happy.

Today it actually feels like spring.  I loved coming home from work, getting Stella out of her crate to play, listening to the birds chirp with the back door open.  The dafodils put me in a good mood just by looking at them.

So thankful for all of God's wonderful creations.  Pretty amazing how the flowers know when to bloom, the birds know when to sing, and the sun knows when to rise and set.

Happy Spring! 

stella.

So I have not done a post in over a week because Justin and I got a little bundle of joy...
and patience. Meet Stella!

Justin surprised me with Stella last Sunday.  After much research, we discovered a Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel/Poodle mix) was the dog for us.  We have taught her how to sit and stay.  She is smart as a whip and so friendly.  We are working on house training...long nights...but she is getting better and better.  If you can't tell by the pictures, she loves her little sock monkey.

More blogs to come as we create a new routine and learn how to train a puppy.

this is for the G's...the garlic and ginger that is.

Another great find from our trip to San Diego is the Grater Plater.  We found these when visiting the Farmer's Market on Cedros in Solana Beach. This is now our favorite kitchen toy. You can grate cheese, chocolate, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, and nutmeg with this plate.  The best part is it comes with a brush and garlic peeler.  You can use the dish to grate fresh parmasean cheese, put a little olive oil, then dip your bread in it.  Delicious!  Justin and I didn't realize all the ways we could use fresh garlic and ginger - it makes a world of difference to the flavor it adds to any dish.

For only $20, these make great gifts and are very easy to clean and store.  Etsy has another very cool option.

Grate away!

distinctive design.

Notice my new header.  It is compliments of my dear friend Meg.  You can find her work at Worboys Design.  She has over five years experience in design work for various clients.  
I love her style - simple, classy and clean.

{photo credit: worboysdesign.com}

If you are getting married or having a baby shower, email Meg to design your lovely invites.  She is fabulous to work with and has a distinctive eye for style and design.

Thank you Meg for inspring me to start a blog and the wonderful friend you are!

Xo, Em

be true to yourself.

Sunday Justin and I took the train from San Diego up to Orange County to see one of my favorite people - Erin May Shedarowich.  I was dying to see her, her husband Patrick, and meet their little baby boy, Rowan. We loved relaxing at their beautiful home in Newport Beach.  Sunday night Patrick and Erin cooked dinner.  We had a great time sitting around the table talking for hours. Monday before our flight, Erin drove us down the coast to Laguna and then we headed to Fashion Island to eat lunch at True Food.

I can't stop talking about this place.  The food is truly Ah-maz-ing. So fresh and so clean :).  Not only do they pack in the nutrition but they add in the flavor as well.  You leave feeling satisfied, not stuffed. It is just perfect in every way. 

Their entire menu is centered on the principals of Dr. Andrew Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Food Pyramid. Check it out here.

{photo credits: www.truefoodkitchen.com and www.drweil.com}

Nutritious yet delicious!

avocado tacos.

It's been over a week since my last post.  Justin and I left for Southern California last Thursday and arrived back in Nashville Monday night at 11:50 PM.  Needless to say, yesterday was a long day at work and then we spent the evening unpacking, doing laundry and going to the grocery store.  Being in San Diego and Newport Beach made us want to eat more fresh and clean foods. (thanks Erin and Pat - my next blog will be about True Food).  


On the plane ride back home Justin and I made our weekly menu.  I found this delicious recipe on the iphone app - 5 A Day.  It gives several healthy options and gives you the five fruits and vegetables you need each day.

Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado, peeled and seeded
1 medium onion, diced
2 large green peppers, diced
2 large red peppers, diced
1 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1-1/2 cups fresh tomato salsa (see below)
Flour tortillas
Olive oil

Fresh tomato salsa ingredients:
1 cup diced tomatoes
1/3 cup diced onions
1/2 clove garlic, minced
2 tsp cilantro
1/3 tsp jalapeno peppers, chopped
1/2 tsp lime juice

Mix all the the salsa ingredients together and refrigerate in advance.  Top the taco with this yummy salsa.

Directions:
Coat skillet with olive oil.  Lightly saute onion and green and red peppers.  Cut avocado into slices. Warm tortillas in oven and fill with peppers, onions, avocado slices and salsa.  Fold tortillas and serve.

I added garlic to the onion and peppers.  Also they were out of red peppers so I used yellow. This was a nice addition for flavor.  A perfect side to serve with the tacos for fiber and protein are black beans.  Justin and I both agreed this is one of our new favorite "quick and easy" meals.

Enjoy!

mission bell.

Last night Justin played Amos Lee's new Album - Mission Bell.  Loving it!  Amos is special to us  because it was the playlist we listened to when we first met.  He has the folk, soul and jazz all rolled up in one sound.

Among the guests on the new set are Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, and Calexico. Singing with icons, mixing in Latin flavors – these are bold, brash steps for the soul-rock artist singer.

Lee grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, USA. He enrolled at the University of South Carolina in 1995. He began to play guitar and write songs seriously while he studied English. After graduating with an English degree, Lee moved back to Philadelphia to teach elementary school. He later made the tough decision to stop teaching in order to pursue a career in music. So glad he did!  

Amos will roll down to Nashvegas on April 8th to play at the Ryman.  He'll also hit up Atlanta, Raleigh, Charlotte, Charleston and Knoxville. Then will go further south to Birmingham en route to play at the New Orleans Jazz Fest at the end of April.  


Feel the music!

{copy credits: www.clickitticket.com and www.torrentspath.com}

(photo credits: www.popwreckoning.com and www.musicmp3ru.com}