Late Winter

Well, even though it is March, it did not feel close to spring this past weekend at all.  It was cold and windy and mostly grey. I decided to do a little indoor gardening. We had a few plant losses recently so I wanted to get a few fresh plants and do some repotting. (Lesson learned though: wear gloves when repotting cacti...)

Mike and I made an amazing soup this weekend, I think it was my favorite soup ever.  It was cream of root vegtables with citrus spices. It was such an incredible mix of flavors. On the side, we had nachos with radishes and cilantro. It was a yummy dinner for late winter!

We got out of town and met Mike's mom and niece in NYC at the Met to see the Matisse exhibit. After a few hours wondering the great halls of the huge museum, we all met Michael and Hina (cousins) for lunch near the museum.

Winners

This year, we geared up for a serious Oscar-viewing gathering at Donna's, which included a lot of bling and games, of course. It was the 85th Oscars night! The gals put on sparkly eye makeup, bling bling jews and high heels with our jeans. Mike even put on an evening jacket (oh, well over his hippy flannel shirt) and Will put on a tux shirt and bow tie!!

We played TWO oscar games and stayed up until the very end. It was fun. I did not see serveral of the nominated movies but manged to see a few of them. I was really happy for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lawernce, my two fav movies this year.

And I loved it when Michelle Obama joined in on the sparkly oscar excitement!!

Bad lighting but you can see the sparkles

My Oscar Bingo card

Lots of sewing

Despite all of the writing lately, I have managed to put my sewing machine to work a bit here and there.  There are quite a few cute babies in my life right now so I made some baby gifts and used some new sewing materials at the same time. First up, a terry velour hoody towel for my tiny niece and it even had a little colorful wren on the outside fabric!

Then I used a fuzzy blanket fabric for a baby blanket for a friend's new baby girl. I used the tying technique to 'quilt' the 2 layers with pink ties!

Oh, there have been some zippers in my life lately as well.  My cousin Laura, who just learned how to sew just a few months ago, is already onto zippers! We made some valentine zipper pouches.  We also found a sewing notion store 2 blocks from her house that has a whole room just for zippers!! All colors, all sized. So we have some more zipper plans...

Finally, some snow, a lot of it.

Well, the Blizzard of 2013 occurred here in north jersey.  We got about 15 or so inches, it was beautiful and quiet and still.  And the sun came out after all of the snow fell. A perk of being a renter: you get to stay inside view the pretty white snow with warm coffee in hand, while the hired (by landlord) people take care of the driveway. My back thanks you guys.

Mike, happy that our landlord had the driveway cleared!

warm and sunny inside

our backyard

It has been a crazy few months: writing writing writing my dissertation draft.  Finally, just yesterday, my Dissertation Chair sent out my full draft to the whole committee for my first Full-Committee Review. If all goes well, I will get feedback, work for a few weeks to make changes and defend it!! Cross your fingers...then walk in May...

A lot of path models in my life lately. 

After a long week of late nights writing, my valentine treated me to gorgeous flowers, the best Indian take out around (which is my fav), and yummy dessert.

And now for the Saturday paper and a yummy hot beverage (we might have gotten a really fun new kitchen appliance that involved steamed milk). Because this Saturday and Sunday, I will not be writing or reading or editing my dissertation.  Not for a minute.

almost snow but very cold

It has been SO cold lately.  Not much snow, although I took a few photos today while there was a tiny dusting of snowflakes on the ground before the sleet, freezing rain, and rain move in later.

Mike and I made a yummy soup dinner the other night to beat the cold so I thought I would link the recipe.  It was SO delicious.  I made a tiny bit of adjustments: instead of all carrots, I added a few parships and one tiny tiny sweet potato in with the carrots. I used ginger lime salt when I roasted the chickpeas - these are such a yummy little treat to have around to throw in soup or in salads. We made BLTH's to go with the soup - bacon, lettuce, tomato, and hummas on pumpernickel! It went so perfectly with the soup!

This is another wintery soup, healthy and good.  It is more brothly than a traditional chili and we added a lot of toppings!

Keep warm!!

Cold winter days and celebration

We had a long weekend to celebrate MLK and Obama's second inauguration. I had to work on my dissertation for some of the weekend, but luckily, I got a treat too.  Kevin and Holly and the little ones came from a visit in Brooklyn to our house for a visit. We had a big family dinner at Donna's and then got to chill all day on MLK day. We took vidoes of littest O, which turned into Kevin and Mike taking videos of videos of videos (long story).  But here is a cute one. 

Its funny, at 9 weeks, O is finding her hand! At 2.5 years, O1 was reading 'organic' and 'chocolate' on his milk box.

Sam and Orion building things 

FOOD

Early Winter Days

Well, I turned 38 recently, which seems wild to me. I received lovely gifts and had a lovely chill celebration. Two lovely people gifted me hot beverage treats, which is my favorite, but also fit nicely into my guiding word, as the gifts helped me slow down, sip, enjoy, breathe in and out, and take some moments for myself. I have been sipping and enjoying Downton Abby lately. I am in Season 2, so trying to catch up. (I do think I was meant for early 1900's England...)

We went to see Cake right in town.  It is so fun when good bands come to our town, the venue is lovely and it is just walk away (or really quick drive).  You stay out late but home in a minute.

And just this weekend, I got to meet Sam, my good friend's baby who was born 4 weeks ago. What a lovely new baby in my life!!

How is this early 2013 winter treating you lately?

Mike and Sam

Jessie, Sam, and I

CAKE

My new gaiwan and special tea 

Donna's pretty table for the best Indian food I have ever had

 I am hoping for some photos to snow soon...it is January after all.