Happy 4th of July

In my first year of married life, my husband and I are learning to celebrate holidays as a family (husband and wife) instead of as a couple. Yes, there is a difference (well, at least to me.) I mean, before, we spent some holidays with his family, following their traditions, and other holidays with my family, following those traditions. Now, we still spend time with our families, but we are starting to think of the future and what we want OUR traditions to be. The Fourth of July is a perfect example. For me, when I think of the 4th, I think of grilling out in the backyard, maybe going swimming, playing croquet or horseshoes in the backyard, and watching fireworks. Dan had to work this holiday, so we didn't get to complete our holiday, but we did grill out together. Even though we aren't master chefs, we always have so much fun cooking together. Dan grilled a chicken, corn on the cob, and garlic bread on the grill outside, while I made rosemary red potato salad and raspberry sorbet with whipped cream for desert. I really love cooking from scratch. I like knowing exactly what is going into my food and I like adjusting the recipes to suit my own tastes. For example, the rosemary red potato salad came from a recipe for fennel and basil salad that I adapted. When I started cooking, I looked at it as a chore. Something that had to be done for survival. Now, I LOVE spending time in my kitchen. I feel like I can escape into my recipes. What I don't like is pressure from a time limit. I want to cook at my own pace and eat when things are ready. My main goal in learning how to cook is so I can be comfortable cooking for my future family (ie. kids). I don't want to raise them on junk food and drive-thru chains. I must confess, cooking is much less work and much more enjoyable than I ever thought possible. Now, when I see a recipe, I get excited thinking about the possibilities, not nervous thinking about all the ways I could mess it up. And worst-case scenario, it tastes terrible, we throw it away, and we go out to dinner. So, on this 4th of July, this American Independence Day, I am declaring my independence from pre-packaged, highly-processed, chemical-laden, mystery food. Let's hear it for delicious, made from scratch meals!!!! Happy 4th of July.

The Noble Pelican

The brown pelican is not only the state bird of Louisiana (pictured on the state seal and state flag). It is also the beloved Tulane University mascot, Riptide.



There is a beautiful and elegant reason the pelican was chosen. The mother brown pelican is self-sacrificing and pious. If need be, she will willingly pluck flesh from her own breast to feed her young. What an incredible image of true love and devotion. If this isn't a noble bird, I don't know what is. That is one of the many reasons it breaks my heart when I see these majestic birds covered in oil in the Gulf. If only we could be more like the Brown Pelican and be willing to sacrifice for our future generations...

World Cup Soccer

Having lived in Central and South America for several years, I have developed a love and passion for soccer! I bleed yellow, blue, and green (Brazil), but I am also cheering for Argentina as a favorite to win. I wake up every morning at 7am to watch the first match through droopy eyelids and over the edge of my coffee cup. But watch I do. For example, this morning, I watched in amazement as Portugal scored 7 goals against North Korea. Even though play was so one sided, I was impressed with North Korea's effort. They kept trying, even in the face of insurmountable odds. Also, they didn't play dirty out of anger (like the Ivory Coast did yesterday against Brazil!!!)

I get frustrated by people who badmouth soccer. Just because matches don't result in double digit scores does NOT mean that it is not a very challenging and exciting sport. In fact, I think the fact that so many games remain scoreless or low scoring shows just how difficult and therefore impressive scoring a goal really is. And if you really think about it, If point values were different in American football, wouldn't most games end in very low scores also??? Soccer is an incredibly challenging, physically demanding sport that deserves our admiration.

For people who are critical of soccer, I would like to ask you to pause and think. You may see soccer as nothing more than an after school activity for preschoolers, but in truth it is so much more. Look at what the players are able to do with their feet. Look at the control of the passes, the intricate footwork, the speed and stamina. Watch a Brazilian "dance" around the soccer ball. I watch in amazement at the way they are able to move the ball. There is so much passion and emotion involved in soccer. I find myself yelling at the tv, jumping around the room, and clutching my Brazil soccer ball to my chest. Everything that I am feeling watching the game from the comforts of home is nothing compared to the ecstasy of victory or the agony of defeat you feel when you are actually there.

