#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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Food and Life

Eat.Live.Be. Kick-Off {2013}

January 2, 2013 · Eat. Live. Be.

elb motivation
It’s not about exercise.

Or eating healthy foods.

Or fitness.

Or motivating you.

It’s about everything.

Everything that permeates your life.

But most of all?

It’s about being intentional.

And while I haven’t decided if intentional is my one small word for the year, it most definitely is a focus of mine.

Whether it’s my job, spending time with the kids, my freelancing, or working out.

Or a million and one other things.

I want to be intentional and present with each and every thing I do.

Because this moment. And this moment. And this moment. Are already gone. And I don’t want to have one single regret.

Should ofs.

Would haves.

Could haves.

But didn’t.

And so with a new year begins new resolve. New commitments. New rituals.

And I have that. In spades.

For a million and one things. But most certainly for me, my kids, and the little world around us.

Whether you’re looking to feed yourself better. Or be better about working out regularly. Or be more committed to your job. Or your partner. Or anything and everything in between. I hope you’ll join us as we begin Eat.Live.Be 2013. We’ll be posting on ELB topics on Wednesdays (you can check out Joanne’s right here, Patsy’s here, and Sarah’s here).

Sometimes we need a little fire lit underneath us. Or just to know that you have a giant support group via the interwebs. For whatever little and big goal you have. For yourself. For your year.

We’ve got you.

*And if you decide to post on this topic, please leave a comment so I can come support YOU. And when tweeting and Instagramming about it, use hashtag #eatlivebe.

Untitled
Now while you’re in the right frame of mind, how about a healthy, full-flavor little snack recipe? I love me a good caponata, and this one is very simple, filling, and completely guilt-free.

Which is currently my love language.

I was trying to describe Caponata to a co-worker today, who had never heard of it. I went with “it’s like bruschetta, but different.” And so it is. A more technical definition would be that it’s a cooked Sicilian vegetable salad. It’s the perfect little thing to top your favorite cracker (hello Wheat Thins!) and a good little nosh in between meals. A little teensy bit of tang, but just overall a hearty bite to it … it’s a smart way to tide you over when you just need something small to keep you sane until the next meal.

And, of course, that’s not a Wheat Thin in the picture. Although I love them, this little bite happened to be with the organic blue corn tortilla chips from the folks at Garden of Eatin’. I cleaned out our kitchen pantry tonight and spied a few bags of these babies. The company had kindly sent them my way to try, and it was the perfect vehicle to get the Caponata into my mouth. It’s a seriously sturdy chip, which makes it perfect for dipping and Caponatas, has a little touch ‘o salt to it and is bursting with wholesome goodness.

And really, that’s enough, right?

…

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Recipe: Caponata

April 28, 2011 · Narrative

Caponata

I am a big fan of appetizers.

And finger food.

Which doesn’t always line up well with clean eating.

Luckily I recently became a bit obsessed with making caponata.

So I was able to get a finger food that is pretty close in terms of clean eating.

Another Charlie Sheen moment, but this time, it’s an epic win.

Slightly sweet.

Slightly salty.

And just this side of guilt-free eating.

I mean, look at all those vegetables you’re eating!

Good stuff, people, good stuff.

I didn’t measure how much it made in total, but I can tell you this…

It makes this much:
This Much

I gave two containers away and kept one for us here.

Go ahead and make some.  And share.  With your neighbors.  They like that sort of thing.  Be a good neighbor!  Or share with your kids’ teacher.  Just because.  She liked that sort of thing.  But keep some for yourself too.

I mean, charity begins at home, right?

I might pop in here between now and Sunday night.  And surprise you.  I might not.  I am so behind on posts.  Nutella brownies.  Jam bars.  A kid field trip.  Pizza reviews.  Oyster crackers review.  An upcoming craft night.  So much.  But not tonight.

Project 365
April 28, 2011, Photo #117

LoveMadeline loves the odd occasion when her big brother can pop into her school, and since today was Take Your Child to Work Day, and he went with me, today was one such occasion.  She loves showing him off.  I can’t blame her.

DaydreamingWe do this a lot in our family, lying on the ground, looking up at the sky. Watching the clouds drift by. Picking out different shapes. Listening for animals.  Enjoying the sky as the sun sets and the colors shift to dusk and eventual nightfall. It’s an awesomely free activity.   As soon as the weather is warm enough, we’re popping the tent and camping outside one night. Another awesomely free activity.  Heaven help us.  Alone.  Outside.  In the dark.  With everything else that lives outside.  And the kids.  I think I can.  I think I can.  I think… yes, I can.

…

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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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