Tales of Me and the Husband

a doozy of a day. and this was a few days ago now so i’ve sufficiently recovered.

i mean a doooooozaaaay.  a real humdinger.  alright, perhaps it wasn’t that bad.  i’ll let you be the judge.  let’s walk through it, shall we?  it started with a wakeup from parker.  as most mornings do.  this part of the day is quite sweet really but you do have to brace yourself for a quick second… “okay day.  be easy on me.” we usually bring parker into our room in the morning unless he’s ended up there at some ungodly middle-of-the-night hour already. upon bringing said toddler into bed, he only wanted to cuddle with mom and wanted nooooothing to do with dad.  i mean, sweet for me, but poor dad!  why must they do this?  why must toddlers so delight in the favorites game?  i can’t even fully enjoy the love upon which he bestows upon me when, you know, husband’s getting zilch.  anyway.  let’s move on.
so here we are.  this particular day steve was going to be gone from like 8 am to 9 pm (never mind!  as i write this now, he still ain’t home and we’re creeping up on 9:30).  now, i know that’s some of your every day realities… and then some (hello grace) but it’s not mine soooo we only know what we know.  i sort of rock the whole routine the school year brings.  the monday through friday jam is sort of my thing.  i know what to expect and i do it well.  but this was still summertime!  i wasn’t prepared!  so anyway.  steve’s gone, and i decide william, lindsey, and i will do some back to school shopping.  we go to the mall and william and lindsey act soooort of hooligan-like which of course was frustrating.  we get a few things for them at h&m and head back to the car.  huffily.  in a huff, if you will. 
parker falls asleep for like all of three minutes just as we’re heading to our exit less than 2 miles from home.  i desperately try to keep him awake but he ain’t having it.  even the promise of TRUCKS UP AHEAD will not keep those lids open.  inner dialogue: “well.  he just went to sleep so surely i can pull of a successful transfer.”  NO.  his nap was officially single digit minutes and that’s just how it was going to be.  now you know the rest of the day is sooooo promising with single digit minutes nap!
later in the day – here’s where it gets really fun – lindsey, parker, and i head out for a few more errands.  starting with the post office.  somehow my set of keys has gone missing so i have the “valet key” if you will.  basically, it’s just a key, without that whole remote open/closer/panic button attachment (is that called a key fob?  i find “key fob” to be so pretentious.  i’m not sure what it is about that word.  but i don’t like to say it.).  i run into the post office to mail a few packages and upon returning have lindsey unlock the car from the inside.  mistake.  the car alarm starts going off and i have no idea how to make it stop without the remote.  (it’s happened before, but the remote thing is how i’ve always stopped it.)  the car will still start, drive, do everything a car should do but with the alarm blaring BEEP BEEP BEEP the entire way.  can you imagine this?  seriously.  just imagine a minivan driving down the road with the alarm going off the entire time.  it sounds like a blast, no?  like a police siren but… with less of a job to do and a lot more humiliation.  to make matters worse, my neighbor who i don’t know tooooo well is inside the post office and only moments before i was all “howdy neighbor!” to him.  and you and i both know they can all hear it from inside the post office and that they also know who’s responsible since i just walked out.  i pull the fastest u-turn of my life and drive away from the post office, alarm blaring the whole way.  waking napping babies across town, dogs barking, pissing people off.  i rip the manual out of the glove compartment and leaf through it.  ALARM, THEFT, SECURITY.  WHAT TO LOOK UP.  nothing.  after two minutes, it miraculously goes off by itself.    lindsey and i breathe a sigh of relief, parker’s in the back a bit stunned.  we come to our next stop.  lindsey and i look at each other, brace ourselves, and open the doors.  again… ALARM.  shriveling up and dying would’ve been more preferable at the time.  
basically, all in all lindsey and i counted three different times of alarm blar-age in a span of ten minutes.  that’s approximately six minutes of car alarm-ing (making up a lot of words today).  in various parking lots across town.  never felt so cool in my whole, whole life.
(and p.s. NOW i know how to stop it even without the “key fobbbbbb.”  gross.)
(did you read all of this?  wasn’t it a doozy?)
(oh!  and the chimay.  to be reserved for a day like this one.)

black + white bean salad.

