gone fishin'

my mom is flying into town tonight
we're all leaving in the morning to go play in the mountains for a few days
and celebrate herb's 35th birthday
he is really excited to have two whole days in which he is:
"in my mid-30's and married to a woman in her 20's!"
he thinks he is such a hot-shot
and then, i turn 30 two days later!
sorry hot shot.

pictures and stories will surely follow when we get home next week.
enjoy the weekend!
cara

Over and Out (again!)

here are a few things i did in the last 32 hours!
FUN!

and now . . . we are heading out of town tomorrow
morning for herb's cousin's wedding.
hmmm.
weird to put two possesives in a row.
is that right?
"herb's cousin's wedding"???
at any rate, we are out of here -
milwaukee or bust, baby!

enjoy the rest of your week
c

some random information

here is the latest page i made with my Red Velvet Art kit .
rachel and emma are doing a great job with these kits!
if you are not a scrapper, but you sew, check out their may project kit!
CUTE CUTE
CUTIE CUTE-ERSON!
(the word CUTE starts to look funny after awhile)

i have never used kits before
it is challenging
but i really like the gratification that comes
from challenging yourself to use
products you might never choose or put together!
love it!
(it doesn't hurt that rachel is the sweetest thing!
so fun to buy something from someone you like!)

well, i cleaned out my dresser drawers today
just like i have written on my list.
"organize drawers"
done.

but leave it to me to clean them out
sort them out
refold and reorganize them
and leave all of the rubble
(you know the clothes that need to be
given away or put in the basement or just
hung up in the closet)
in a huge pile on the bed.

don't worry herb, it will be taken care of
before you come home.

i am procrastinating
can you tell?
two other things i am avoiding:
i have to call my insurance company
and i need to write client notes
i just don't like either of those things
and apparently it has gotten so bad that my
dresser drawers are now organized and purged
of things that don't fit.

when you start putting things off things you don't
want to do by doing other
things that you have been putting off,
you know you are having "a moment".

i took herb on his "may date" this weekend
(we alternate taking a turn each month to plan a fun date)
after saturday, i am proud to state that
i think i qualify for "most mediocre wife ever"!

why?
well, the date itself ROCKED
breakfast at his favorite place
touring the city in the mini cooper
looking at cool architechture and new lofts
coffee and newspaper
a flee market
and the best . . .
we went to watch a "dance dance revolution tournament"
at the library
(this left a lot to desire, but it was a funny idea
the fact that it was hosted by the library should have tipped me off.
but like the marching band at my high school, our public library system
is one of those things that should be nerdy but is actually pretty cool!)

now, the fact that i am a bonehead sometimes
coupled with the fact that i was not necissarly herb's favorite PERSON
on the planet during out date
(in fact maybe at the bottom of his list at the time)
takes the "awesome factor"
down a few notches
but when you mix it all together,
i figure it qualifies me as:

Most Mediocre Wife Ever

i'll take it.
live and learn
live and learn
and don't be a bonehead to you
sweet husband.
try.
try hard.

other news:
i had my hair colored dark a few weeks ago
i am not sure if this picture is pretty and dramatic
or just sort of creepy,
bordering on "psycho-killer".
you decide.

i love love love it (the hair)!

and we bought this cute new flower pot yesterday

it makes me happy with the marigolds in it
we buy marigolds every year
as a sort of informal, unspoken tribute to herb's mom
(she passed away several years ago)
i like having them right there next to the front door.

here is a picture of my sweet birthday soul sister, aly
my cousin's little girl
we share a birthday
the thing about aly is that she REFUSES to have her picture taken
at christmas, the only half-way decent picture i could get of her
had her finger up her nose
on purpose.

it was only after i asked her to help me take a picture of her dog lucy
that she would show me her face
i think she forgot i wasn't taking picture of the dog anymore.
so funny!


TONIGHT is my april date from herb
(sometimes we get a little behind)
if the weather holds,
we are going to the botanical gardens
and either way, dinner.
sound fun!

and i got my first ever order of Hambly products
this afternoon
if you don't scrapbook, this means nothing
if you DO, then you know i am a little bit excited
to try out these fun papers and overlays!
YES!

okay, i need to go be productive.
really.

i mean it this time.

O.U.T

Out.
That is what I am.
In Missouri.
Visiting family and my best friends.
Missing Herbie.
But you know what they say about distance.

Hope to have some fun pictures to share when I get back - hacking around with the camera lately. Man, it is NOT easy to take great pictures.
Next stop, learn how to use Photoshop!

