Reckless and outrageous culinary threats often spew from my mouth after my first Coke in the morning and today is no different. Nate and Alex are getting ready to go to a swim meet and I’m thinking of ways to entertain myself while they’re gone. So, just as they leave, I down another caffeinated, buzzy… Continue reading Orange Vanilla Obsession
Nate’s Mai Tai Recipe
If I want my insides to burn and brine as they float through a vermouth and pimento slurry, I’ll order a classic cocktail. The classic cocktail always sounds like a good idea, but often, it leaves me disappointed or it just tastes like medicine to me. For this reason, over the years, I’ve settled for… Continue reading Nate’s Mai Tai Recipe
Taking the Leprechaun Ambush Down a Notch
St. Patrick’s Day is a grueling test of my memory, coordination, and magical home-making skills. Green beer helps. However, most of the magical shimmering shamrock shenanigans happen before I can even get a glass of beer. When the first golden rays of the day come a shinin’ through the bedroom window on March 17th, I… Continue reading Taking the Leprechaun Ambush Down a Notch
The Death of the Spiralizer–Or Maybe It’s Just Sleeping
When a particularly thick and stubborn potato blew out the motor of my electric spiralizer, I pressed every button on the device, hoping to startle it into submission because obviously, it was just confused. One potato could not possibly defeat a finely crafted hand-held appliance that turns ugly vegetables, like zucchini and turnips, into glorious… Continue reading The Death of the Spiralizer–Or Maybe It’s Just Sleeping
Craft Alert: Art Happens and Dinner Will Be Late
Sounding the craft alert while making dinner means that Nate can mix up a mai tai and dream of a Hawaiian vacation, where there are no craft alerts. “Inspiration is striking the heck out of me right now and I need to do something about it, so make some snacks. Dinner will be late!” I… Continue reading Craft Alert: Art Happens and Dinner Will Be Late
Creating Crafting Nooks and Super Nooks for Every Floor of the House
Clear tape is the “fabric of our lives.” In our household, various objects are precariously held together by fine pieces of tape—and “Krazy Glue—“ including ceramics projects, pens, and a cabinet door. I know full well that we can easily add to this list, so I’ve squirreled away adhesives, scissors, pieces of paper, markers, and… Continue reading Creating Crafting Nooks and Super Nooks for Every Floor of the House
Things to Remember on the Boeing Factory Tour
After a snowstorm forced us to forego banana splits for days—and eat a Valentine’s meal of frozen TV dinners —I turned to Nate and said, “Now that the snow has melted, let’s get OUT of this house! Let’s just go crazy. Really crazy! We’ll just tear up the town—you, me, and Alex.” And that’s how… Continue reading Things to Remember on the Boeing Factory Tour
Emergency Preparations for When the Sky is Falling
Bananas and ice cream are missing from the grocery store shelves in the Greater Seattle area because we are experiencing an extremely rare, but “catastrophic” snow event that has turned nearly everyone stark raving mad. And I am one of them. Without bananas and ice cream, Nate, Alex, and I are left alone in this… Continue reading Emergency Preparations for When the Sky is Falling
Ode to the Air Fryer
Breathing into a paper bag is the only way I know how to welcome an air fryer into my kitchen. I’m just so darned “hyperventilating excited.” Nate bought me an air fryer for my birthday last month and I. Cannot. Control. Myself. It’s like I’m in the studio audience of a daytime talk show and… Continue reading Ode to the Air Fryer
“Light Therapy” of Spring Break Proportions
The “Spring Break, Do Not Enter” sign is on the home office door, along with a Hawaiian lei for special effect—because I have a sun lamp. I’m hoping this lamp will be powerful enough to project an in-your-face “beachy sun,” which is extremely rare in the Pacific Northwest this time of year. Sometimes, I spend… Continue reading “Light Therapy” of Spring Break Proportions