friday faves: the hubs, food and words...

Favorite thing about my Husband: Easy...the way he loves both me and George unconditionally. I am blessed to see his face first and last each day, to be encircled in his embrace and to have him as such a hard-working provider for our family.  It's just that simple and just that complex.  He is a family man and he loves us.  There isn't anything more I could ask for.

Favorite Restaurant: Considering how much I love to eat, this should have been an easy choice.  We don't eat out often and I haven't been to this particular restaurant in a couple of years but, it remains one of my local favorites and, if given the choice, I'd go again and again.  Swaddee House of Thai in Thornwood, NY. 

I fell in love with their red and massaman curries and pad thai when I lived just a few blocks away and continued to go back every chance I got even after I moved away.  It's a tiny little spot for a leisurely meal with charming servers and authentic tastes and ambiance. And, now I'm hungry!

Favorite Children's Book: There are several current favorites in our house that are read to exhaustion.  In fact, we've even had to replace a few copies as they have been eaten worn through. I am thankful that my son seems to have as much of a love of books as I had at his age. He'll sit flipping through pages for long periods of time and asks us to read his favorites several times a day. Always guaranteed to get a giggle from the little man are:

• But Not the Hippopotamos, Sandra Boynton
• Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?, Dr. Seuss
• Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb, Al Perkins 
• Moo, Baa, La La La, Sandra Boynton
• Curious George at the Park, H. A. Rey

I have far too many of my own childhood favorites to ever list here but, one stand out has always been Anne of Green Gables.  I read the entire series several times over, lost in the life and adventures of Anne Shirley.  Which has me wondering if all those volumes are still in my parents basement somewhere?

friday faves: blog, sport and memory...

Favorite blog (other than your own): I have a confession.  I have 265 blogs in my Google Reader.  I love to read what's happening in the blogosphere from other moms, cooks, photographers and random others. It's a wee bit of an addiction but, at least it's not life-threatening...ha!  But my favorite if I was forced to choose just one?  The Pioneer Woman.  Ree Drummond is an amazingly talented woman and I have absolutely no idea how she finds the time to do everything she does in life: homeschool her kids, come up with incredible recipes, write books and blog everything - in photo diary format no less! If you haven't read her blog, do yourself a favor and start now...

Favorite sport: Long ago, I was on swim teams and in college I dabbled in playing tennis.  Now?  I stroller walk around town.  As that hardly qulifies as a sport, I'll choose football.  I like to watch football and Steelers games are major events in our home.  We're even grooming the next generation of fans...

Favorite memory:  I have been blessed with so many but, naming one single memory for this challenge wasn't really a challenge at all.  The moment my husband carried our swaddled, newborn son to me to inspect his face, kiss his sweet chubby cheek, is the one that brings me to tears and has me catching my breath everytime it comes to mind. The moment I became a mother:

friday favorites: possession, celebration and gift...

Favorite or most prized possession (must be an object, not including photos): There were so many different ways I could have gone with this one and I almost chose my volumes of scrapbooks.  Not quite cheating because, while they contain do photos, they are also so much more. As dear as those scrapbooks and the hobby and memories they represent are to me, they sit on a shelf.  The possession that is most prized is one I have with me, worn on me, everyday.  My wedding set. Yes, I love the design and the sparkle. Oh, the sparkle! 

What is most prized about these two rings was what my husband and I just celebrated this past Monday: our marriage and the commitment to be together, raise and family and to be true only to one another.

Favorite holiday: Thanksgiving.  No hesitation, no compromises.  I love Thanksgiving. The food, the family and laughter.  No pressure to decorate, find the perfect tree, gift, card or ornament.  Just a day with people I love sharing amazingly delicious food. 

Favorite gift you've ever received or given (life doesn't count): I have been blessed and fortunate to have received some incredible gifts in my life so, I'm keeping this one fairly recent.  And, I'm using two for this one because, well, it's my blog and I can *wink*  One tangible and one an experience.

1) My beloved camera, a gift from my wonderful husband on the day of my baby shower.  The gift that keeps giving day after day as I capture images of our world, our family and strive to learn more and more.  Canon 50D along with the Canon 50mm f/1.4 and Tamron 28-75 f/2.8

2) BON JOVI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (No, there are not too many exclamation points)  For your second wedding anniversary Mr. Boom got us tickets to see Bon Jovi live in concert in early May.  Bon Jovi.  I have wanted to see them in concert since seventh grade.  That, my friends, is a long wait finally come due.  Wooooooot!

