mother’s day

Posted on by samenewsong

Mother’s Day weekend, because it is a full weekend in my opinion, not just a day, was quite lovely.  We tried out a new sitter on Friday night, which worked out really well.  Our collection of reliable kid care was dwindling.  I put an ad on care.com and voila, a few great gals came from that.  G and I went to Ca Momi and literally scooped up burrata cheese with pizza skin for a few hours while the  local band played some fabulous acoustic music.

Saturday, I came home to flowers and lots of goodies from the Ferry Building.  Candles, lotions, candies, honey and a new knife set were all in the mix.  We grilled lamb chops and watched a movie in front of the fire, because of course, it was pouring rain.

Sunday, we took my mom to Bottega for lunch.  I had not been to Bottega in a long time, and it did not disappoint.  Even their take on the Bellini was fabulous: prosecco with Cabernet foam on top!  We all had a great time nibbling and laughing.  No Mother’s day would be complete without a good two hours at the baseball field.  Harris had a game, which means lots of cheering and sunflower seeds.  Kind of a fun way to finish the weekend.

Here are some photos of the fun.belhbcmday

may

Posted on by samenewsong

Wow.  It is already May.  I am not too sure where April went, but it is gone and I am already feeling behind.  This month started “off” because the first day of the month was on a Sunday, a day I reserve for cooking, prepping and planning for the week ahead.  We had family in town on May 1st, and while I loved every minute of it, the double whammy of a Sunday that’s the first day of the month really fouled with my focus.

Also adding to my disarray, there are just 23 days of school left.  Summer break is really a break for no one.  Because I am a full time working person, summer just means camp and extra organization.  We take one trip to Tahoe at the end of July, which I literally start planning again for the day the trip ends.  A week in Tahoe without responsibilities sounds amazing.  Well, the only thing that needs to be done is lunch making.  Laundry, because it is sandy at the beach.  That’s really it.  I think about the week in Tahoe all the time.

But you know what I realized today?  Greg and I never, and I mean ever, go anywhere just the two of us.  We go as just adults to meet other friends for a weekend.  But there’s others and we have a pretty structured plan when we do those trips.  Every other time we go out of town, or even out of the house, it is a full family affair.  Heck, lately we don’t even go on date nights, just the two of us.  I have a handful of friends that don’t have kids and I wonder what they do with all of their time!  Because of the work I do, I am constantly taking care of others.  It is my job, and I love my job.  But I have completely forgotten about me. I get my hair done five or six times a year, that’s all about me. So I guess it isn’t so bad.  It was just sort of in my face today, and I got sad about it.

I will try and perk up.  I will face May 3 with verve and gusto.  I will try.

risotto

Posted on by samenewsong

I know it is sort of 90s early 00s cuisine, but I love risotto.  It is the perfect combination of a starch (that can even be gluten free), fat, veg, and protein.  The problem is, my husband has never liked it.  He has always had not-so-great versions of it.  Having sort of given up gluten for the most part, I have had to get creative with what to pair meat and veg with.  So recently, I bought a box of risotto and made it by the instructions, served it with a filet of beef and grilled asparagus – G went bonkers for it.  He didn’t even ask where the bread was, because I made the risotto with parmesan, butter and garlic.  It was so creamy and delicious, he swore that I had added cream to it.

With this new door of exploration open, I have been dabbling here and there with risotto.  Earlier this week, I make this simple grilled chicken over roasted tomato and mozzarella risotto.  We ate every last bite, and it was so very easy to do.  Even better, most every ingredient I already had on hand.

Loosely:  I marinaded the chicken with olive oil, garlic, italian seasoning, salt and pepper for about an hour prior to simply grilling it.  I cut the breasts in half, almost like palliards, so they weren’t so bulky and they cooked faster.  I roasted grape tomatoes covered in olive oil in the oven for 40 minutes at 400.  I sauteed a ton of spinach on the stove top until barely wilted.  And of course I cooked the risotto to the directions, adding white wine for the first liquid dump (instead of chicken stock) after toasting the rice in olive oil.  When it was al dente, I added in the roasted tomatoes, sauteed spinach and blobs of mozzarella (the small ball ones) and folded it together.  G grilled the chicken, we sliced and served it over the risotto.  I topped the whole dish with a little parmesan cheese, some chopped parsley and basil, and a drizzle of olive oil.  It truly looked like a restaurant dish, and tasted so much better.  G was floored at how good it was, he even asked for it to be put into rotation.  WHAT!

