PAINT!

This has been my life lately.  Messy paint.  Getting to the point that you are excited about a project (remember how long ago I started this!?).  And the discouraging beginnings of other projects.  

Vintage Swimming Cap

One of my best girlfriends gave me this retro swimming cap for my birthday last week! Obviously we've been friends a long time and she knows me OH so well. I just LOVE it!

ok, here is the question, can I wear out with a dress? not to swim? hmmm... or maybe it will be just too hot? what do you think?

Thank you katy!!! I love the cap and love you!

<3

andrea

meatless monday: roasted red bell pepper (& everything else) hummus!

I know they say 'less is more' and I probably believe this to be true with most cooking.  Hummus however is quite different.  I believe hummus is where you can through all your miscellaneous veggies at the end of the week.   

If you want plain jane:

chickpeas (garbanzo beans... which happens to be the name of my kitty cat)

tahini

lemon

olive oil

what I added this week:

roasted red bell pepper (1/2)

roasted garlic (2 cloves)

corn (more than a tablespoon?)

tomato (raw)

cashews (2 tablespoons-ish)

salt

cumin

paprika

*when all this is in food processor, I just slowly poor in water until it is the consistency I want, i know some people do it with oil, I just find it... well... too oily that way.

I know it's kinda a sad picture. I cook at night so the lighting is bad. and if you remember from my last meatless monday, I am knew to the whole food-photography thing.

happy vegan cooking!

<3

andrea

3 months old!

About a week ago was redding's three month anniversary.  Look at how much my sweet boy has grown!!! 

I somehow manage be more and more in love with him everyday, how is that possible? 

Right now it's all about the hands, he is almost choking himself trying to stuff them in his mouth.  He isn't grabbing things yet, but I can tell it's right around the corner. 

This sweet baby is also grunting, squealing and starting to laugh! 

my closet: sixties party dresses

One of my greatest girlfriends came back to town for a visit last week.  Not only was it amazing to giggle with her, swim with her & dance with her, we also had time for a little dress up play! It will be difficult to spread out all the photos we took, because I'm so excited to share them! But, here is the first round, these are two of my MOST favorite dresses.  The orange one that I'm wearing belonged to my grandmother and the aqua one I just picked up somewhere along the way (it once had sleeves, but in this texas heat I had to whack them off!)

A Birthday, Balloons and Blowing out candles

On my birthday I woke up to a magical world of balloons. This, of course, called for a little photoshoot.

I love my little family and my perfect little birthday party.

I tried my hardest to think of a wish to make, but I just don't have any. Although life is not perfect, I just can't think of anything else I could want.
hope everyone else is as happy as I am this weekend!
<3
andrea

meatless monday: sweet potato & black bean enchiladas

This post has many disclosures. First, I am aware it is not monday, however 'meatless wednesday' just doesn't have the same ring to it.  Second, you should know I have very very strong feelings against posting about food ('nom nom' makes my skin crawl) ... why OH why would all your Facebook friends care what you are eating for lunch? (I don't care how cool instagram makes your breakfast tacos look, i don't want to see them).

Now this being said, I need to cook (and make the occasional mixed drink *cough cough*) as much as the next mommy, so I do appreciate when there are blog entries with recipes. 

OK, so now why do you ask am I posting about food? WELL, I will tell you.  

I don't eat meat. and for years I was vegan, although that ended when I became pregnant a year ago becoming too tired and lazy (a lazy vegan will eat lots of processed food- which I feel, is the most crucial thing to watch out for while growing people).  Annnnywho, I read once that if everyone just cut animal products out of there diet for ONE DAY, then not only would there be an extreme amount of animals saved, but it would also be the equivalent of taking a certain amount of cars off the road (forgive me for forgetting the details ... mommy brain?).

SO, that is it ... 'meatless monday' is really just an idea to get people to cut out meat, if even just for one meal.

Ingredients I used: (be aware, I use what I have, please let me know if you change ingredients according to what you have and how it ended up!) :)

filling:

1 can of organic black beans

2 sweet potatoes 

green bell pepper

jalepano

garlic

salt & pepper to taste

Monterey Jack cheese (vegan- daiya cheese) 

with corn tortillas

sauce:

vegetable broth

cornstarch

canned green chilies 

chili powder

directions: 

preheat oven to 375

While you're boiling sweet potatoes (make them mashable), start to saute the garlic, green bell pepper and jalepano.  When done with both, mash the potatoes and mix in the pepper mixture and well rinsed can of black beans. set aside filling.

fry the corn tortillas for a few seconds so that are more pliable. 

mix together sauce ingredients (umm, so I don't really know measurements, I just felt it out ... probably cup or so of broth, two cups of green chilies, a spoonful of cornstarch and a dash of chili powder... ?)

fill and roll tortillas in a baking pan, sprinkle on cheese (or cheese substitute) and spread sauce on the very top.

put in oven for about 15 minutes (haha, wow, I should become more exact, sorry!)

VOILA! 

happy happy cooking!
and to all mommies out there who have time OR don't have time to cook, you are doing a REALLY good job!

<3

andrea

and if you don't like yummy veg. food, then here is an adorable picture of my son for your time:

The attic bride

SO... remember this? Well, these are the rest of the photos.  Notice this dress is actually gorgeous.  It was my aunts and we just happened to find it in the attic while we were up there.  I didn't try it on, because I tend to break most everything i touch (not relationships or people. just dishes, cars, computers and things of that nature).  But emily put it on and boy-oh-boy did she look like a doll.

oh the joys of playing dress-up.

favorite spots: pressure points

So we have this great built-in shelf right next to the fire place in our living room.  Both, not accommodations one is used to while renting.  I call them 'prime real estate' for decorating.  Which of course means, in my house they have not been decorated according to my standards for almost a year.  There is just too much pressure to have them perfect and adorable.  

I'm not completely happy with the top and bottom shelves, but they're definitely getting there. any ideas?

now to start working on the mantle ...

fly away

just a little something i'm working on.  it's one of those days that you feel like there's so much creative energy in you wanting to get out, but it just doesn't seem to manifest in any way you like. oh so frustrating.  I think the key is to just keep on making, keep on building on ideas and eventually you'll hit it. ahhh lala, what to do.

When Life Gives You a Dress, Play Dress-up

Over the weekend, someone with the best of intentions, gave me a bridal gown.  Now, I will let you sit with that a minute and figure out how it would make you feel.  Just assume I felt the same way.  If I had ever imagined receiving such a gift, I'm not sure what I would have expected to feel, but I guarantee it wouldn't have been excitement. But, it was! My cousin emily and I have always LOVED playing dress-up and having photoshoots (I need a reminder to dig up old photos).  We were then thrilled to have another costume and an excuse to go up into my grandparents attic an shoot some photos!!! here are a few favs

It was just like being (7, 12 or 21) again playing dress-up with emily in the attic, although this was the first time I had to take breaks and go check on my sleeping baby! 

<3

andrea

The many looks of one beautiful girl

This is my cousin emily.  She is my absolute favorite person in this world.  Not only is she gorgeous (as you can see), but she is EVER so talented.  Check out her website and her blog.  

Laughing with her is more fun than with anyone else. As is playing dress-up (perhaps someday I'll dig up some old, and even older, dress-up photos).

beautiful beautiful girl.

<3

andrea