Hypochondriac Much?

I talk to my mom pretty often. Well, she talks to me. If you've met my mom you know that it's hard to get a word in edgewise. A lot of our "conversations" revolve around what illnesses/psychological problems she thinks I'm suffering that week. For example:

-depression

-fibromyalgia

-sleep apnea

-poor nutrient absorption

-anemia

-hypoglycemia

-assorted bowel problems

Rest assured, I don't suffer from any of these issues. I had anemia when I was pregnant, but I was able to shake it after Ellie was born.

Most recently she has decided that I have anger problems. She mentioned that she bought me a book about anger management for Mother's Day.

"But I don't have anger problems. "
"Yes, you do, that's where your depression comes from."

"But I'm not depressed."

"You are, you just don't know it."

"Mom, I've gotta go, we'll talk later."

Having this conversation made my blood boil just a little bit and it took all my self-control to hang up the phone in a civilized manner. Proving her right. And if there is one thing I absolutely abhor with my whole soul, it's proving my mother right.

I wonder if Ellie will feel the same way about me.

The Communal Fridge

Those of you who know me (which I assume is the only reason you're doing me a favor and reading this) will not be shocked to hear I love food. Not news, a lot of people love food. But I love food like musicians love music, like bees love to pollinate, like politicians love to lie. In other words, I can't help myself. And I just want to share that love and spread happy tummy feelings all over the world. So this is the beginning of the happy tummy goal. I may only help one person with one stomach (oh, that we could be cows!) but if it means that one person is happier during a meal then my job is done.

Presenting...The Communal Fridge!

Yup, I have started a food blog. Tell your friends, neighbors, family, frenemies and cohorts. I promise good food. Food that will make you feel comfortable and full and satisfied. Sometimes it'll be fancy, sometimes not. Sometimes it'll be healthy, sometimes not so much. Sometimes it'll take a little prep, sometimes it'll be super fast. But it will always be homemade and it will be tried and tested.

In my dreams this will be a blog that you come to as a resource. That will TEACH you, not just preach. Hopefully after reading a few posts you'll be riffing on the recipes, evolving them to make them your own, to suit your and your family's tastes (and what's in your fridge). Hopefully it'll make your life easier - while always keep quality at the forefront. Hopefully it'll be a place where we can trade ideas.

I recently learned that reptiles only eat once a week because they're cold-blooded they don't have to produce their own heat, they just steal it from a sunny rock. Makes sense. Fortunately we humans have to eat comparatively A LOT in order to keep our temperatures at 98.6. That means at least 3 opportunities for food-induced pleasure in one day! Happy day!

So, let's cook together and eat together. See ya in the kitchen.

Bahston

Here we are, the city of...Bruins? Paul Revere? John Adams? A massacre?
I should figure out what to call this place. Well, to be perfectly honest we currently reside in Waltham (the city of the Waltham Watch Company) a suburb of Boston. Still, the charms of living within a bigger city are not lost on us.

To be perfectly honest, we did not fall in love with Boston at first sight. It was just this inexplicable feeling of, "We're not East Coasters." A fact we already knew but it was solidified upon our arrival. I can't really tell you what it is because when I stop to think about all the things that make up Boston/Waltham, I have to say we really like them. So...I don't know. What I do know is that I like where we live for the following reasons:

1. The accent. I kind of wish I spoke with a Boston accent. It's just so defiant and specific and bizarre. Where does it come from? Who knows. The other day I was eavesdropping on a phone conversation at the park.
"It's foah-eight-foah. Are ya deaf? Foah-eight-foah! FOAH-EIGHT-FOAH!!! Yeah, yeah, she's heeah."

It was awesome.

2. Waltham is surprisingly multicultural. There is an Indian store, a Halal restaurant, Asian restaurants of all types, a bunch of Salvadorian (pupusas!) places and from what I hear a great taco shop. My mouth is watering just thinking about the tacos.

3. Cultural experiences. If anything, historical. As you can imagine, there is plenty to see in Boston, we've explored a bit of the Freedom Trail and have visited the Children's Museum but there are still a lot of things I want to see. It's nice to have more indoor bad weather options.

So far so good. Bahston is growing on us little by little. We go back to Ithaca as Bruins fans.

Bloginess

Ugh...blogging is such hard work. I hate it. There is so much pressure to upload pictures and use a lot of exclamation marks. Don't even get my started on the cute background. It makes me want to go get my emergency stash of Lay's and Tapatio.

In any case, here I am. Mostly for me than for my faithful bleaders (which I fear I have lost due to my extended hiatus). And I have a plan. Sadly, I cannot tell you my plan - all I can say is it involves food (surprise!). Well, technically I can tell you my plan, I just don't want to because then I'll have to answer questions and talk to people. But I can tell you that you may benefit from it if you choose.

I can feel it in the Boston air. This is going to be the summer that makes me.

Ellie Gone Wild

I'm stealing Brandon's computer to bring you an Ellie update.
Ellie is doing pretty well these days. She's just being a normal toddler. She roams around the house looking for things to entertain her while I'm busy doing things she deems too boring. Things that are not too boring these days include but are not limited to:
Throwing things in the trash.
Getting on her tippy-toes to reach stuff (she's getting tall!).
Letting Maggie in from going potty.
Closing the fridge door.
Saying, "MAAAAGGGGIIIIEEEE!!!!"
Slapping mom.
Pulling dad's hair.
Climbing on stuff.
Playing the piano.
Dancing.
Typing on the computer.
Putting things "away."
Vacuuming.
Putting on hats.

In New York

In a dryer.

In a panic.

Here she has killed someone and is eating the evidence. Interesting fact: she refused the raspberries and instead opted for the beets. So my kid.

Flopping around while I'm making the bed.

Ellie loves having her picture taken so she comes up to me constantly saying, "Cheese? Cheese?" And why wouldn't I take her picture? She's gorgeous.

Wearing Dad's boots.

Being her sassy self.

Doing important things

In conclusion: Ellie is awesome.

Food

It's kind of funny that I was inspired to do this post because I serendipitously looked at my friends blog and she had posted the same-ish thing. Food minds think alike.

So. Foods I love:
Anything Mexican
Onion (ps. Ellie was eating fistfulls of onion the other day it was awesome)
Burgers
Sushi
Bacon
Lays original chips
Nutella
Whipped cream
Cheese
Baguettes
Seafood

Foods I would be ok never seeing again:
Cake
Cupcakes
Frosting
Candy bars
Hard candy
Olives from cans
Energy bars (why mus they be so sweet?)
Chef Boyardee
Lean cuisine crap

Ok. Now do yours.

Friendsgiving

In San Diego we used to get together with our friends and have Friendsgiving before actual Thanksgiving. This year, because we're so far from our families we had to have Friendsgiving in Ithaca and it was delicious and fun. So... take that families.

Here is proof of the delicious fun times.

Prep:

Best Ithaca Find: Raspberry Apple Juice. It's like eating from the orchards of heaven.

Went through that butter so fast

Fresh from the farm - spent SO much time washing off the dirt, but worth it

Our super amazing, fresh turkey, cranberry sauce, collards, and stock.

The Feast:

Stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Roasted roots veggies, my fave side.

Our gorgeous bird.

Apple pie. Hmm... apple pie.
Punkin Pie from scratch. From the actual pumpkin. Thank you Relief Society activity.

The Thanksgiving Pandilla

Heath and Ellie became fast friends. They were really cute together.