Monday & Tuesday

Hi Friends!

What a difference a little Seattle SUN makes! Isla and I were hit with some serious cabin fever yesterday. We couldn't take one more rainy-dreary day in this tiny condo (the walls have slowly been closing in--UG!) So we escaped to the UW's U.Village for some dreary outdoor mall walking and Isla even got to play on their covered playground. It was fun but the misty rain was out to ruin our 'grand adventure'

 Those eyes! I always have the best view when we're strolling :)

  Then we shared a scone which proved that scones and strollers don't mix--total crumb disaster (I had to shake out the britax in the parking lot--at least the seagulls got a good lunch :)

 Practicing stairs at the playground- she's becoming a pro 'going up'- coming down is another story :)

 When we got home she caused trouble--but was cute and it was harmless so she got away with it :)

 Then I sang and she laughed--- fun times.

\

Then she napped two hours which we will consider a success :)

 (Yes, her legs are sticking out :)

and then the night pretty much fell apart when she wanted to help me make dinner- good thing we invested in that oven lock!

 At least she does dishes.....she's 'kind of' a big help!

Today we were overjoyed when we saw the sun! Even her little rattail came out to play (see it sticking out from under her hat?! :)

She loves working on stairs....she will be a pro soon and scaring the crap out of me!

 She even motored up hills (and down-oops!) and landed in random goose poop. It was a good afternoon. She definitely did not want to go back in her stroller but I bribed her with bites of my scone and a promise that 'ducks' would be involved :)

 That's her 'more' sign--what a scone hog.

After made a loop through the park to check out the ducks (and attacking seagulls and crows) we headed home for lunch---

 So yummy! Veggie 'chicken noodle' and a veggie pita (Isla had the other half) and I found out....she will eat tomatoes & spinach! shocker!

That's one happy customer!! 

Lets hope tonight will be as good as this morning (fingers crossed! ) 

xo. 

S

Seattle: Hudson

Hi Friends!

On Saturday, my Mom watched Isla so B and I could go try out Hudson for brunch in Seattle. They got a great review from my Sis & her honey, Chris so we decided to give them a shot. Hudson is a bar so kiddos aren't allowed but I suspect Isla had a better time ransacking my Mom's timeshare condo than eating with her old parents :) These pics are super gray because, well....Seattle's super gray right now. I didn't even brighten them up because my mood has been super gray too....ug. Can you say cabin fever? It's right about this time of year I start dreaming of sunny destinations :) 

 Hudson's in Georgetown along Marginal and it's pretty unassuming so you have to be an 'eagle eye' to spot it!

 B said the Bloody Mary was awesome- I don't drink them but I'll take his word for it :) (And they serve it with a beer back so you can't go wrong!)

 BRUNCH! I got the Francesca scramble. They make their own veggie sausage and there's no additional charge for it! I loved my brunch--love, love, love!

 B got the veggie-chicken fried steak which apparently they're known for. He liked it but said the sausage was a little too 'tex mex' for him...he's not a huge fan on the 'tex mex' spice but I loved it! Thankfully there are about 15 other things on the menu we'd like to try!

Did I mention they make their own biscuits and the coffee was great! no sludge! We will definitely be back--I think dropping off Isla for a brunch date once a month may become our new tradition. They also have a great summer patio---just in time for sun?!! Hear me Seattle? Sun?!!!!!!

xo. 

S

Meatless Monday

Hi Friends--

With all this rainy weather we were craving Chicken Noodle Soup but obviously I wasn't going to break my 19 year Vegetarian streak for soup so I found this recipe online that is delicious! It tastes so much like my Mom's Chicken Noodle I grew up with as a kid and can be tweaked in so many ways! If you leave out the tofu or noodles you can add more veggies ... whatever fits your fancy! Give it a try- it's super yummy!

