Staycations and Stay-Dates

This summer, because of the current financial crisis, staycations have gained popularity. Instead of spending large sums of money on a typical destination vacation, more and more people are opting to spend vacation time at home or take day trips to local attractions. The goal is to create the feel of a traditional vacation for a fraction of the cost. The phenomenon of the staycation is now so big, the term was added to the 2009 version of the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

Since we live in Los Angeles, where there are endless things to do, Steve and I have been making a list of staycation activities we hope to do this summer. Our list includes: go to a taping of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, the beach, Disneyland and the Hollywood Bowl.

We have also been perfecting the stay-date, our new version of a date since Aaron was born. We put the baby to bed, and spend a night in together. Sometimes we watch a movie, sometimes we play poker (loser always cooks the winner breakfast), sometimes we just kick it on the porch with wine and cheese. These little stay-dates have become important times for us to connect with each other, and enjoy each other's company.

Anyhow, I suggest we all get creative this summer and take a staycation. Tell me, what would you do for your dream staycation?

Why I Blog

I'm a little surprised that I've continued to post regularly on this blog, despite being consumed with new mommy responsibilities and returning to work. I suppose I just anticipated being so busy that things like blogging would fall by the wayside. Not that I don't have some weeks when blogging is pretty low on the priority list, and finding the time to do it is challenging. But most weeks, between diaper changes and catching up on email, I still post on my little corner of the internet.

Which leads me to wonder...why do I blog? What is it that drives me and motivates me to write down my thoughts and life events and recipes, and publish them here for people to read?

When I originally began this blog, I was in a strange time in my life. Most simply, I was in a rut. Some might call it a quarter-life crisis, although I wouldn't label it quite so dramatically. It was more like a season of feeling stuck in the same place. My life was beginning to seem stagnant, and I needed something new.

So I started this blog. Its origins are humble, as can be seen by my first post in March of 2007. It was and continues to be a way for me to share my life and reflections, and to cultivate my personal creativity.

I don't blog as a form of keeping a journal, nor as a means of therapy. I don't use my blog to vent, escape, or say things I wouldn't say in real life.

I blog about silly things, like getting attacked by a man with a shopping cart, and my disdain for the word "preggers," with an occasional dash of thoughtfulness, like my opinions on interracial marriage (clue: I'm for it). There are also the frequent recipe posts, which is my way of capturing my love of cooking, and sharing it with others. I blog because it allows me to connect with people. It helps me keep friends and family informed. It lets me discover all sorts of new and interesting people among the incredible community of the blogosphere. This blog is a place to call my own, where I have a presence and a voice. I blog because I love it.

To all of you readers, thanks for sticking around here. Some of you I know in real life, others I have forged some surprisingly wonderful relationships with over the internet, others may be readers I don't even know about. But to all of you, the sentiment is the same. I'm glad to be here with you.

Mini Cherry Pies

How was everyone's weekend? Mine was lovely, thanks to you and your response to my Weekend Plans poll. The winners were as follows: gray dress, cherry almond tea cakes, and Aaron (no contest there).

For the dinner party, I actually ended up making both desserts, the tea cakes and mini cherry pies, since I had an abundance of cherries to use up. Both turned out well, but the mini cherry pies were the real hit of the night. They were sort of a hybrid between pie and cobbler. The crust and crumbly topping had a wonderful sweetness and crunch to compliment the baked cherries. They were deceptively easy to make, and their individual sizes were perfect for the dinner party. I'm keeping the recipe, and may try them with fresh apples or blackberries next time.

Mini Cherry Pies
1 cup cherries, pitted and halved
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup rolled oats
6 tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together cinnamon, salt, sugar, flour and oats. Add butter, and mix well. Place about 1/4 cup of mixture into each muffin round of a greased muffin pan, pressing into the bottom and sides to create a pie crust. Make sure you have some mixture leftover. Bake for about 10 minutes. Add a few cherries into each crust, and sprinkle remainder of crust mixture onto the cherries. Bake for about 15 minutes. Leave in pan, and let cool for 20 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Makes 6 pies.

Rock the Vote: My Weekend Plans

The first weekend of July is approaching! Maybe LA's June Gloom weather will finally dissipate, and we'll get some sunny mornings. In any case, it truly feels like summer around here, and that means extra fun summer weekend plans.

