Peace Out

Off to Canada. Ryan and I are leaving for our vacation today. I'm excited to say that I will not be a slave to my phone (mainly because we didn't want to spend the extra money for an international plan). It should be a nice and relaxing vacation. I'll be back in a couple weeks with an update.

Competitive Shopping

I love to shop at places like Marshalls, Ross, Homegoods, Tuesday Morning, Goodwill and garage sales. You never know what you will find at these places, which is what makes it fun. Plus I am always after a good deal. Um..hello $0.50 Le Creuset baking dishes at a garage sale! I normally like to take my time a browse the isles for little treasures. But lately I have noticed something. There is always another woman at these stores, not the same woman...but the same type. This woman happens to have the same taste as me. Here is an example of how the problem occurs:

Recently I was at Marshalls meandering my way up the homegoods section. I was looking at the Le Creuset items they had. Then a woman and I went to grab the same ramekin set. I was kind and told her to go ahead and look at it and went on with my browsing. At the same time we both spotted the colbalt cast iron soup oven. We glanced at each other then darted to the item. I got there first. I wound up passing on the item due to the enormous chip in the lid. But she kept it. We both realized that we were looking for similar things and suddenly we were in a competition. Who could find the items first. I now had to rush down the isles to look for the things I wanted so this woman wouldn't take them. We were almost racing down the isles trying to beat the other. I'm sure it was a ridiculous sight, but so many items at these stores are only there once. You gotta be the first to find them or you are SOL.

So now you understand my dilemma. It has been happening so often lately. When did the relaxing experience of shopping become competitive? Will I always have to be looking over my shoulder to see if someone is trying to steal my great deal?

Look...she wears pearls in the kitchen

Last week Ryan and I went and saw "Julie and Julia" at the theater. It was a little treat for me since I was employee of the month at work and got a gift card to the movies. I found the movie absolutely delightful. After it was over Ryan and I both said that we wished that it could have been a whole movie about Julia Child. She was such an interesting person and so full of life. I read the "Julie and Julia" book as well as the blog. They were both great reads, if you haven't gotten around to it before. I picked up a copy of Julia Child's "My Life in France" to read.



I have a few of her cookbooks and have loved her approach to cooking. I have enjoyed watching her old tv shows. We owe so much to Julia she was the one who pioneered the way for foodies and Chefs across the world. Without her we would probably have to Martha, Gaida, Rachel, Bobby, and so many others. I wouldn't have the collection of cookbooks that I have now if there was no Julia.
I love this picture of Julia! The way she is waving that cleaver is so funny. I can tell you that you would never catch a celebrity chef posing for a picture like this. They all need there perfect sets and hair and makeup crews.



What blows me away is that after all these years is that she is suddenly popular again. All of her books are in the top 50 bestsellers. Almost every bookstore is sold out of "The Art of French Cooking" and most of the other books. Julie Powell recreated Julia Child to a generation of people who have lost the understanding for fine cooking. We live in a world where we would rather have a 30 min meal than take the time to bone a duck or braise stew. Yet Julia didn't like Julie and her project. Although Julia is not with us anymore I think that she would be grateful for all the people who have rediscovered her and her appealing way of French cooking. If you have never read one of her books I highly recommend them. Not only are they full of delicious recipes but they have wonderful tips of cooking technique. Something that anyone in the kitchen needs.



Until next time Bon Appetit!

Photo Contest

So a few months ago I entered a photo contest. I actually submitted a few pictures (you could enter 10) and guess what? I won a prize! I got 2nd place for this little picture of Brooklyn and Carter.

I really cropped this picture down from the original and was kind of unsure of how the composition was. But I went with it and it turned out well for me. So I'm super excited about winning. Yea me!!

Photograph....

So on the 8th of August I got the privilege of making money the most easy was possible, doing something I love. Ryan's cousin Rachel got married and I was asked to be the photographer. I was flattered beyond words. I love taking pictures and to be able to share my love with people is such a special feeling. While I am no where near professional standards I think that I did a fairly good job. Here are a few of my favorites from the day.
Did I mention that Ryan and I each caught something special?

July Part 2

Our other adventure for July was going to Cannon Beach for the day with Ryan's family. It was the first time that his Grandma Hennessy got to meet Heidi and Chase's twins. Everyone else stayed for a few nights at the beach house. But as always Ry and I had to head home that night to go to work the next day.

The rest of the month was filled with trying to get settled in the new place, Ryan painting a house, the way to hot weather, class and laying by the pool.

July Part 1

So after promises of being a better blogger I have gone yet again with a major lapse in my entries. Now that we are well into August I think that I will back track to July with a recap of the month.

The month started with Ryan and I taking a trip to Bend. If you read this blog you will know how much we love this place. Every time we visit we long to move there. Maybe someday if the economy ever turns we can find jobs there.... Anywho got a well deserved mini vacation and traveled around Central Oregon. Our first full day there was spent driving around the High Lakes. We started out driving to Fall River. I have special memories of going here with my parents and my Grandpa D.

It truly is a beautiful place, see all those fish!!


Next we drove to South Twin. Another place special to me. I spent alot of summers here as a kid with my Grandma and Grandpa Erickson. It was crazy going back after all these years. It was exactly as I remembered it, only smaller. It's funny how that works to me. Everything is so big when you are a child.

We made a loop around all the lakes and I have tons more pictures of it, if you really want to see them check out facebook.

The next day we went to Smith Rock. While most people visit this shear mass of rock to climb its walls, we decided to hike it.

We spent the rest of our time there exploring the town on foot and eating good food. If you ever make it there I HIGHLY recomend Flatbread in the Old Mill. It's one of Ryan's and my favorite restourants.