my everyday life, Photography
|
May 17, 2020

My Everyday Life: Week 20

Here’s what this past week looked like – My Everyday Life Week 20

One of my high points this week was taking a drive up to Yountville to pick up dinner at Ad Hoc.

Their emails come to me every morning and I fawn over their menus. Whenever it says FRIED CHICKEN, I’m in!

We picked up some dinner for one of my favorite families- THE HEARNS who are moving to Wisconsin and I am so very sad. Let me tell you that it is HARD TO NOT HUG YOUR FRIENDS BECAUSE YOU LOVE THEM AND YOU WON’T GET TO HUG THEM FOR A WHILE AND THEY ARE MOVING OUT OF STATE.  I can’t wait to visit them though. 

My brain was happy we were road tripping. I slept so well that night.

Maybe it was because I was emotionally exhausted or maybe my brain was full of beauty from the car window?

I will miss you Helen Jane!!

I let this rose sit on top of this cake for days before I let Cooper have it.

I told him I needed it to take a picture.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES HE ASKED ME IF HE COULD EAT THAT ROSE?

A LOT.

We got a cake by delivery from Miette. They now ship!

It was a perfect Mother’s Day treat that we picked on for a few days at my house!

CONTINUE READING

7 comments
LISTS
|
May 15, 2020

I LOVE LISTS

I LOVE LISTS

  1. Stories about people who are in scenic limbo.
  2. My inner age is 54
  3. My personality type is a BUILDER.
  4. Things that people do that no one talks about.
  5. I need to try this closing a cereal box hack!
  6. I must show this to Cooper!
  7. If my family liked beans I’d make pizza beans all the time.
  8. Will my only child be lonely during the pandemic?
  9. The future of outdoor dining?
  10. Comfort food reminder: Bowls of Goodness
  11. Whoaaaa. Look at this building.
  12. You should definitely learn your grandma’s recipe rn.
  13. I’m glad my grandma taught me how to make ravioli.
  14. Grocery bills are rising.
  15. Quarantine fatigue is real.
  16. Self-care is not enough for mothers who are burnt out.
  17. We enjoyed watching an Office reunion this week.
  18. Moms doing Mom things. I miss my Mom.
  19. Learn how to draw Totoro!
  20. My quarantine outfit: leopard pants, black v-neck, birks
  21. Weekend reading: Everything is Under Control

Also, if you’re looking to do something productive with your time, take some Skillshare classes. It has definitely helped me grow my creative practice. Here are two months of FREE premium membership when you sign up. 

2 comments
recipes
|
May 13, 2020

Broccoli Beef

On about day 40 of sheltering in place, I lost my cooking mojo. I found myself in a major food rut.  I didn’t want to clean anymore and my back hurt.  I got caught up in making bread and OH MY GOD THAT GETS MESSY. When I’m in a food rut, making a new recipe can usually pull me out of the funk.  But I didn’t know how to get groceries regularly and panicked about having enough food (that my family would like).  So we all ate a lot of bread until I could find a good way to get food during this pandemic. My friend Gaby’s new cookbook – Eat What You Want arrived last week (around day 55 of sheltering in place)  and while I was flipping through I spotted the Broccoli Beef recipe.  Oooooh! I had a head of broccoli to use up and some flank steak in the freezer!

Having all of the ingredients to make something new during this time is a special kind of magic.

(look how many recipes I’ve marked to try in this cookbook!  It’s my kinda food!)

This Broccoli Beef recipe fits the bill for everyone.

I love broccoli.

My boys love meat. 

If we combine it with rice, we have a full meal.

IN A BOWL. 

Do you know how much I love eating things in bowls?

Cooper didn’t complain about the onions (YAY), Casey had seconds and we saved a portion for me to use in fried rice the following day. The sauce is gingery and slightly sweet. I love how the onions melt in the dish. It really did taste like we ordered takeout! Welcome to the meal rotation, Broccoli Beef.  The Benjamin Family is happy to have you cuz WE ALL EAT BROCCOLI AND THAT IS GREAT.

