quinoa and toast for a minute.
Use the wine to deglace and stir. Once absorbed, pour the stock 1/2 cup at a time until fully absorbed. The quinoa may be slightly al dente, which is preferable. Cover and let cook for 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat.
Fold in the white truffle oil.
Even Ryan complimented me on the dish (he first heard of quinoa yesterday, when we bought it, heh), he had seconds, possibly even thirds!
Back to swimming.
Ella had so much fun, she kept trying to go back to the pool after lunch! This little girl has got her daddy wrapped around her finger because "Mr. I hate the sun and swimming" plopped into the pool to wade around with her.
What a great daddy! I have some other adorable pictures that I'll try to get up.
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