From beginning to end

Aaaaaand, we're back on the blogging train after a full-speed summer! Since the camping weekend in Big Sur, which, if you haven't read about 15 times by now I don't know where you've been, we've done a little bit of everything. Here are the highlights:

photo: Real Simple Magazine

June: work work work & June Gloom (picture: constant gray, morning air moisture & subsequent all-day frizzies). According to my planner, we had some fun events:
   Friday, 6/18- begin Chiropractic adjustments for me 
   Saturday, 6/19- cousin's high school graduation party!
   Sunday, 6/20- Father's day BBQ
   Saturday, 6/26- Chris: watch world cup, Me: laundry, nap, walk Emer, take-out for dinner.
"Calm Down, Hoovers!" I know, I know...


July: Spent the 4th of July weekend in San Luis Obispo & had an early birthday celebration for my grandma. 
        Met up with Mom & Family at Downtown Disney for Devin's birthday dinner on 7/9. 
       On 7/14 I wasted time & $20 on a follow-up visit with our infertility doctor. Apparently there's no medical reason that we cannot have children but if we want medical assistance, we'd become cash-paying patients at yet another Specialist's office. We spent some time in a bit of a mental/emotional fog. 
       Finally got quality pool time during the weekend of 7/16!!! 

       Saturday, 7/24- went to the Orange County Fair!!! Saw cows, chickens, sheep...almost put a sad little runt piglet in my purse...chowed down on Deep Fried Chocolate Covered Bacon, Fried Zucchini, Western Sausage with grilled bell peppers & onions, Ice cream (don't judge us). Watched our friend's U2 tribute band perform. 
      We finished out the month by hosting my dad & family for the weekend of 7/30. Had a blast at Boomers (mini golf, go-karts, batting cages, laser tag) then rooted on the Angels in an evening baseball game. 


August: work work work until our one week vacation in Colorado!!!!! I spent the first portion of the week dedicated to bridesmaid duties for one of my closest friends from high school. 


Then we divided our time among family dinners & corn hole tournaments and catching up with friends & our favorite coffee shop. 
            *Noteworthy: on Saturday, 8/21 we went to the movie theater for the first time in 2010!! Thoroughly enjoyed "Inception." 
            Friday, 8/27 marked my last day of work at Lindamood-Bell, as the friend I was filling in for did in fact return from maternity leave. Admittedly, I spent my first week of unemployment marinating in emotions but I soon found inspiration to at least rearrange and redecorate the apartment. Every day since then has only seen increases in energy, creativity, satisfaction and peace. 


We ended the summer with Chris's 29th Birthday Weekend Spectacular!  The 2 of us embarked on our longest day hike together and southern California's 2nd tallest peak: Mt. San Jacinto in Palm Springs. In the parking lot, the oustide temperature was a suffocating 110. To reach the trail head, hikers board an aerial tram to be transported 2 miles & 8500 feet up the mountain (and to also ditch 40 degrees of heat). Once we exited the tram, we bravely hit the trail to conquer the almost-6 mile trek to the peak (round trip: scant 12 miles). In the end, we hiked a total of 4.5 hours but spent about 30 minutes on the peak for lunch. Not too bad for a 29 year old and his younger wife! haha. 

Birthday Weekend continued at my parent's house where Chris was spoiled with an array of his favorite foods and ample pool time. Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband who has grown more in love this year than most people do in many years! And Happy End-of-Summer to you all.......let Fall recipes begin! 

Happy Birthday, Baby!

On March 23rd, we celebrated Emerson's 2nd birthday! (he hated the hat but was such a good boy to humor me for 2 minutes) Gifts included a brand new bag of food, a follow-up trip to the vet and a 2-pack of giant squeaky tennis balls. The vet gave him a bill of good health- allergies & rash are under control! The neighbors probably didn't appreciate the very loud squeaking from the new ball but, as usual, he broke the squeaker in less than 24 hours. Problem solved.