This weekend I have a few special things going on. But I need help making some key decisions because I can be quite indecisive. That's where YOU come in. Help me out by casting your vote for the decisions below. It's like Choose Your Own Adventure. Ready...set...go!

Decision #1
I'm attending a friend's wedding. It is an evening, outdoor semi-formal affair in Los Angeles. Should I wear this gray empire-waist dress with silver trim...

...or this yellow spaghetti-strap number?

Decision #2:
For a dinner party I'm having with some friends, I want to make a dish using fresh cherries I bought yesterday. I'm excited about trying out a new dessert recipe since we hardly ever eat sweets at home. Should I make these mini cherry pies...


...or these cherry almond tea cakes?


And finally, Decision #3:
I have some free time this weekend. Should I use it to do chores...


...or to spend quality time with this guy?

Cast your votes in the comments, and you'll win good weekend vibes from yours truly.

Creative Ways to Store Jewelry

Sometimes I get the irresistible urge to organize. Even from a young age, organizing and cleaning and streamlining were instinctual. In elementary school, I kept my entire box of 64 Crayola crayons strictly in order of colors and shades, and was adamant that anyone who borrowed crayons had to put them back in their correct place (or they would be forever banned from my art supply stash). I may have verged on obsessive compulsive.

While I've loosened up a bit since then, I still get a burst of organization energy from time to time. This week I tackled my jewelry collection, which was in terrible disarray. I had piles of tangled necklaces, earrings and bracelets, stored haphazardly in a plastic desk organizer. The task at hand was clear - I needed a new way to store my jewelry.

The before picture. A big fat mess of jewelry, in need of some serious help.

With a few hours, handy house items, and some resourcefulness, I had an inexpensive way to keep my jewelry organized and readily accessible. Since I'm guessing some of you may have the same problem as I did, I included instructions and photos. Happy organizing!

How to Store Jewelry

Supplies:

Artist canvas
Acrylic paint
Cardboard
Glue (either craft glue or hot glue gun)
Ribbon
Thumbtacks
Medium-size bowl

Paint canvas desired color, and allow to dry completely.

Cut cardboard to fit inside the canvas frame, and glue onto back of canvas.

Add ribbon and bow to the front to increase cuteness factor.

Push thumbtacks into canvas. Hang necklaces and bracelets from thumbtacks.

Hang earrings from edge of bowl. Non-hanging earrings can be placed inside bowl for easy access.

All done! Next project: makeover the kitchen pantry.

The Working Mother

After six weeks of maternity leave, I'm entering back into work.

I'll be working part-time, which is so exciting to me. I love my job, and my role as a mother, and feel so grateful for the ability to do both.

Twenty hours a week will be devoted to work, much of which can be done at home. The rest of my time will be spent with my son. Thank goodness, because boy, a six-week-old infant takes up a massive amount of time and attention. Hopefully I'll begin to figure out this new blend of career and family.

In the current economy and work world, I know that even having a job is something that should not be taken for granted. Multiple friends and acquaintances have lost their jobs. I know people who are struggling financially, and doing everything they can to stay afloat. Cutbacks and layoffs have become daily occurrences in the news.

Therefore, I am glad to have a job. I am glad to be doing something that I am passionate about. I am glad that my husband and I are able to provide for our family.

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

One of my first baking experiences was with peanut butter cookies when I was about 11 years old. My mom helped me find a recipe, but I did the rest of the work on my own. I measured and mixed and rolled, and placed my masterpieces in the oven. When I opened the oven door to pull out the finished product, instead of lovely peanut butter cookies, I discovered watery pancake-sized puddles. I had forgotten to add the flour! Sadly, my first batch of cookies were a disastrous, garbage-bound mess.

Unlike my original baking fiasco, this recipe intentionally omits the flour. The result? Some of the best peanut butter cookies I have had in my entire life. Seriously. The cookies are chewy, with a good dose of peanut butter flavor. And you only need a few basic ingredients. All-natural peanut butter is better, in my opinion, but any kind can be used. Enjoy these with a big glass of cold milk!

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, mix together peanut butter and sugars until well combined, about 2 minutes. Add egg and baking soda, and mix for another two minutes. Roll into walnut-sized balls, and place on a greased baking sheet. Make crisscross indents on each cookie with a fork. Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on a baking sheet. Makes about two dozen cookies.