i definitely think of this as a summer dish, so why i didn’t share it in june is… because i didn’t actually make it until now.  but wait!  it can be eaten any time of year so i’ll share it anyway.  it’s really good, refreshing, healthy, and also pretty.  all those colors plus the fresh cilantro!  i like a dish that’s both pretty and delicious.  it’s a good side to bring to a party, serve at a party, or it can be lunch for one.  that’s what it was for me just yesterday.  enjoy!
black and white bean salad
8 oz. black turtle beans or black beans
8 oz. white navy beans
1 cup chopped red onion
1 cup red bell pepper
1 cup cooked corn kernels
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 cups cumin vinaigrette
cumin vinaigrette 
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 T dijon mustard
1 1/2 t ground cumin
1 T minced garlic
1 t freshly ground pepper
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
whisk well.  makes two cups.
combine all ingredients and add dressing.  (i always find the 2 cups to be overkill.  start with 1 and add if you want more.) refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

a baseball tee

{tee: h&m}
{pants: windsor store}
{shoes: zappos}
{raybans: c/o sunglasses shop}
{scarf: tjmaxx}
i love a good baseball tee.  i gravitate towards one of my three (asos, h&m and h&m!) every, oh, two days or so.  that’s a bit much for one to be wearing a baseball tee, yes, but you know.  sometimes kids have zapped all creative energy i have towards outfit ensembles so baseball tee it is!  again!  and a head scarf, don’t get me started.  a head scarf covers a multitude of hair sins.  this one’s actually a neck scarf but it works here too.  so, you see a pattern you like?  grab it, neck or head, and it’ll work!  (most of the time.)  i’m not sure steve is the hugest fan of my love of head scarves.  but the hair gets what the hair wants.
now for a short story and then i’ll be out of your hair (or head scarf as the case may be).  i was in the tub the other day.  i rarely take a bath but i happened to be so i’m just telling the story as it were.  it’s nonfiction.  steve had to fill something out… for what i’m not sure.  so he shouts out: “what fictional character would i be?”  i thought about it… and pretty quickly (too quickly) i replied, “javier bardem in vicky cristina barcelona.”  he didn’t write that but if he were being honest now… 
also, i made a playlist.  this is the third one now.  i think it’s the third best too.  now if that doesn’t make you wanna click i don’t know what does.

an evening at the beach to get rid of the funk.

last week i was in a funk.  sometimes i can’t pinpoint exactly what brings them on, or why, at times, i’m less equipped to just let them roll off my back.  various things were getting me down, none terribly big, but things nevertheless.  they get all of us down.  blah blah… blah blah blahhhhh.  anyway, it’s those times when i have the least amount of energy to just get up and get out of the house that are the times when it would benefit me the most (captain obvious).  after parker woke up from his nap, i decided to do just that.  i should probably have been getting dinner ready, or at least thinking about it because there was virtually nothing in the house to work with.  (no food definitely equals zero inspiration.)  despite that, i scooped up the beach toys, some towels, lindsey made a salsa, and we piled in the car to go to the beach for just a bit.  
the beach was nearly empty, it wasn’t terribly hot, and we laid out our towels, dropped our buckets, and claimed our spot.  it was perfect except for the occasional no-see-um.  lindsey and i got to talk without interruption while parker scooped and dumped sand with his buckets.  i always find it so admirable when parents get out of the house with each child solo.  the reality of it happening regularly these days is pretty small.  seriously, parents.  how do you do it?  sometimes i find that we’re all just co-existing, flitting about quickly, without actually checking in with one another.  so, this was really nice.  we talked about animals, how camp went (it just ended this week!), the fact that massachusetts’ seagulls are so much more polite and less pushy than their new jersey cousins, and enjoyed the salsa she made.  it’s in regular rotation at our house, especially in the summertime.  loved by all.
we walked down to the water and got our feet wet.  parker ran up the beach away from each oncoming wave.  he acts like he’s scared of them but has a big smile on his face the whole time and doesn’t mind it too much if they catch him.  we did some handstands, or i should say i did.  lindsey attempted but hasn’t nailed it yet.  “use your abs!  center yourself!” i shout as she struggles.  we both laugh.  i happened to hold one long enough for a picture but they don’t last too long.  parker chases the occasional seagull.  it was time to head off the beach and think about dinner but it certainly did clear my head.  maybe it’s only temporary, but nevertheless, seeing things bigger than you that have been coming and going forever and ever helps.  things that’ll continue coming and going no matter what happens around them.  
on the way home, i stopped at a little grocer to get some food for dinner.  it was nathaniel’s last dinner before going back for r.a. training.  (do you know he’s going to be a junior this year?!  is that not insane?)  i bought pre-marinated steak tips (something i never do), green beans, and a peach pie.  going back to college food deserves a good send off and i knew steak tips would be all too welcome.  on the way home, icona pop’s “i love it” came on the radio, a song which lindsey loves right now, and we listened really loud as she sang along (if it’s ever the adult version, i shout obnoxiously over the swears, naturally.).  i adjusted my rearview mirror so i could see her and parker in the back seat.  both of them danced to the music and i thought, “shit bridget.  life’s too short.  that funk needs to go.”  it’s not always that easy but i certainly do realize that they shouldn’t stick around long, that the blessings are everywhere.  even though i say that, funks definitely have their place and are necessary sometimes.  i had mine.  i’ll have another again.  but for now, funk be gone.
and if you’re in need of a great summer salsa (to be eaten before august’s end!), here’s the recipe.  it’s really perfect for bringing to a friend’s, to the beach, to wherever.  it packs a punch more than most salsa.  call it a small meal, if you’re so inclined.  thank you, black beans!
summer salsa 
1 jar of pace picante salsa (it’s not a delicious chunky salsa, more of a base)
1 can of rotel tomatoes, optional
1 can black beans, drained
1 can shoepeg corn (or a good handful of any frozen corn, thawed)
a cup, more or less, of shredded cheddar
mix and dip!