 I made cupcakes for the humans to enjoy- after all, we've made quite an investment in keeping him alive and well. On some of the cupcakes I iced a few of his all-time favorites: ice, pine cones, food, napping. Here are a few random facts you may or may not know about the baby:


1. He was born on Easter, 2008. He's our Easter egg!
2. His full name is Emerson Hoover: White Baby of Cypress. "Emerson Charles Hoover" when he's really bad. 
3. He doesn't seem to know that he is a dog. When we talk about "doggie(s)," he always looks over his left shoulder, as if he will find them there. We hope he's never caught unaware by a doggie on the right! 
4. When he was 3 months old, he fell into my parents' pool and sank like a rock. Chris jumped in & pulled him out. The baby was seemingly unscathed; Chris' wallet was soaked & his phone busted. 
5. He loves to be "naked," aka: without his collar on. We take it off, tell him he's naked and he runs around like a little horse. 
6. He lays all 70lbs. of himself right on top of us with no hesitation, yet grunts with immense annoyance when we adjust position or move him away. How dare we, right?!
7. He is allergic to bee stings. We thought we were going to lose him one morning after he'd snapped a bee out of the air & was stung on the tongue. Fortunately the vet knew right away that it was an allergic reaction. 
8. He will do anything for food, with the exception of lettuce and blueberries. 
9. His favorite toys/treats include empty yogurt containers & water bottles, tennis balls, frisbee, ice cubes, carrots and his Kong, preferably lined with peanut butter. 
10. He spends most of his time sleeping. 

Probably our favorite dog-centered discussion lately involves Emerson and 3 little kids who frequent the playground just outside of our apartment. As we come down the stairs, Emerson on-leash, one boy asks, "Is he going to poop?" This is immediately followed by another boy asking, "Does he like sticks?" This boy then waves a stick in front of Emerson's face, hoping he'll bite, and then gently throws a handful of wood chips at the ground in front of Emer. I tell him he's not into sticks but this happens every day. Emerson looks at me as if to ask, "Why does he throw sticks at me?" I shrug & announce, "Okay, it's time for our walk." On cue, a third child- a girl- starts reciting, "He doesn't have a tail!" This playground bunch runs their respective lines every time they see us. Chris created a little rap song to the questions of said kids: [begin beat box] "Is he going to poop? Is he going to poop? He doesn't have a tail! He doesn't have a tail! Does he like sticks?"....Oh what joy we've found in our little guy. :)  Happy Birthday, the Baby!

Bon Appetit!

Ever since renting "Julie & Julia," the motion picture about writer Julie Powell and super chef Julia Child, I've been completely absorbed in "My Life In France," Julia Child's book detailing her years in France where she first learned about food, attended culinary school and ultimately became the TV chef and author we all know. A good chunk of Christmas money bought me not 1 but 3 books about Julia. I'm dying to know more about what fueled the fire of such an icon. I spend many nights with the book & reading light under a tent of blankets I create in bed, filling my curiosity and passing time until my brain decides it's tired enough for sleep.

With my cooking job (I really need to think of a better title for it) well underway and more successful than not, I decided to attempt a Julia Child-worthy birthday meal for my mom. It, of course, had to be French. And, as such, needed to include many small but beautiful courses. Sadly I caught a horrible cold (again) about a week before the big event and felt as though my vision couldn't come to pass. As the day approached, however, I was reassured by the helpful hands of my siblings and we came together to create victory! Here are some pictures of the dinner, courtesy of Aunt Lisa. 

     Premier- Mixed greens salad with grilled pears, candied walnuts, cranberry blue cheese crumbles and a sweet mustard vinaigrette.

    Second- French onion soup with gruyere cheese. (recipe by Jacques Pepin)

     Tiers- Mustard roasted Red Snapper with fresh green beans. (fish recipe by Ina Garten)

     Quatrieme- Bistro steaks with Provencal butter, fingerling potatoes & cherry tomatoes (steak recipe by Ina Garten)

     Fin- Chocolate covered cream puffs with lemon filling & Chocolate fondue with assorted fruit, marshmallows & angel food cake (fondue by Aunt Lisa)

Merveilleux! I'm scheduled to do a dinner party for the family I cook for at the end of February. Don't think it will be this grand, but as something to plan for, work toward and execute, it was a perfect January challenge.