Before you rush to judgement about a little know sport, watch a game (preferably a good one!!!) and have a little respect for how hard they are truly working, and then make up your mind.

Birthday Boy

Yesterday was my husband's birthday. It was wonderful. I woke up at 6 am to make pancakes (homemade from scratch). I got these cute Star Wars pancake molds from Williams-Sonoma for an extra special birthday treat. It was a challenge because on my first try, I put too much batter into the mold, so the bottom of the pancake was starting to burn, but the top was so gooey it wouldn't hold together. Oops!!! I quickly learned the best way to accomplish the perfect pancakes, and I must confess, I was very proud of how they turned out. (Especially the Yoda!!!)



Needless to say, it was a complete surprise to Dan (he got to sleep in until 8:30, which is really late for him!!!) and I surprised him with breakfast in bed. I was very proud with myself, especially when he said they were the best pancakes he had ever had! I am lucky to have such a wonderful husband. The rest of the day was spent relaxing. He opened some presents and we watched the Star Wars marathon on Spike TV. The birthday dinner with his family was wonderful. We always have fun spending time with our niece and nephew. When we came home we had a piece of the birthday cake I made.



Dan's birthday was so important, not only to the birthday boy, but also to me. This was the first time I got to celebrate my "husband's" birthday. I got to spend a whole day making the most important person in my life feel special and loved, I gained a new appreciation for Star Wars, and I got to practice my cooking skills. I can proudly say, it was a wonderful birthday for my wonderful husband.

An update on life...

Yes, it has been a long time since I have blogged. I have been busy enjoying married life. My husband is wonderful and I love learning and growing with him. We are in the process of building a house and I now truly believe that the best test of a relationship is agreeing on building plans. We are constantly discussing rooms, appliances, hardware, etc. It is complicated but exciting. We have settled down and aren't traveling every month like we had been, but we are still having adventures every day. Isn't the greatest adventure in life, in fact, being in love?

Auld Lang Syne

A new year has come. It is time to put the past in the past and look forward to the future. I have made a list of resolutions for myself, and I am already delinquent in several of them, but a new year is all about starting over, so even though I am just five days in, I give myself permission to start over, again, and work to complete my goals throughout the year.

There is freshly fallen snow on the ground. I watched it fall yesterday as I lay snuggled under my orange blanket reading the final pages of a wonderful book. I think that was an almost perfect day. The only thing that could have made it better was hot chocolate. It is life's simple pleasures that fill our hearts when we take time to think about them. But they are also the first to be forgotten, almost as if the moment never existed. Like a snowflake. It brings so much joy, but then it is gone.

I started a new family tradition: Tuesday night dinner with Nola. I think it is great that she and Dan have some time to spend together, just the two of them, and I love the chance to cook new things and impress my mother-in-law. I woke up at 7am this morning so I could start the roast for tonight, and after all the tedious work was completed (removing the huge bone) and the meat was simmering in its sauce of root beer, onions, and garlic, I turned up the volume on the cd player, grabbed an ice-cream scoop from the dishwasher, and started dancing and singing around my kitchen. I think that is the way I will always put away clean dishes in the future!!! I was jammin' to The Four Seasons: "Oh What A Night", "Walk Like A Man", "Big Girls Don't Cry" "Opus 17" (my new favorite song!!!). It was so much fun and a great way to take my mind of the menial labor that had to be done.

So, where am I at the beginning of 2010? I am at home, with my husband, trying to be a good wife and learning the skills to be a good mother in the (near-ish) future. I am curled up on the couch with a good book in my hands and my dog at my side. I am content with my life and pleased with the prospects of the future. Let's see what the new year brings.