But first, family time and that fantastic river rock massage tomorrow! YES!

What have YOU been looking forward to lately???

me. today.

drinking: water

reading: "girl in the mirror" and "queen bees & wannabes"

learning: why are ALL of my adolescent female clients trying to hurt themselves?

wondering: am i going to be ready when my internship team starts in june? do i have what it takes to teach them how to be good therapists?

listening: the weepies

wearing: dark jeans and a "librarian-sexy" see through blouse with poofy sleeves and a tie around the neck. black mary janes.

temperature: chilly but nice fresh air coming through the window

location: my tiny little office in the city - love it!!!!

outlook: hopeful

excited about & grateful for:
* new car to replace our leased car that we are turning in next week -
she is deep red-ish orange and i named her daphne because she is sleek and svelt . . . like a 40's pin-up girl.

* going to visit my lovely sister and girlfriends in kansas city next week! i get to follow kelly around while she shoots a wedding! so so so excited to learn from her magical ways!

* nothing ever stays the same. in the case of marriage, this is proving to be a very delightful truth!

* i ordered my mothers day gift two weeks ago! it will be arriving at her home sometime next week! yes! i love it when i am organized!

* my gran gosney is coming to stay with us for 4 or 5 days next month!

* summer in denver is amazing! can't wait for the farmer's markets, outdoor movies, hiking, and more and more and more!

* i turn 30 in 2 months and one week! . . . starting to wrap my head around that a little bit! unlike my 25th (which was seriously traumatic for me), i am actually pretty excited and feeling good about it all!

* i have been scrapping and making art without feeling guilty about all of the "wasted" time that i am not cleaning the house or doing "real" work!

* going to a wedding tomorrow night! delighted to be a small part of their story of love and redemption!

* making new friends in denver! lots of quality women are popping up in my world these days!)

* i am learning to CHOOSE joy and happiness everyday!

I Like Rocks ***elsie challenge***

today, elsie flannigan did a challenge over at creating keepsakes .
the idea was to scrap a page about something you find beautiful . . .
something that is simple and ordinary and everyday.

there are so many things . . .
kids playing on the playground
the flowers in my front yard
the vintage looking label on the brand of coconut milk i buy . . .
my husband's silly smile that he makes after he has made a joke and is waiting for the perfect pause in the conversation to say his next joke . . . .
the beautiful old wooden floors in our home . . .
so many many things . . .

but there is one thing that came to mind front and center -
(maybe because i had a picture printed and ready to go!?!?!)

the truth is . . .
i really love rocks.
when i go somewhere special, i pick up a rock.
when i am having a hard day, i pick up a rock.
if there is something i want to be sure to remember,
you get it . . .
ROCK!

we have a small and growing menagerie of these memories on our window sill.
there is the flat, round one i picked up one day and sat on the top of my computer at work - i wrote "strength" on it (just as a little reminder that god is my rock and my strength)
then there is the one my sister picked up on a walk back in 2003 over thanksgiving - when we celebrated our last holiday with our beloved aunt sara a few weeks before cancer took her body.
there is the heart shaped one i picked up in hawaii for herb the first time i realized i was in love with him . . .
and the little tiny castle shaped one from our honeymoon that reminded me of the watch towers that dotted the amalfi coast (you know, to protect the city from pirates!?!?!?!)
. . . our most recent addition is the two small white shiny stones we gave to each other during a ritual at the marriage conference this weekend.
it is my version of a modern day karin (not so sure of the spelling on this one)
the way i understand it, "karin" is the irish practice of stacking stones to mark a special moment or place or time.
ancients used to collect and stack rocks when they found some sort of victory.
the isrealites used to pick up a stone when god showed himself faithful . . .
then when they started to wonder where he was again . . .

(and i understand this can happen from time to time
when a three day trip ends up taking 40 years
and your god may or may not show up
in the form of a cloud, a bush, or an ass.)

. . . they would just pull out their rock and remember his faithfulness,
trusting that he will indeed be faithful again.
personally, if i was living a nomadic lifestyle, i am not so sure that my first thought would be "rock!"
but hey, they where under a lot of stress . . .

so, there you go.
a little random tidbit about what makes me tick.
rocks.
they remind me to god's faithfulness,
things i am thankful for,
and things i hope for.

I'm Over It

It is snowing.
Again.
For the third time
in three weeks.