dear blog…

Posted on by samenewsong

I have ignored my sweet blog that I actually pay to produce.  I love to blog!  But a few things do get in the way when I sit down and start to write.  This blog is public, meaning anyone can read it.  Why does that matter?  Well, what I do for a living can’t be written about, that would be wrong on so many levels. In the past I would show pictures of my home, talk about my neighborhood, use my children’s actual names, because those that were allowed access to read my blog were hand selected friends and family members.  I am cautious now.  Guarded.  And that’s tough for me.  If you know me personally, I am private to those I don’t know well and completely transparent to those I do.  It makes writing a chore, just a little bit.  So I am working on it, and am going to just go for it.  Mainly because literally no one reads this blog, and hardly anyone knows it even exists.  So, from this point forward, minus a few things, I will be me.  No more hesitation.  If it pisses you off, so be it. And at this point, there isn’t even a “you” to piss off!  How about that?!?

current state

Posted on by samenewsong

It is hard not to just vent away on this post, but I won’t.  It will just make me seem ungrateful and angry.  And I couldn’t be further from both.  However, the days leading up to this trip have been challenging.  I will get the first one out and try to be done with it. My husband.  He has never wanted to go, so he has made no plans that he was actually going to get in the car today.  He hasn’t packed.  He didn’t take time off from work.  He even went so far to say he “didn’t know the plan” despite my efforts to include him in it all.

When he arrived home from a work (green beer/Irish car bomb fest) function in San Francisco last night, he found H moaning in pain, claiming his belly hurt.  He was sitting on the toilet, crying.  This had been going on for about an hour before he got home; the three hours prior were spent roller skating with the kids next door.  Our neighbors have been to Disneyland at least ten times in the past five years.  Those types of people.  I think all the talk made H nervous.  So nervous that he puked everywhere.  All over his room.  For background, Harry barfed all day the day that Weez was born.  Even though it was a planned, scheduled event, he felt out of control, excited (maybe), scared and nervous.  I think the same situation was going on last night.  Regardless, the cussing and irritation hit an all time high with G as he scrubbed the carpet in disgust.  I was furious, tired, sad and desperate.

With H’s sheets in the wash, I continued packing.  I made him a bed on the kid’s couch and sat a barf bowl near by.  I asked God silently for guidance.  I questioned all of my behaviors and words leading up to this night.  Was I too vague with G to avoid the negativity?  Did I intentionally leave him out?  Did I make too big of a deal of Weezy’s banner report card and award in front of H?  Or were the school meatballs just so gross, they were the culprit?

I am a planner.  I am a doer.  I need things to go seamlessly.  I like praise.  I need pats on the back.  I love hearing affirmation.

We’ve pushed back our departure time, and are trying to take it easy around the house for a bit.  I will continue to stay positive, and finish packing.  That’s what my gut is telling me to do.  For now, at least.  (tucks lip and sighs)

this is happening

Posted on by samenewsong

Sometimes you just have to pull the trigger.  After overthinking it completely, truly, overthinking a silly little break, and thanks to my Mom for giving me the final encouragement, I booked our Spring Break trip…to Disneyland!  My Mom had been asking if I could go with her to her Uncle’s birthday party in Los Angeles.  Her uncle is the last of her Mom’s living sibling, so it is kind of a big deal.  Trying to figure out how to include the kids and make this into a trip, it became obvious that I needed to get serious.  With a little internet trolling and quick thinking, it all came together for what might be a really fun vacation.

We are staying at the Grand Californian for two nights.  It has been a bit of a crash course, and I am so grateful to my friends that have been to Disneyland enough to steer me in the right direction(s).  Who knew there is a real science to planning your time at Disney?  We had to stay at the Grand because the hotel is literally in the park.  With my Mom joining us, we needed easy entry and a spot to rest that wasn’t miles away.  It will also allow us to take advantage of the Magic Hour and experience the most popular rides before the real crowds arrive.  Apparently, there is a very nice pool at the hotel and the weather is supposed to be spectacular.