(My apologies for the original post that was riddled with spelling errors - fixed now!)

friday faves: work, destinations and words...

Dream job: What would I truly love to be when I grow up?  A photographer.  Specifically, maternity and newborn photography.  I love capturing the bloom of pregnancy and then a brand new life.  I

have a very long way to go toward this goal with so, so much to learn but I love to dream on this. Here are a few of my favorites shots from shoots I have done for friends and family:

Favorite vacation: I love to travel. No, I LOVE to travel.  Put me on a plane to anywhere, get me in a new destination and give me time to explore and immerse myself in someplace else and I am a happy girl.  From the moment I stepped off the Britih Airways jet at Heathrow airport to begin my study abroad experience years ago, I was hit with wanderlust.  Choosing a favorite vacation spot is likie asking me to choose a favorite book (oh wait, I need to do that next, hmm...). Nearly impossible.  The California mountains, several gorgeous spots in Mexico and the untouched perfection that is Alaska.  But, in the end, I am one of the luckiest that I have the privilege to go back to one of the most amazing places on earth time and time again.  Greece.  

Favorite book: I have likely read thousand of books in my lifetime. My parents instilled me with a love of reading at a very young age and I was never denied a new book.  I lose myself in books, tuning out the world around me and not recognizing when the sun has fallen and a room has gone dark.  Many evenings my mother or father would walk in my room to find me engrossed in a book and rouse me from the pages saying, "Don't you want a light?  You're going to strain your eyes in the dark."  So caught up in the plot, I hadn't noticed squinting in the twilight. 

That happened as I joined Anne Shirley on her many adventures and more times than I could possibly recount here.  So, I'll share a couple of my more recent favorites:

I could not get enough of either of these novels and was so disappointed when they ended.  Turning to the last page was like saying goodbye to a close friend after a particularly wonderful visit. Do yourself a favor, read them soon.

friday favorites: tv, shopping and food...

Favorite TV Show: Even deciding to stick with my favorites in the current television line-up, I couldn't choose just one.  In the end, it was that these two shows always  leave me wanting  more, get me singing and often laughing out loud.  What more can you ask for from prime time entertainment?

Modern Family is the funniest comedy I have watched since the advent of Friends and had me hooked from the pilot episode.  The motley crew of this family and excellent comedic acting have me in hysterics every Wednesday night.  And, Glee?  If a show can get me to sing along and not only keep me riveted to the t.v. every Tuesday night but also fill my iPhone playlist it's a sure winner.  I'm a Gleek :)

Favorite Store: While I could have categorized this one there is really one above all favorite.  Some weeks it seems I might be better off just direct depositing my paycheck to a giftcard since it as close as I get to one-stop-shopping.  Oh Target, how I love thee... For great deals on food, toys, clothes, baby needs and just about everything else I could ever want.  You are the it store for me.

Favorite Recipe: The toughest choice of this round. I have gotten to the point where I enjoy cooking.  I love, love, love baking.  There are so many recipes that have made it into regular rotations and on the favorites list in this house.  But, I'm going back to a very happy discovery that never fails to impress and is even a special request from my father-in-law. 

About seven years ago, I joined Weight Watchers and made the commitment to lose weight and change the way I was eating.  At the same time, I wanted to eat food that really tasted good and didn't leave me wanting.  A tall order.  Then, at a meeting one night, I flipped through a new WW cookbook "Turnaround" and found the recipe that I would come to love, that would be my new comfort food and that would simmer on my stove for many years to come.  Bolognese Sauce.  I posted this recipe when this blog was in it's very early days and it's time for a comeback.  This time I'm sharing the doubled version that I now use because, really, a single batch just isn't enough!

Bolognese Sauce
Source: Adapted from the WW Turnaround Cookbook

2.5 lbs ground lean turkey

2 onions, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 carrots, chopped
5 cups fresh sliced mushrooms (I use two packages of pre-sliced white or baby bellas)
3 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 small can tomato paste
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 c fat free milk
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground pepper
3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 pound whole wheat spaghetti
fresh basil leaves for garnish, if desired

1) Spray a large pot with cooking spray and set over med-high heat. Add the ground turkey and cook, stirring frequently to break up, until browned, 5-8 minutes.

2) Add the onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the carrot and cook about 2 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms, tomatoes, tomato paste, basil and oregano; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 10 minutes. Add the milk and cook, uncovered, until the sauce is thickened, about 15 minutes longer. Stir in the salt and pepper. Stir in balsamic vinegar, let simmer 5 minutes.

3) Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Drain, divide among plates and top with sauce.

Serving size: 1 cup pasta, 3/4 cup sauce. (WW: 8 points per serving)

friday favorites...

Favorite piece of clothing:  This changes all the time but, right now, I am loving the two-toned grey wool/cashmere cardigan that I picked up at Banana Republic on sale last fall.  It's snuggly and warm, goes with just about everything and is just a bit fitted so it doesn't add any bulk (I really, really don't need any added bulk right now!)

Favorite Superhero: Any successful working-out-of-home mom.  Okay, so it's not the stuff of comic books but a job out of the house, parenting, being a good spouse and keeping up a home is not easy.  I admire moms who manage to juggle it all successfully and gracefully. If they can manage a minimum degree of guilt while they are at it?  An added bonus.
 
Favorite Movie: My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding.  Yes, really. Slumdog Millionaire, The Blind Side and pretty much any Julia Roberts movie (I know, I know) are also on my list.  Except Closer.  Because, eww...horribly, terribly, traumatizingly awful.

friday favorites and giveaway winner...

Favorite Song: "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" by the master songwriter, Billy Joel.  The storytelling, the emotion, the change in tempo and style all in one beautifully crafted masterpiece that I could listen to on a loop forever.  If I had to choose just one song to live on my iPhone, this would be it. 

An extremely close runner-up would be "American Pie" by Don McLean. Iconic, full of symbolism and even the full eight minute and twenty-seven second version always ends too soon for me.  This song conjures up so many memories of road trips of my childhood and happy times.

Favorite Food: Thai.  No, Italian.  No, it's Greek.  I am a self professed foodie. To choose one is just ridiculous. 

Favorite day of the week: Friday. Three weeks a month, my weekends (all blissful four days of them) begin when I wake up on Friday morning and get to spend the day with George.  Yes, it has to be Friday!

Now, for what several of you have been waiting for. The winner of the 25 Shutterfly.com photo card giveaway is comment #12...

Congratulations Brian!!!  I'm sure you will find the perfect Valentine card to compliment Julia and Grace's sweet smiles.  Enjoy!



a few favorites, for now...

Because favorite things in the life of an infant have the potential to change instantaneously, here are a few that G is loving in his little world right now:

1) Murray. The big, orange furry monster that hosts Sesame Street. Want to see a silly baby grin any time of day? Pick an episode, any episode of Sesame Street on the DVR and as soon as this shaggy thing pops on the screen...bring on the smiles! Although I'm not a fan of plunking my baby in front of the television, Mama needs to shower. Murray helps me accomplish this task every morning. He may be a bit ghetto for my taste but, he helps a Mama out and makes the boy giggle. Can't argue with that logic.
2) Hot-Kid Baby Mum-Mum Rice Rusks. Say what? Way to make a really simple teething cracker sound super complicated folks. Baby food purees are great but, these are helping G learn to start feeding himself while buying me a minute to prepare his meals without squeals. The box we have at home says they are "No mess." Liar, liar, pants on fire. The sticky, spit full rice clumps end up everywhere with these things but, G loves them. And, that's what washcloths are for, no? Thanks to my cousin for the suggestion.

3) Evenflo Triple Fun Jungle Exersaucer. G is obsessed with this thing. He jumps and jumps and jumps until we are certain he will wear out the industrial strength springs on the legs. And then he jumps some more. See the alligator in the front? It comes apart in three pieces and his personal mission is to make sure those pieces are always hanging off the front. He'll bounce them out, toss them out or swipe them out but, the alligator must never be intact. Not ever.

4) Happy Bellies Organic Oatmeal. It's actually pretty tasty and is a staple for both of G's daily meals. I just picked up their multi-grain cereal and we'll try that soon.

5) Fisher Price Laugh, Learn & Love to Play Puppy. All of a sudden, he loves this puppy. I think it is quite possibly possessed (several times, I've heard it talk in the middle of the night over the baby monitor - even though it is across the room from the crib and none of the sensors could have been triggered. It now gets switched off at bedtime) but, G is tickled by the songs and the heart that lights up. He particulalrly loves when the puppy and I sing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" together.

(Standard disclaimer: Nope, I'm not affiliated with any of the above companies, nor did I receive products or compensation of any kind (sadly) for saying nice things about them. They are just things G likes. Period.)