____________________________________________________

vegetarian chicken noodle soup

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Yield: 8

A vegetarian chicken noodle soup recipe adapted from a (non-vegetarian) recipe by Tyler Florence.

ingredients

• 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 medium carrots, sliced
• 4 celery ribs, sliced
• 8 fresh thyme sprigs
• 2 bay leaves
• 1-14 oz. package extra-firm tofu, frozen overnight, thawed, pressed for 30 minutes (I use the Tofu Xpress), and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 4 quarts no-chicken broth
• 12 oz. dried wide egg noodles
• 1/2 c. fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• salt and pepper to taste

instructions

1. Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, carrots, celery, thyme and bay leaf. Cook and stir for 3 minutes; add tofu. Cook for an additional 5 minutes or until vegetables are softened, but not browned.
2. Add broth and bring to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, add egg noodles and simmer for 8 minutes. (The noodles will be slightly undercooked, but don't worry--they'll continue cooking after removed from heat. This way, the noodles won't be mushy.)
3. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with parsley before serving.

notes

No-Chicken broth and bouillon cubes are sold at Whole Foods, natural grocery stores, and many supermarket chains. If you can't find either of these, you can use vegetable broth.

*Sandi's Note: We use Better Than Bouillon which is a perfect vegetarian option for those who find Veggie Broth too salty (i.e.: ME!) The BTB just mixes into hot water and make the perfect broth. We bought ours at QFC. 

The Month of May

Hi Friends!

I wanted to post today but I'm having issues getting off the couch :( I pulled something in my back when I was sleeping two nights ago and I can't seem to get rid of it. It has not been made better by the fact that my bed is literally twelve years old (that's real) and I think my pillow may be going on 7 or 8. Ug! Time to upgrade all of the above! It is never worth losing sleep. It's also entirely unfair and somewhat poetic that Isla has been sleeping through the night the last week and a half and now I'm not sleeping...at all and my back is killing me. awesome. So with that....I'm posted up on the couch with my 16th coffee, my trusty iPhone that helps me believe I'm still "in the loop" and my 'to-do list' that helps remind me of all the stuff I have waiting for me when I'm on the mend. ah yes....

I was lucky enough to be trolling my 'drafts' folder and found this post from Christmas time. I didn't post it then because my BF, Ashli hadn't received her Christmas gift but I have to post it now. Sometimes I prove to be a genius, even to myself! 

Do you know this book? 

It's so good! It's about two Photographer friends who live across the country and take a photo of their morning, every day, for a year. It's so beautiful and lovely--it shows the true sisterhood of friendship in photos. No words- only photos. I love it!

A couple years ago my Best Friend, Ashli who lives in Miami (yes, 3315 miles away from me. sob) sent me this book with the sweetest note. For years I have been meaning to return the favor. When we did Mamas Across Miles on the blog this past May I decided the time was right to send A Year of Mornings along with our own version, which I titled A Month of May. It turned out so lovely I couldn't help but order one for myself.

It was just so fitting that the blog coincided with both of us raising little ones, across the country. It was such a blessing to see her photos come over everyday. No matter how far away she was I was reminded that we were doing the same things- acting out the same routines....we were Mamas of little girls. There was something so very sweet about seeing that bound in pages, preserved to last.

Here's to great gift giving and tooting my own horn. 

toot.toot. 

xoxo. 

S

Miami 2014

Hi Friends~ 

I thought I'd post my Miami trip in photos so you can see a little glimpse into all the fun we had with our Florida girls and new baby, Olivia (love her!) 

It was the best of times! 

Welcome to the world Baby Olivia!

Busy Mama Ash :) (brave to take on my Isla girl too!)

G and I had fun taking a couple birthday shots for her big second birthday party :) 

Isla LOVED the Miami sun and catching up on our Vitamin D :) 

My favorite outtake "you are my people" :)

Isla LOVED the water table!

Until next time Florida (and there will be next time!) 

xoxo. 

S

PS- If you want to see the full links to any of these pics check out: 

Grace's 2.year birthday Session:  http://sandibazemore.com/2014/02/two-counting-grace/

Olivia's Newborn Session: http://sandibazemore.com/blog/