a cropped blazer.

{blazer: anthropologie}
{pants: target}
{sandals: target}

i think i’m way late to the sam edelman party, but nevertheless i’d like these booties please.

i’ve gotten kickstarter emails before but this particularly struck a chord.  father michael shane (exec. producer of catch me if you can and irobot) lost his daughter emily on the PCH in malibu.  one of apparently many losses on a particularly dangerous stretch of that highway.  find out more here.

i scored above blazer for $30 at anthro.  that, my friends, is a win.

i made corn on the cob last night and grated a ton of locatelli cheese (wins over parmesan any day of the week) over it loosely following melissa’s recipe.  it was really good if you’re looking for a variation from the typical (though, typical corn on the cob is pretty great any day of the week too.).

i love this necklace.

forgive me… but dare i say it, this outfit actually makes me excited for fall?  i promise not to inundate you with PUMPKINLATTECOOKIECAKECANDLES all of fall though.  by september 20th, i think we’ve all had enough pumpkin.

two congratulations are in order.  my good friend rachael had her daughter number two, joan bea, and had the birth she’d hoped for.  and one of my good friends from home (this one’s you, kelly!) had a little girl named kathryn last week and also had a fabulous birth experience.  so to rachael and kelly, kudos!! new births get me all happy and excited (and a little wistful, if i’m being honest.  i’m a birth-story junkie.).

and that is all.

sweet potato burritos.

i’ve mentioned these before.  always with a promise of “recipe to follow!”  that day is here!  and these are soooooooo good.  our friend ryan made these for us one night when we were over for dinner.  you’re all at once demanding to know what’s in them but your mouth is too full to speak.  it’s ugly.  spitting your food out all over your friend’s table.  don’t do it.

so, here’s the recipe.  easily adapted and just plain easy.  keep in mind that i don’t follow a recipe anymore so the amounts are pretty flexible.  is it three onions or is it five?  it really doesn’t matter, it’ll be good either way.  pretend there’s an “ish” to the end of each number.  3ish, 5ish, so on and so forth.

sweet potato burritos
(makes one pyrex pan’s worth; roughly five to six burritos)
for the filling:
3 onions, diced
4 medium sweet potatoes, cubed
1 can of black beans, drained
a package of burrito shells
shredded cheddar or monterey jack
sour cream
salsa: both red and green
start by caramelizing your onions.  this is definitely the most important step.  it’s time-consuming but couldn’t be easier.  lowest heat, stir infrequently, walk away.  a smidgen of olive oil.  i’m talking a good 45 minutes of ever-so-slightly sizzling onions.  and that’s caramelizing for you!
in a pot, bring water to a boil.  throw in your sweet potatoes (already diced) and boil until soft… roughly ten minutes?  i usually stick a fork in one of the bigger ones to be sure it’s soft.  then drain!
once onions and potatoes are done, combine them in a pan on low heat.  add your beans.  use a potato masher or fork to mash the potatoes (just roughly).  mix it all up with the onions and beans!  this is your filling.  add some salt.  
now put a few scoops of the filling in each burrito wrapper.  wrap it and put seam side down in the pyrex.  sprinkle cheddar cheese all over it.  stick it under a broiler for about 5 minutes (make sure it doesn’t burn!).  once out, pour your salsas on top (i do it in strips–red salsa, sour cream, then green salsa).  eat and enjoy!
variation: i’ve added shredded chicken to the filling part before.  i think ground beef would be good too!  or a pulled beef.  corn!  guac would be delicious too.  cilantro!  sky’s the limit.

kitchen love.

