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Photo Fun Day Friday
I have been
busybad and I totally spaced on my Photo Fun Day Friday posts the last couple of weeks, so this is a bigger one than usual. I flew home to Buffalo this past weekend for the first time since we moved to Southern California six months ago! It was my niece Teagan’s 4th birthday and I hadn’t seen her since we left at the end of February. I missed her (and everyone) sooo much! It was a wonderful trip home, I crammed in as much time with friends and family as I could and just enjoyed every single bit of it.My happy place! The yoga studio here in Long Beach I currently practice at.
A bench at the dog park. Love this.
I cleaned like crazy two weekends ago and it felt great. When I was done I had to snap a few pics, I am in love with this house.
My running partner. She especially loves running on the beach.
I finally found a place for my prayer flags. My parents bought these for me and they are the same ones as my favorite yoga studio in Buffalo, East Meets West. These remind me of home.
Bounty from our garden.
Me forward folding. One of my favorite yoga poses!
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Photo Fun Day Friday – A Few Days Late
I realize this should be titled “Photo Fun Day Sunday Afternoon”. My parents’ trip ended Friday afternoon and with that came some sad goodbyes and an afternoon of loafing around for Mark and I after we drove them to the airport. We had a busy week with them, we crammed a lot in and it was really wonderful! So nice to spend an entire week with my parents. Uninterrupted by work, obligations, business meetings, events, other people, etc. I don’t know if I have ever had that much time with just me (and Mark) my parents, ever! It was nice, to say the least.
We made lots of meals at home, we went to a few of our favorite restaurants and even tried a few new places that Mark and I haven’t been to yet. We took a lot of walks, checked out the Long Beach Flea on Father’s Day, hosted a big dinner with friends, we of course, took them for their first trip to Disneyland and lastly, the beach on the last day, to end their trip right.
Here’s a few pics from the past week, most from the time we spent with my parents!
My dad and Seri. Not sure who is enjoying the sun more. They are both sun-a-holics. -
Photo Fun Day Friday
Hope everyone is in the full swing of the holidays and loving and cherishing every moment of it! I have been! It has been an emotional few weeks over here. The emotions have been caused by a variety of different reasons – like this being our last holidays living in this home and in Buffalo for that matter. Of course the sad tragedy of last Friday and the loss of all of those sweet innocent babies hit me just as hard as I know it hit most everyone else. On top of all of this, our family has been dealing with a terrible accident that landed a family member in the hospital the Friday prior, he is in serious condition but very lucky to be alive. Please send if you would, your positive thoughts, prayers, healing vibes, etc. his way, he could certainly use them in his long road to recovery ahead.
It has been a lot of happiness and sadness for a short time, but it has all made me appreciate the magic of life and love that much more! Life is fragile, every moment a blessing and the only way I know how to embrace that is to live each day to it’s fullest, grateful for all that I have. I hope you are all doing the same, hugging your loved ones a little tighter this holiday season and counting your blessings whenever possible. Love and light to you all!
As you will see in the photos, this week has been spent full embracing the holidays, shipping out the last minute orders for Hero, shipping gifts to out of town friends and family, packing boxes and squeezing in as much family and friend time as humanly possible!
Our Christmas tree got an update with this custom made (and hand sewed) bull terrier tree skirt made by our friend, Joanne.
Here’s a close-up of it! So what, we are a little obsessed with our dog!
Got together with the family on Sunday and made TONS of baklava using my late Yia Yia’s recipe. I may not be able to eat it but it makes for great holiday gifts for friends!
It is a pretty labor intensive process. You place each layer of phyllo dough, one at a time, and brush with butter. There are 15 layers, then nuts and spices, 10 layers, more nuts, then 15 more layers. Layer by layer, sheet by sheet! I love making it and hanging out with my family, even without the satisfaction of ever taking a bite!
Me and my sister Vicky, spreading the nuts layer.
Pouring the syrup over top of one of the finished trays. Smells soooo good!
I started my Christmas wrapping earlier in the week! It may be my favorite part of the holiday and the gift giving.
My final giftable recipe for my series this month with Free People. Look for the recipe on Sunday.
Took a break last night from packing and organizing for the move to relax! My relaxation involved a roast chicken from our farmer, a glass of bourbon and Christmas music.
I cut up some of the delicata squash leftover from our CSA with porter farms. I tossed it with some olive oil, maple syrup and spices and added it to the chicken in the last 35 minutes.
