Thursday, January 31, 2008
One year old bash
OK if you have read the below post this one should make slightly more sense. (No it still doesn't explain why I am orange). I will just come out and say it -- I ordered a cake for 55 people in honor of Karina's one year old party. That is such total nonsense that it makes it into this blog. I had no idea that many people would RSVP yes. Also when you send out one invite, you often get 3-4 responses. Just who exactly are these people you ask? Family who are crazy enough to fly in, friends from the northside who are crazy enough to drive in, friends with kids, friends without kids, mom's friends, neighbors, and church groupies. To show you that I have some self control, not one of Karina's playgroup members were invited, and no one from her gym day-care (who she sees 4-5x a week) were even considered. Dan told me the other day that he thinks we could have gone to Europe for the money we have already spent on this party. (I don't know how but paper plates, goodie bags, decorations, karina's dress, etc. do add up to a chunk of change. I do however, think he is kidding but with Dan you never can tell). Keep in mind that we moved to PTC in June and into this house in November. How we even know 55 people is perhaps the biggest mystery. No, scratch that. How we are going to pull this off is the biggest mystery.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Letter to Karina
01-01-08
Hi baby princess,
I just put you to bed so I have a few short minutes to write you a letter in the new year. I can't believe it has almost been a year since we welcomed you into this world. I will never, ever forget February 6, 2007 and the days and months leading up to it. I've written to you already the story of your delivery day, but I never told you what happened before...
When mommy was seven months pregnant with you, she got a very weird virus that made her very sick. She was scared that you might be sick too, but thank goodness you were perfect!!! Mommy's virus made her dizzy, like when you spin around very quickly in a chair and then try to walk! She felt really bad for about six months, so bad she couldn't walk very well or drive at all. Mommy's boss had to let her go because she had missed so much work. During that time you were born, and mommy was so scared she wouldn't be able to take care of you very well.
So mommy prayed to God and asked what she should do. God said, "Do not worry because I love Karina SO MUCH too. And I have big plans for her." So mommy felt better, and put all her faith in God that everything would be OK.
So even though mommy still was sick, she knew she could do everything that her baby needed her for. It was mommy and Karina against the world -- and we did it together!!!!
So now you know why your turning one year old is very special. It is a milestone for us to celebrate together as a family. It is not just about cake and decorations but love and faith and family.
Of course, we can't forget our hero, daddy. During the time mommy was sick, he changed your diapers, helped with the bottles, cooked, cleaned and many, many more things. He is a very hands-on daddy with you. He even moved us twice in one year so we could live in a nice house, and a nice city with lots of friends around.
So now you know, as much as I still want you to be my baby, I can't wait for your first birthday.
Love Always,
Mommy
xoxoxoxoxo
Hi baby princess,
I just put you to bed so I have a few short minutes to write you a letter in the new year. I can't believe it has almost been a year since we welcomed you into this world. I will never, ever forget February 6, 2007 and the days and months leading up to it. I've written to you already the story of your delivery day, but I never told you what happened before...
When mommy was seven months pregnant with you, she got a very weird virus that made her very sick. She was scared that you might be sick too, but thank goodness you were perfect!!! Mommy's virus made her dizzy, like when you spin around very quickly in a chair and then try to walk! She felt really bad for about six months, so bad she couldn't walk very well or drive at all. Mommy's boss had to let her go because she had missed so much work. During that time you were born, and mommy was so scared she wouldn't be able to take care of you very well.
So mommy prayed to God and asked what she should do. God said, "Do not worry because I love Karina SO MUCH too. And I have big plans for her." So mommy felt better, and put all her faith in God that everything would be OK.
So even though mommy still was sick, she knew she could do everything that her baby needed her for. It was mommy and Karina against the world -- and we did it together!!!!
So now you know why your turning one year old is very special. It is a milestone for us to celebrate together as a family. It is not just about cake and decorations but love and faith and family.
Of course, we can't forget our hero, daddy. During the time mommy was sick, he changed your diapers, helped with the bottles, cooked, cleaned and many, many more things. He is a very hands-on daddy with you. He even moved us twice in one year so we could live in a nice house, and a nice city with lots of friends around.
So now you know, as much as I still want you to be my baby, I can't wait for your first birthday.
Love Always,
Mommy
xoxoxoxoxo
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Winetasting Notes -- PTC Mom's Club
Who Knew:
-Wine always has less than 15% alcohol
-No wines are actually sweet, that is they have no residual sugar
-The color doesn't come from the grape skins
-Movies play a big role in wine trends
-10 years from now the below cab will hit its peak
My number one favorite:
MacMurray Ranch Pinot Gris Sonoma Coast 2006
Winemaking: Whole cluster pressed. Stainless steel tank fermented for 10-14 days. Aged in French oak barrels for two months and in the bottle for two months.