Mr. Christensen isn’t saying a peep about the trip, matter of fact, he doesn’t even want to talk about it.  I am hoping the spirit of Disney will take over once we arrive and that he will end up having a wonderful time.  Thank goodness for ESPN Zone and beer all over California Adventure.  It will make a big difference!  Considering what I do for a living, the planner in me is out in full force.  I am trying to decide what shoes to bring and what clothes to wear.  I have the kids figured out, I think.  As much as I hate Crocs, several websites note them as a favorite choice for kids.

I am so excited, I almost feel like a kid again.  Thanks, Mom, for putting the wheels on our Spring Break!

spring break

Posted on by samenewsong

Every year, I have the same battle: internally, externally, personally, professionally.  What should we do for Spring Break?  This silly war happens with all the other breaks as well, in the winter, and the entire summer.  I am a planner.  It is part of my actual job to be very well versed in the sequence of events for every single day – from grand to routine.  When it comes to my own life, I just sit in limbo, going over all the possibilities and never pull the trigger on anything until it is too late.

Here’s where I am currently: my friends all have elaborate vacations on the books, to Mexico or to Malibu.  They are getting on planes and heading out.  It seems like everyone I know was in or is in Sayulita, which looks swoon worthy.  Our Spring Break is earlier than most, taking place the week before Easter.  We don’t have a week in April, since Easter falls in March this year.  Both Greg and I are working hard on projects professionally, so taking time off right now isn’t the best idea.

The hardest part is that we have options.  We tried to reserve a condo in Palm Springs that we bought at our school auction last year, but it is already booked.  This year, I bought Disneyland tickets at the same auction (last weekend) that are already burning a hole in my pocket.  The house we rented in Sea Ranch has a great buy four get the fifth and sixth nights free deal going on, which sounds tempting, minus the curvy drive there.  Finally, we live in a spectacular place that a lot of the world visits during these types of breaks!  I have an awesome “in” at the California Academy of Sciences, which could be a great day experience.  Last, two of my very best friends live in Scottsdale and their doors are wide open.

So here I sit, with the break just a week away and we have no plans.  It is eating me alive. Flash to next Friday, when it really sinks in and I might just be a puddle.  That’s all. Thanks for listening.

birthday, baby

Posted on by samenewsong

This little bunny turned six today.  If you read my old blog, you would know she didn’t arrive until 5:45 p.m. on March 1.  It was a Monday when she was born, and it was a scheduled event.   I walked back to the operating room all on my own at 40 weeks.  I crawled up and laid on the table, I had my arms strapped down, my freshly washed hair shoved into a cap, I was completely naked from the waist down.  The anesthesiologist told me to breathe – he said he couldn’t give me a spinal with my hear rate that high.  So turned to G, and we talked about something silly like June, our cat.  The music started to play.  Dream Girl. A few minutes passed, I calmed, and before I knew it, E-Weezer made her debut.  Plump. Red.  Loud. With so much hair.

Here’s the thing.  She is just like that. Effortless. She is her own self with little coaching.  She needed no help arriving, other than a little lift, and she has always been stare-worthy.  Thankfully now it is because of her gorgeous looks and not because of her furry back.  She is still my dreamer and my sweet love bird.  I cannot imagine life without Le Weez.  Happy birthday, girl.  Momma will love you forever.

weekend kickoff

Posted on by samenewsong

It is Friday and finally work, is sort of over.  Tomorrow is Weezy’s birthday party at a place she has been wanting and begging to have a party at.  I often send the kiddos with our sitter to this place because it is such a rad zone for them!  I am not prepared for the party, but it will come together.  I am not channeling pinterest, I am doing what will make Weez happy, which is climbing and SUGAR!  So we have plenty of Minecraft cupcakes and lots of building decor.  We have 24 kids coming, followed by dinner at the club with friends.  My bestie, Jen, is making sure it is extra special at the family night.  Weasel will be the queen bee and it will be special.    Couldn’t be a better kick-off to six years of love with and of my girl.

It is also Oscar Sunday, which we normally celebrate with crab legs and bubbles.  We haven’t seen a lot of the films.  But WHO cares.  It should be a fun Sunday to just sit and watch.

That’s my Friday update.