CONTINUE READING

8 comments
LISTS
|
May 11, 2020

Intentions for the Week

Looking to get your head in the game? Tracy from Shutterbean makes a weekly TO DO LIST called her Intentions for the Week. Here's what this week looks like:

Intentions for the Week – Week 20 of 2020

Happy Monday! 

I slept in for the first time in forever this weekend. I spent time visiting with friends through Facetime and over phone calls. We even had a social distancing cocktail hour with my neighbors in our driveway.  So many social dates all while sheltering in place. We’re making it work! We worked in the garden. Cucumbers were put into the planter beds. I grew them from seed!  I made a few arrangements of succulents in the yard and thought about my Mom while I worked in my childhood garden. Mother’s Day this year was quiet and that is exactly what I wanted.   Let’s take a moment and write down our Intentions for the Week, shall we? It’s a good way to check-in with yourself. Here is mine!

CONTINUE READING

3 comments
my everyday life, Photography
|
May 10, 2020

My Everyday Life Week 19

Here’s what this past week looked like – My Everyday Life Week 19

Working on produce shots this week for a client.

I was in my happy place…

Playing with food…

I forget how much the colors of fruits and vegetables speak to me.

I was supposed to teach a class in Santa Fe this month but it got canceled due to the pandemic.

I’m so bummed but also grateful to have stuff to work on. I love a creative challenge.

Social distancing with trees.

CONTINUE READING

8 comments
LISTS
|
May 8, 2020

I LOVE LISTS

I LOVE LISTS

  1. What is this thing? The internet knows.
  2. Ordering groceries online can be misleading.
  3. I would totally be this guy.
  4. How to avoid burnout during a pandemic.
  5. Celebrities- then & now.
  6. This is what happens to couples under stress.
  7. Photos of the flower moon.
  8. I’m a dessert snob.
  9. So many empty shelves in grocery stores right now.
  10. Solve your problems with these outlandish remedies. 
  11. These insects aren’t murder hornets so don’t kill them. 
  12. Parenting achievements during quarantine
  13. Martha Stewart is isolating with her gardener.
  14. What shopping will be like, post pandemic.
  15. My mom used to talk about how cool the Cliff House was- this was before her time.
  16. Some relics from my childhood.
  17. This makeup tutorial made me LOL.
  18. Think you’re having a bad day? These people have got you beat.
  19. Something to play with- water reversal photos
  20. Weekend Reading: The Upside of Being Down / Eat What You Want
  21. I finally found an outdoor table cloth I love!
  22. Make my Mom’s coffee cake for Mother’s Day xoxo

Sending out food journals this weekend.  There’s more in the shop!!!

I need to get back on board with healthy eating.

JOIN ME!

Also, if you’re looking to do something productive with your time, take some Skillshare classes. It’s helped me grow my creative practice. Here are two months of FREE premium membership when you sign up. 

0 comments
Inspiration
|
May 5, 2020

Currently April 2020

Currently April 2020

April can be summed up into two words.

BACK PAIN. 

My sciatica acted up this month after doing a bunch of yard/housework and I have been laying on the floor all month. Actually that’s not true. It’s been three weeks. But, I finally got an appointment with my chiro. Things got better and now my knee hurts.  It put a lot of my organizing plans on hold.

See also: The Body Keeps the Score

The 100-day project started in April. I decided to start hand-lettering things my Mom used to say.

#100thingsmymomusedtosay   (on my instagram!)

It’s been a good way for me to remember how to Mom myself and process what’s happening right now.

There were quite a few days this month where I WAS OVER IT ALL.  I went out, got groceries, and then sat in my car, in the driveway for about a half-hour until I got out and went back into the house. Being at home feels like Groundhog’s Day. I keep trying to clean my house and it never gets clean. My child will have about 5 outfit changes in one day and will leave his clothes all over the place. We are working hard to break that habit. I’m tired of hearing my voice say PUT YOUR CLOTHES AWAY. But the weather has been nice and we have a lot to be grateful for.

CONTINUE READING

5 comments