I am researching cheap flights to Mexico.
Heck - we have miles - we could just fly for free.

Maybe when we get back this will have all melted.

Probably not.
I have to come back before MARCH!

In other news . . .

I finally got over my "artists block" with the painting I am doing . . .
Who would have guessed that wandering into Paper Talk to get invites for Aly's "baby shower" would help me over the hump . . . but it is amazing what a new pack of the most perfect black and white polka-dotted tissue paper . . . mixed with a funny conversation with a self-proclaimed co-dependant gay man . . . will do for a girl! I am grateful.

I have been thinking about goals for this next year . . . still have not figured that all out yet. But certainly am realizing that my life is really different than it was a year and a half ago and I have a lot of room to play with my creativity - but with that freedom comes the flip side . . . a lack of structure and expectation. So, I must figure out a groove with finding my own set of goals and structure.

Life is good.
Now, if I could just remember that!!!!

I was listening to "Cecilia" this morning and chuckled as I remembered that it was not that long ago that I realized that Paul Simon was the Simon of Simon & Garfunkle. Funny.

I am also really enjoying Regina Spektor (especially On the Radio) . . . and the Grey's Anatomy Season One Soundtrack . . . especially the last 5 or 6 songs.

I have been talking to Kelly Jackson a lot lately . . . three times in one week - lucky girl am I! Grateful for her too . . . so that makes tissue paper, a gay wedding planner, and Kelly on my gratitude list so far . . .

And herb. I am grateful for herb. He has been playing out of the box with me lately . . . and I appreciate that a lot! We went sledding! So much fun. I have not been sledding in about 7 years! And then, for New Years, we stayed in an made homemade sausage. Yep. That's right. We are trying out new family traditions . . . that are just ours. We really are liking this one! It is just quirky and funny and odd enough . . . But then we had people over the next day for football, lounging and sausage . . . so, really, that helped normalize it a bit. Next year, Sausage Fest 2007! Herb is already thinking about T-shirt designs . . . get excited!

All right . . . back to my canvas.

Don't Give Me No Turkey

Our friend Dave was at our house for dessert on Thursday. And after looking at the counter full of food, he asked a question that goes right to the heart of any chef - even a hack like me - "So, were you pleased with how it all turned out? Any favorites?"

Well, YES Dave, there was in fact a favorite . . .
And it was a total suprise! Mom and I both thought that the Sweet Potato Gratin or the the Mushroom Strudel would knock our socks off . . . and that the pork might be a little dry . . .
NOT so! While Herb is a little bit happy that he finally ate the last of the leftover pork last night and doesn't have to have it AGAIN, even he would agree that it was out of this world (at least the first three times, that is)!!!!

Stuffed Pork Loin with Caramelized Onion-Cranberry Sauce
From Cooking Light

For the deepest flavor, caramelize the onions in the same pan you use to brown the pork loin. Substitute apple for pear in the stuffing, if you prefer. Garnish with flat-leaf parsley.

1 (2-pound) boneless pork loin roast, trimmed
2 cups cranberry juice
1 cup water
1/4 cup kosher salt
2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup Bosc pear, diced (about 1 large)
1/4 cup (1 ounce) crumbled blue cheese
2 tablespoons dried cranberries, chopped
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
Cooking spray
1 cup minced onion
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, thawed
1/2 cup cranberry juice
3 tablespoons sugar

Cut horizontally through center of roast, cutting to, but not through, other side using a sharp knife; open flat as you would a book. Place roast between 2 sheets of plastic wrap; pound to a 1/4-inch thickness using a meat mallet or small heavy skillet.
Combine 2 cups juice and next 3 ingredients (through 2 tablespoons sugar) in large bowl; stir until sugar and salt dissolve. Pour juice mixture into a large zip-top plastic bag. Add roast to bag; seal. Marinate in refrigerator 4 hours, turning occasionally. Remove roast from bag, and pat dry; discard marinade.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine pear, cheese, and dried cranberries; sprinkle cheese mixture over roast, leaving a 1/2-inch margin around outside edges. Roll up roast, jelly-roll fashion, starting with long side. Secure at 2-inch intervals with twine. Sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt and pepper.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add roast; cook for 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Place roast on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until a thermometer registers 160° (slightly pink). Let stand for 15 minutes before slicing; cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices.