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Photo Fun Day Friday (Yes, I Know it’s Monday)
So it may be a few days late, but here it is. I decided after a busy few weeks of travel, house selling, getting ready for Thanksgiving and organizing the Thanksgiving series here on the blog, by the time the holiday had come and gone, I was just plain exhausted!! I needed a few days to relax, regroup and enjoy life with the family!
Last weekend we wrapped up our east coast tour in Brooklyn and then made the drive home. We got back late Monday and took a Tuesday and Wednesday to catch up with everything from being away 10 days and to get out all of the web orders that came in while we were out. Thanksgiving this year was the best one I can ever recall. Instead of it being the large extended family affair that is usually is, which is definitely nice, this year we decided to just do a small dinner with my immediate family. My parents, my sisters, my niece and nephew and Mark and I. It was so quiet, fun and it was really nice to spend time together cooking, eating, visiting and enjoying each other. With our pending move across the country, I am taking in all of these moments and cherishing them to the fullest.
On Saturday, we made the drive out to West Valley, NY to visit McHugh’s to cut down our Christmas tree. My parents, my sister Vicky and my niece Teagan joined us and we all went into Ellicottville afterward to walk around and grab some dinner. It was the perfect day, there was even snow!!!
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday (if you celebrate) and an enjoyable weekend. We have another road trip coming up this week, so I am going to do my best to get a few recipes up in spite of that.
Lemmy, our good friends Karen and Mike’s adorable Olde English Bulldog.
Our booth last weekend at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn.
The amazing view of Manhattan from the park where we were set up.
A little skyline selfie action.
So happy to get home on Monday night and to be back in the kitchen, I made a quick pot of vegan hot and sour soup.
Took a little break on Tuesday for a quick walk in the park alone to clear my head and soak up the sunshine while we have it.
Took Seri to the park for some Thanksgiving ball time!
My Dad, aka “the world’s greatest Pappou” carving the pasture-raised turkey we got from our farm, Sojourner.
Best Thanksgiving EVER!
I made many dishes for the meal, but these might back been my favorite. Grain-free vegan chocolate cream pie mini-tarts with whipped coconut cream. I used my mini-tart shell recipe and the chocolate cream filling recipe here from Girl Makes Food as part of our Very Tasty Thanksgiving series.
Teagan. Looking how we all felt after the big meal!
My handsome boy, Jpeg.
I made potato pancakes from some of my mom’s leftover red smashed potatoes from Thanksgiving.
The family at the Christmas tree farm.
Me and Mark!
My girls!!!
Uncle Mark and Teagan. She was LOVING all of the snow!
We found our tree!
So perfect!
Couldn’t have had a better day to go Christmas tree shopping.
Got our first snow here in the city yesterday! Guest it’s time to switch from the fall decorations to the Christmas stuff.
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Photo Fun Day Friday
Another Friday is upon us and another wonderful week behind us. We have been taking in the last moments of summer and trying to enjoy it all while it is here. The weather has been absolutely beautiful and I kinda don’t want it to end, although I have been enjoying the cool evenings and mornings. So great for sleep!
This Sunday, if you are here in Buffalo (or surrounding areas), make some time to get out and head to Clutter s i x Buffalo’s DIY Market at the Essex Art Center. Hubby and I will be set up in a booth there from 11am-5pm, selling all of our goods and wares, including some of the brand new Tasty Yummies kitchen and cooking prints. Read more about the event and get directions here. Spread the word and maybe I will see some of you out there, it is an outdoor event and Sunday is supposed to be an absolutely beautiful day.
This is Jack, our friendly neighborhood cat. He keeps us company when we are printing in the garage most days.
I rarely take self photos because I always feel like a total goober. But, here I am, doing it anyway 🙂
Hubby and I went thrift store shopping. I snagged this cute little tie-dyed dress from just $3.99
Saturday two of the best women I know tied the knot! What a super fun night! Congrats Erika and Devin.
The wedding was at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. My first time there, it was beautiful.
More shots from the Botanical Gardens.
My sweet Jpeg taking a snooze on my chest.
I made a run to Target on Sunday to get a few goodies from the The Curiousity Shoppe’s limited line. Some super fun stuff.A brand new print that I designed and screen printed this week. Available here.
Homemade Pad Thai. Recipe coming soon. Promise.
Films for a new kitchen print I finished up this week. Will be available for sale early next week.
We had a little dinner party get-together with friends Wednesday night. If you live in Buffalo you will be hearing a lot more about this lovely lady, Alyssa. She has plans to open a wonderful allergen-free bakery (with pour over coffee) here in the city in the near future, Wild Roots. For now you can keep up with her recipes and her plans on her blog. (Wild Roots will also be set up at Clutter this Sunday along with us and a handful of other local vendors)