Tasting Notes:
Aromas: fig, white peach
Flavors: peach, spicy pear, citrus
Mouthfeel: crisp, clean, fresh
Suggested food pairings: sauteed scallops, soft-shell crabs, lobster, foie gras, linguini, and clams
http://www.macmurrayranch.com/
Favorite Red:
St. Francis Sonoma County Syrah 2003:
Winemaking: Aged 15 months in French and American oak, then bottle-aged for 6 months. Blended with Grenache and Sangiovese.
Tasting Notes:
Flavors: peppery, spicy, blueberry, jammy, black fruit
Suggested food pairings: slow-roasted meats and game, robust Italian pastas and tomato dishes, Blue cheese, parmesan, aged goat cheese, cheddar
Honorable Mentions:
Geyser Peak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Winemaking: 100% American oak (20% new)
Tasting Notes:
Aromas: black cherry, blackberry, underlying dark chocolate and spice
Flavors: cherry and berry, hint of spice and vanilla with lingering finish
Suggested food pairings: roasted and grilled meat, cheeses
http://www.geyserpeakwinery.com/
Kenwood Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2005
Winemaking: 25% estate grown. 10% whole-berry fermented in stainless steel tanks. Aged 11 months in 1-3 year old French oak barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Aromas: cherries, black raspberries, followed by rose petals and spice
Flavors: raspberry and plum with a lingering finish
Suggested food pairings: pork, chicken, lamb, salmon
http://www.kenwoodvineyards.com/
Kunde Merlot Sonoma County 2002:
Winemaking: 2002 harvest was characterized by two picking perids separated by a 10 day lull. Extra hang-time for the grapes allowed flavors to deepen. 97.5% Merlot and 2.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14 months of barrel aging in small French and American oak.
Tasting Notes:
Aromas: blackberries
Flavors: ripe black cherries, chocolate
Suggested food pairings: grilled hamburgers, fettucini alfredo
http://www.kunde.com/
Simi Sauvingnon Blanc Sonoma County 2006
Winemaking: 97% sauvingnon blanc, 3% Semillion for richness on the palate. Aged 10 months in new American oak/used French oak barrel mix
Tasting Notes
Aromas: fig, grapefruit, honeydew with light hints of mineral
Flavors: zesty lemon and lime, touches of melon and a clean mineral finish
Mouthfeel: acidy, zingy, crisp
www. simiwinery.com
Gloria Ferrer Chardonnay Carneros 2005
Winemaking: 100% estate fruit. Whole cluster pressed. 1005 barrel fermented. Aged 9 months in French barrels (34% new)
Tasting Notes:
Aromas: ripe mango, Meyer lemon, caramel
Flavors: pineapple, golden delicious apple, toast, prominent oak
Mouthfeel: rich with ample acidity
Suggested food pairings: lobster, grilled pork loin, roasted chicken, fried calamari
Awards: 91 points Wine Enthusiast
www.gloriaferrer.com
-Wine always has less than 15% alcohol
-No wines are actually sweet, that is they have no residual sugar
-The color doesn't come from the grape skins
-Movies play a big role in wine trends
-10 years from now the below cab will hit its peak
My number one favorite:
MacMurray Ranch Pinot Gris Sonoma Coast 2006
Winemaking: Whole cluster pressed. Stainless steel tank fermented for 10-14 days. Aged in French oak barrels for two months and in the bottle for two months.
Tasting Notes:
Aromas: fig, white peach
Flavors: peach, spicy pear, citrus
Mouthfeel: crisp, clean, fresh
Suggested food pairings: sauteed scallops, soft-shell crabs, lobster, foie gras, linguini, and clams
http://www.macmurrayranch.com/
Favorite Red:
St. Francis Sonoma County Syrah 2003:
Winemaking: Aged 15 months in French and American oak, then bottle-aged for 6 months. Blended with Grenache and Sangiovese.
Tasting Notes:
Flavors: peppery, spicy, blueberry, jammy, black fruit
Suggested food pairings: slow-roasted meats and game, robust Italian pastas and tomato dishes, Blue cheese, parmesan, aged goat cheese, cheddar
Honorable Mentions:
Geyser Peak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Winemaking: 100% American oak (20% new)
Tasting Notes:
Aromas: black cherry, blackberry, underlying dark chocolate and spice
Flavors: cherry and berry, hint of spice and vanilla with lingering finish
Suggested food pairings: roasted and grilled meat, cheeses
http://www.geyserpeakwinery.com/
Kenwood Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2005
Winemaking: 25% estate grown. 10% whole-berry fermented in stainless steel tanks. Aged 11 months in 1-3 year old French oak barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Aromas: cherries, black raspberries, followed by rose petals and spice
Flavors: raspberry and plum with a lingering finish
Suggested food pairings: pork, chicken, lamb, salmon
http://www.kenwoodvineyards.com/
Kunde Merlot Sonoma County 2002:
Winemaking: 2002 harvest was characterized by two picking perids separated by a 10 day lull. Extra hang-time for the grapes allowed flavors to deepen. 97.5% Merlot and 2.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14 months of barrel aging in small French and American oak.