While roast bakes, add onion to skillet; sauté 8 minutes or until onion is browned, stirring frequently. Add fresh cranberries, 1/2 cup juice, and 3 tablespoons sugar to pan, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes or until cranberries pop and sauce thickens. Serve sauce with roast.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 3 ounces roast and about 1/4 cup sauce)

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 226(26% from fat); FAT 6.4g (sat 2.2g,mono 3.1g,poly 0.8g); PROTEIN 26.5g; CHOLESTEROL 67mg; CALCIUM 38mg; SODIUM 584mg; FIBER 1.4g; IRON 0.7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 14.8g

How Could I Forget?

Friday was my sister Amy's birthday! I adore my sister! She is wise, kind, and hilarious! And even though she has yet to forgive me for the Barbie Incident of 1989, she is by far one of the best people I have ever known! Here is to number 27, hot stuff!!!!
This is a picture of the card I made her. I also sent her a fabulous wool and felt bag (that almost didn't get packed into the box because it is so adorable), a tambourine, some Mexican Pumpkin candles, some bubbles that you blow out of a squeezey rubber fish, an ice pack in the shape of Mr. Bump (from a children's book we used to read), and some other goodies!

In the past 10 years my mom has tried a lot of new things that would have previously been outside of her comfort zone. It is cool to watch her push herself. This summer, she went on a mission trip to an orphanage in Russia.

Mohawk

Real conversation with my brother last night . . .
"You know mom and dad always said I couldn't get a mohawk because 'You live under our house and our rules and when you are 18 you can move out and do whatever you want to your hair.' Then I realized a few weeks ago, 'WHOA! I'm 23! I can go get that mohawk now!"

What is most confusing about all of this to me is that Andy had 18 12-inch liberty spikes in high school . . . living under my parent's roof . . . but is now excited that he can do what ever he wishes with his hair. WHAT?

Tough Toenails!

Today I overheard what appeared to be a mother and her grown son in conversation:
He said, "I'm NOT borrowing problems, I just . . . "

I love it! If I may be so bold as to fill in the blanks, I like to imagine this is a phrase that the mother has been using for decades to remind her son not to create unnecessary drama in his life. What a wonderful gift it must be, as a parent, to create ridiculous and annoying catch phrases and then inundate your unsuspecting children with them. And when Herb and I have children some day, I will do the same because, well, "I'm the grown up and you're the kid . . . "

Our kids have no idea what they are getting themselves into! Well, it would be odd if they did understand what they are getting themselves into, considering they are currently imaginary.

Irreverant Mother's Day

And I thought my sister and I knew how to make my mom blush . . .
http://www.paulandstorm.com/sounds/MothersDaySong.mp3

i love my brother . . .

because he is the black sheep of the family . . .
balancing out my role as the pink sheep.

and because he took me to a tatoo parlour four years ago to get his "little sister" her first piercing
and he rubbed my feet the whole time.

because he always asks me to "go out" with him . . . .
it tells me he trusts me enough to share his life with me . . .
and because he remembers who I am when he picks the place we "go out" to.

because he likes to share his music with me . . .
but tries to find songs without too much "french" . . .
even though he probably thinks i care more than i actually do.

because he wants to go back to school
and i know he will
even though he is frusterated right now.

because he says he wants to come visit us this summer
and even though he knows that means sitting outside to smoke all week
and going to bed earlier than usual
i know he really will come

Where I Came From: A Weekend In the Midwest

They know me. They drive me crazy. They reflect me. And sometimes that hurts. They challenge me. They love me. And that always feel like a nice healing balm on my dry, brittle heart.

Beauty

This is a picture of my cousin's daughters. The big one is my birthday soul sister and the little one is our family peanut. I love them!

My Sister Fraggle Rocks!!!

My sister has had a lot of transition this year. If you know my sister, you know that transition does not settle well with her. She would rather undergo Chinese water torture. But I must say, despite all of the changes in her life, she is doing well. Here is what I love about my sister. And I quote from a voice mail I received last week:
"It has been a tough day. So, I am going home to watch back to back episodes of Fraggle Rock! Can you believe it - I bought the DVD at Target for $7!!!!"
The girl may be down but she is certainly not out! I appreciate her.

By the way, do you think Amy looks like Reese Witherspoon? As my sister says, "It doesn't matter if SHE looks like me - anyone can look like a normal person. I have to look like her for it to matter."

Amy and Reese - Twinners?
	I can hardly tell the difference.
	Amy is much prettier and I don't see any resemblence.
	Just a little bit - it is all in the chin. Amy is still prettier.
Free polls from Pollhost.com