PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT... OR AT LEAST MAKES YOU BETTER

Last Sunday I was a mess. I was just all sorts of out of it. I think I was tired b/c I worked both Friday and Saturday, our house was a mess, we had no food and my anxiety was through the roof. (I know, I know... first world problems. poor me.)

I do have some anxiety issues. It doesn't effect me much these days, but on Sunday it was through the roof. I had almost chalked it up to be a complete disaster of a day until 6pm, when we decided to pack up Ellis, the stroller, my camera and dinner and head down to the Willy Street neighborhoods (downtown) to take a walk. I am in love with that area of Madison. It just makes me happy. I love all of the old houses on the lake and how all the people are actually outside enjoying what is left of summer. I love how the trees canopy over the streets and how it always smells of a BBQ. There was a yoga class going on at a park and it was one of those things that makes my heart smile. I long to be a hippie living on Jennifer Street. :) We walked, talked, I took some pictures with my camera, and we stopped at a park and ate dinner and played with Ellis. It was a pretty perfect ending to a super crappy day.

I love photography. I am not sure how a creative soul couldn't love it. Photography is really such art. I stalk about a million photography blogs and would love to get better at taking pictures myself.  I know the only way that is going to happen is if I practice. what a concept, right? Practice makes perfect... or at least makes you better. :) I have thought about doing the whole 365 project where you take a picture a day, but there is no way I would be able to take an interesting picture every day. I would have a whole ton of pictures of my one year old, with food all over her face, in crappy lighting, in my kitchen.

Anyways, I have vowed to practice taking pictures with my camera once a week and I will probably post them on here. So get ready for a bunch of amateur pictures of flowers and E. Here are a few from our Willy Street walk.

MAKING THINGS PRETTY: BACKGROUNDS

Backgrounds. I used them all the time in my blog posts to give them a little spice! I use them behind quotes, behind images, as parts on my headers and the list goes on. I could always create texture and pattern in photoshop or illustrator myself, but it is much faster to grab them from websites that offer some pretty awesome ones for free.  Blogging takes a lot of time, so I am a huge fan of anything that helps you get the look you want in half the time. :)

Here are a few websites where you can find some good free images:

iphonebackground.tumblr.com |  bgh.ogqcorp.com  |  flickr.com
(note: always check image rights before using)

Here are a few examples of ones I like and how I might use them. 

FALAFEL WITH AVOCADO SPREAD

I know some of you are wondering, what is falafel? 

According to Wikipedia, falafel is: A Middle Eastern dish of spiced mashed chickpeas or other pulses formed into balls and deep-fried.

Well, this falafel is neither made with chickpeas, deep fried nor made into balls. 
My definition is: Kind of like a black bean burger. :)

Anyways, Jodie made it for one of our Monday night dinners last year and it has been a favorite in our house ever since. I love it b/c it is delicious, but also b/c I can freeze it. I make a double batch (8 patties), and we usually eat two and freeze six--- or you can just freeze all eight so they are all ready in the freezer for fast dinners. I also make a double batch of the avocado spread and freeze what we don't use in sandwich-size ziplock bags. I freeze enough spread in each bag for two patties b/c when I thaw the patties, I usually thaw two at a time. The avocado spread actually stays green if you freeze it right away. I also think the lime juice helps to keep its color.

Ingredients

Patties:
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup finely crushed baked tortilla chips (about 3/4 ounce)
2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1 large egg white
1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil

Spread:

1/4 cup mashed peeled avocado
2 tablespoons finely chopped tomato
1 tablespoon finely chopped red onion
2 tablespoons fat-free sour cream (I never use fat free anything)
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1/8 teaspoon salt

Remaining ingredients:
Pita pockets
Red onion slices, separated into rings
Microgreens (I skip these)

Preparation:
• To prepare patties, place pinto beans in a medium bowl; partially mash with a fork. Add cheese and next 5 ingredients (through egg white); stir until well combined. Shape bean mixture into 4 (1/2-inch-thick) oval patties.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add patties to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until patties are browned and thoroughly heated. (If frozen, cook for about 6-7 minutes each side)
• To prepare spread, combine all ingredients - stir well. 