Tasting Notes:
Aromas: blackberries
Flavors: ripe black cherries, chocolate
Suggested food pairings: grilled hamburgers, fettucini alfredo
http://www.kunde.com/
Simi Sauvingnon Blanc Sonoma County 2006
Winemaking: 97% sauvingnon blanc, 3% Semillion for richness on the palate. Aged 10 months in new American oak/used French oak barrel mix
Tasting Notes
Aromas: fig, grapefruit, honeydew with light hints of mineral
Flavors: zesty lemon and lime, touches of melon and a clean mineral finish
Mouthfeel: acidy, zingy, crisp
www. simiwinery.com
Gloria Ferrer Chardonnay Carneros 2005
Winemaking: 100% estate fruit. Whole cluster pressed. 1005 barrel fermented. Aged 9 months in French barrels (34% new)
Tasting Notes:
Aromas: ripe mango, Meyer lemon, caramel
Flavors: pineapple, golden delicious apple, toast, prominent oak
Mouthfeel: rich with ample acidity
Suggested food pairings: lobster, grilled pork loin, roasted chicken, fried calamari
Awards: 91 points Wine Enthusiast
www.gloriaferrer.com
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Only Six this Year
2008 is already here...and it promises to be a good one! I am so excited that I am actually posting my resolutions. I think writing them down will give me some extra motivation, and I'm sure you can see why I will be needing it.
1. Do a blog. Why? I haven't a clue. Dan thinks it's a totally weird thing to do, and I actually agree. Still something about it is intruiging and I am already addicted.
2. Run a marathon or a tri-atholon. Also a crazy thing to do, but it feeds my endorphin addiction. Hmm sensing a pattern here.
3. Break all harmful addictions.
4. Go on a short-term mission trip.
5. Make it overseas. With or without the baby? TBD.
6. Stop collecting cookbooks and do some actual cooking. Out of all the running involved in #2 this one is hands down the hardest. Also I can already sense #1 intruding on any time left in the day devoted to #6. This is why there is hamburger meat defrosting in the fridge as I speak. Since you are my only reader, Happy New Year and Happy Birthday Dan!! Let's make it a taco night!
1. Do a blog. Why? I haven't a clue. Dan thinks it's a totally weird thing to do, and I actually agree. Still something about it is intruiging and I am already addicted.
2. Run a marathon or a tri-atholon. Also a crazy thing to do, but it feeds my endorphin addiction. Hmm sensing a pattern here.
3. Break all harmful addictions.
4. Go on a short-term mission trip.
5. Make it overseas. With or without the baby? TBD.
6. Stop collecting cookbooks and do some actual cooking. Out of all the running involved in #2 this one is hands down the hardest. Also I can already sense #1 intruding on any time left in the day devoted to #6. This is why there is hamburger meat defrosting in the fridge as I speak. Since you are my only reader, Happy New Year and Happy Birthday Dan!! Let's make it a taco night!
Our Crazy New Years
We spent this 31st roaming the streets of Boston and browsing Quincy market. The entire time Karina is bundled in a snow suit....No feet and no hands don't stop the world's most social baby. She enthusiastically waves her pink paw at everyone, but we have noticed she likes older men (four or five years) the best.
We eat at Wananamama's* -- this trendy new UK restaurant that our soon-to-be british brother-in-law adores. I have a tofu soup concotion and of course Dan orders the equivalent of chicken fingers.
Having shown the baby her first New England holiday we call it a day and board the last flight out of Logan airport. Any good Delta brat knows that you will not get out on any holiday except New Year's Eve. While the rest of the world parties below, we are cozy in our private row. (Hey with a baby we are living THE dream!)
Back in Atlanta, we continue to celebrate (as with every holiday this year) by unpacking boxes. Somehow though, of all the New Years, this one seems the sweetest. Sure there was the one celebrated at the Palm, with their famous filet mignon (yumm Ok that was a good one too). Ringing in 2008, I am licking sweet potatoes from my fingers and the baby is dancing to Dick Clark. (No this is actually her usual bedtime. Like I said, the world's most social baby). Sweet.
We eat at Wananamama's* -- this trendy new UK restaurant that our soon-to-be british brother-in-law adores. I have a tofu soup concotion and of course Dan orders the equivalent of chicken fingers.
Having shown the baby her first New England holiday we call it a day and board the last flight out of Logan airport. Any good Delta brat knows that you will not get out on any holiday except New Year's Eve. While the rest of the world parties below, we are cozy in our private row. (Hey with a baby we are living THE dream!)
Back in Atlanta, we continue to celebrate (as with every holiday this year) by unpacking boxes. Somehow though, of all the New Years, this one seems the sweetest. Sure there was the one celebrated at the Palm, with their famous filet mignon (yumm Ok that was a good one too). Ringing in 2008, I am licking sweet potatoes from my fingers and the baby is dancing to Dick Clark. (No this is actually her usual bedtime. Like I said, the world's most social baby). Sweet.
*I've since found out the actual name is "Wagamama's". Not "Wannamamma's" or "Whatchamadoodle's." Although those would be good names too.
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