the internet is full of really cool ideas, both budget friendly and definitely unfriendly.  last night i was surfing instagram before turning in for the night and i was seeing all these gorgeous homes that left me feeling meh about my own (i know, i know).  there are certain areas in my home that i definitely love.  but there are many places that are definitely still undone and have been neglected.  whether for lack of motivation or money or ideas or discovering that perfect piece, they remain just sort of there.  our kitchen is one of those places.  it’s fairly outdated, ugly countertops, wonky cabinets.  no real scheme throughout.  steve and i have talked about redoing it but we lack the gusto to really make it happen.  plus, i’m definitely a bit (a lot) debilitated by spending huge sums of money (i always weigh it like… do this ooooor travel?  or… do we really neeeeed it?  will we be okay if we spend this?).  my parents were pretty frugal so i think it’s just been ingrained in me.  not to mention the huge sums of money aren’t sitting around screaming, “spend me!”  but it’s nice to come home to a home that you love, that you take pride in.  parts of my home, i definitely love.  but still, there’s work to be done.  i don’t even know where to really start.  how to find those budget pieces that you always see people talking about.  “oh this silly old farm table?  i found the wood and whipped it up out back while the kids slept!”  seriously, SERIOUSLY.  so… i guess what i’m saying is it’s time our home got some more love.  whatever that means.  
some kitchen inspiration from my pinterest board.  i’m definitely into the bright, white kitchens.

p.s. just searched my ‘design’ archives and realized i’ve been talking about white kitchens forever.  it’s time to get a move on, bridget.

my mother’s salads.

my mom makes great salads.  i can’t entirely figure out why they are so incredibly good but they are.  i suppose it’s one part i-didn’t-make-it-myself, three parts experience, and definitely some secret ingredients splashed in there too.  i certainly did not always appreciate them but appreciation or lack thereof aside, salads were often the meal of the night.  very green, light on the dressing (and creamy, never; i sometimes rebel against this as woman of the house now.), and with lots of “stuff” on them if you know what i mean.  if we’re gonna call it dinner, it’s got to have more than just lettuce.

she made a huge one while we were down in nj.  i missed out on dinner putting a very beach-weary parker to bed and came down to a big plate of it.  i shoveled forkful after forkful in my mouth exclaiming the whole time, “this salad is so good.”  william asked, “can you make salad like that?”  i’m sorry william, but i can’t.  i mean, really.  i can’t.  she’s the magic salad maker and i’m just her daughter.  no one can quite replicate it.  (maybe she’s secretly sneaking msg into them and laughing behind our backs?)

nevertheless, i’ll try to muck my way through this particular salad’s components.  and when all is said and done, you’ll no doubt say, “that’s it?”  it was mostly all spring mix, maybe some arugula?  and i don’t even tend towards spring mix!  sometimes it seems like mower clippings to me.  is this a weed stuck between my teeth?  nope, just spring mix.  it was a variation of chicken caesar salad, but she makes up her own rules.  there was definitely some parmesan or pecorino romano throughout, but not a powdered kind.  and it was tossed really well.  i think i don’t give enough credit to a proper and thorough tossing.  each piece had sufficient dressing on it but definitely not too much.  there’s never a puddle at the bottom of the salad bowl.  less is more here.  and the chicken was shredded, maybe that makes a difference.  there were sunflower seeds in it, and those scattered throughout give it a nice (though subtle!) crunch.  lindsey likes those and does not like slivered almonds so i think we’ll be adding them to our repertoire.  and what may be the most secret ingredient of all but really not so secret is the lemon.  she does use a basic dressing (i think this may have been a newmans caesar?) but uses very little and adds to it with fresh lemon and olive oil and maybe apple cider vinegar?  i could just ask her but maybe she won’t tell me because, you know… msg.

that’s it.  not so much a recipe as it was a story about the magic salad maker.  but in the meantime i will take any tips on making your salads magic too if you’ve got them?  i love a good salad.

waiting for ice cream.

big brother and sister came home from camp ravenous (not the name of the camp but it kind of sounds that way?).  after a dinner of annie’s mac and cheese, meatballs, and broccoli (one of my very best culinary creations, really), we decided to make vanilla ice cream.  william picked up this cuisinart ice cream maker at a garage sale in our neighborhood at least a year ago.  score.  i think there was one failed attempt at ice cream because we didn’t know to freeze the bowl (rookie mistake!).  now we know better and the bowl has been in our freezer for a good year.  i bought heavy cream for just the moment and here!  here it is.
we mixed and poured and now… we wait.
we’re making the most basic cuisinart vanilla ice cream right now.  is it going to be good?  is there some secret members-only ice cream recipe club i should know about?
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