#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

New Year Randomness and Loving Big

January 3, 2012 · Narrative

Sunset - It's My Favorite
I’m warning you ahead of time, this post will be all over the place. But this way I can catch you up and we can dive in to the new year.

Remember how on New Year’s Eve I said that our motto for 2012 was going to be to love, and love big? 2012 arrived with love all around.

My sister-in-law got engaged New Year’s Eve (congrats again, Tia!). How awesome is that? And what a fun way to kick off the new year.

And Mystic said those three little but oh so important words to me. Technically it was 3 am on New Year’s Day, but no matter. We’ve been dating awhile now, and I knew how he felt, and we all know that actions are sometimes better than words. But these words are good to hear too. Um, yeah, now I just need to say it back. I totally can. But I didn’t. I suck at that. And I also hate the reactiveness of saying it right back in response to him. I’m not sure he’s noticed that I didn’t say it. But I sure as heck hope he feels it.

Now for randomness… pure and unadulterated brain dump, by way of photos.

For every New Year’s Eve for the past, oh 15+ years, I’ve done a seafood feast. My how I love that. This year, it was time for a new tradition. I adore Indian food. Like love it, love it, love it. Mystic had never had it before. To me, that seemed like the perfect time to introduce him to it. I ordered up all my favorites, and made use of an embarassingly old gift certificate, and feasted we did.
Indian Food Feast

I’ll just have to find another occasion for a seafood feast. And believe me, I will. The Neighbor Wife and I started reminiscing about all the dishes we’ve had for previous years’ feasts … that trip down memory lane was almost enough to make me change my mind. Almost, but not quite.

Dog Is Joy
I spotted this store window around the corner from Penzey’s on our trip last week and snapped a picture. I thought my Mom would get a kick out of it. And speaking of dogs…

Blinged Out Beau
Their dog, Beauregard, in all his blinged out finery.

Naked Italian Rainbow Cake
My parents host New Year’s Day, and this year my Mom went with an Italian theme. So it seems only appropriate that I bring the Italian Rainbow Cake, no? I used Joanne’s recipe for inspiration, smearing jam and preserves in between the layers, and using the chocolate ganache on the top. Delish, and just might have a permanent place in the New Year’s Day table line-up.

Inside of Italian Rainbow Cake

Claire's Pepperoni Pie
Claire’s Pepperoni Pie, another tradition. Madeline had two slices of it. And then mostly nothing else until dessert.

Warm Lentil Salad
My Mom read somewhere that not only is it good luck to have black-eyed peas on New Year’s, which we, of course, did, but also lentils. And so we did. I’ll get the recipe for this one and write about it later – good stuff, for sure.

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes
Mini Cherry Cheesecakes.

New Years' Luck
Every year, my Mom passes around a bowl with scratch-off tickets for us to try our luck. This year, the winnings totaled $32, which might actually be the record so far. But sadly, the $30k prize is still looming.

Noisemakers
Our little noisemakers.

Craziness at Trader Joe's
Yesterday brought a little outing to Trader Joe’s. I don’t know what it is about that store, but my kids rarely make it out of there without a stern talking to. I can spend hours dragging them all over creation, but five minutes in there and I’m about ready to walk out. And I have before.

Holiday Star Donut
This donut is pure evil. E-v-i-l.

Coloring at Dunkin Donuts
My friend Patrizia is one of those moms who have coloring books and crayons in her purse. Me? Not so much. I’ll have a weird assortment of other things you might need, but never the usual suspects.

Budding Musician
Please ignore the disaster that is her playroom and focus on my budding musician. How cute is she, quietly strumming away on her guitar?

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    January 4, 2012 at 7:21 am

    I’m SO happy for you and the three words! After seeing the two of you together, I totally knew already that they were in play, even if not said. :P

    I would die for an Indian feast on New Year’s. Seriously.

    I’m so glad you liked the rainbow cookie cake! It’s SO good.

    Reply
  2. The Sister In-Law says

    January 4, 2012 at 8:56 am

    Thank you, thank you, thank you. We are so over the moon right now, don’t want to come down!!!

    Very happy for you and the start to your New Year! As Joanne mentions above, after seeing you two together, I’m not surprised.

    Tia (aka SIL)

    Reply
  3. Eileen says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:39 am

    Say the words, if you mean them. How would you feel if you had said it and he hadn’t responded?

    Reply
  4. Patsy says

    January 4, 2012 at 12:00 pm

    Wow! That is so exciting and wonderful! A really fabulous way to start the new year!

    Reply
  5. Paula Ann says

    January 4, 2012 at 8:54 pm

    What a way to ring in 2012! Take all the time you need, Cate. With all the wonderful conversations you and Mystic have had, I suspect he already knows how you feel about him. I’m so happy for you.

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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