To assemble:

Spread about 2 tablespoons of avocado spread over patty and place it in a pita pocket; top with onions and greens.

grease the pan and cook each side until crispy

avocado spread

(Recipe from Cooking Light - September 2007)

AUGUST WISH LIST

Life on a budget. I know I have hit on this subject many times before. Budgeting is all about knowing where your money goes so you can put it where you want -- like spending less on clothes and golf so you can put money in your daughter's college fund. :) I guess that what budgeting means in our family at least.

Logan and I decided to both give ourselves a monthly budget to spend on whatever we want that is not considered a necessity. This way I can buy as many pairs of shoes as I want and he can order as many iphone/ipad gadgets as he wants and there is no arguing as long as we stay within the budget. Simple, right? So far, so good. I know our little personal budget system isn't rocket science, but it is new for us. Anyways, it has been kind of fun to plan out what I want to spend my budget on.  I know it is half way through the month, but here is my August wish list. Now, trust me, there is no way I could buy all of these items. Heck, I couldn't even buy the watch on my budget, but a girl can dream, right?! I could always find one similar for half the price. I have pretty decent competitive on-line shopping skills. ;)

I started with Pinterest and then found similar items online.  It kind of gets out my itch to shop for all these things, without actually buying all of them. Is that weird? maybe. :)

PINTEREST INSPIRATION:

MY WISH LIST: Super pumped that two of the items are from local (for me) companies! Gotta love shopping local!

ONE ($50)  |  TWO ($149.99)  |  THREE ($100)  |  FOUR ($145)

FIVE ($21.99)  |  SIX ($6.95)  |  SEVEN ($225)  |  EIGHT ($19.90)

NINE ($31.48)  |  TEN ($49.95)  |  ELEVEN ($24.95)  |  TWELVE ($44)  |  THIRTEEN ($15)

KADEN TURNS ONE - HIS 'FAVORITE FOODS' THEMED BIRTHDAY BASH

I was so excited when Amanda asked me to design a few pieces for her son's first birthday party. First birthday parties can be hard. One year olds aren't into Superman or Barbies yet, so it is hard to pick a theme. You know what they are into though?! FOOD! :) When Amanda told me her theme for Kaden's special day, I thought the idea was so cute and I couldn't wait to get started. I created his invitation, food tags and a 4ft tall menu board! His party was last weekend and Amanda sent me a few pictures of the day, including one of the fun, blue ombre cake she made him. Kaden is one lucky little man!

His blue highchair was refinished and painted by Oak + Olive, right here in Madison! Didn't it turn out adorable!?
Oak + Olive up-cycles, restores, and revives quality furniture for fun and function. Make sure you contact them the
next time you find a piece that needs a little TLC.

My next birthday assignment is a rhino cake for my adorable nephew for his first birthday.  The theme is this cute little stuffed rhino that he loves. They say he is more like a fat blue hippo that wants to be a unicorn. ;) 

These one year olds are keepin' me busy!

ELLIS - 16 MONTHS

Oh Ellis! You make me smile every single day and not a day has passed since you were born that I have not felt like the luckiest person on earth b/c I get to be your Mama. You are outgoing, loud, and the most lovable little human in my world. You are my world and you are your Daddy's world, too. You dance in circles, throw your toys, squeal with delight, and scream all of the time. You love Oliver and Emma (our pups) and you especially love baby dolls. You are not much of a cuddler b/c you want to be moving all of the time. You got your Daddy's looks, but I know you got my personality. You are, without a doubt, going to give me a run for my money b/c I sure did give my mom a run for hers. I wouldn't have it any other way. You think I am funny and you think your Daddy is REALLY funny. I am glad you do, b/c usually don't. ;) I cannot get enough of your sweet giggles and your cute little pigeon-toed walk. I love you to the moon and back Little Miss Ellis Averee. I do.

Like mother, like daughter. We are rockin' some summer white.

DECK OUT YOUR DESKTOP

My office cube at work is filled with paperwork, random crap and dust at the moment, but at least my desktop is always pretty! I love that so many talented bloggers/designers just GIVE us pretty freebies to deck out our desktops! Here are a few of my very favorites! (My computer is rocking the pink ombre at the moment :)

to to bottom - left to right

aztec print  |  house & clouds  |  fancy that  |  august poppies  |  let's run away  |  august butterflies & flowers

you git this  |  vintage floral  |  watercolor floral  |  popsicles  |  pink ombre

Hopefully after this big event is over this weekend, I can clean up my
workspace and make it equally as pretty as my mac. :) We will see...