around here, right now...this month (January)
writing grant after grant...it's "that" time of the year with grant deadlines and when it rains grants, it means I am locked in my office writing. Also, this explains why I have been slower to post on this blog (although I had some pre-planned blog posts that were automatically uploaded...love that feature!)
dancing... the salsa at a local class with friends and the Hubs while wearing these high heels. Highly recommend dance classes for adults.
listening to...
- River Flows In You a hauntingly beautiful piano solo by Yiruma a South Korean pianist (I want to learn to play this one!)
- Say Anything performed by Tristan Prettyman (I would tell you that I love you...by now I hope you know.)
- Heart's Content by Brandi Carlile, a Pacific NW songwriter
- We Both Know a duet with Gavin DeGraw and Colbie Caillat (and after hearing DeGraw and Caillat at a concert singing live together last summer, I secretly hope that they end up together as they had that *electricity* between them).
checking out... the Online Pianist. Supposedly, this is a great place for piano tutorials and seems to cater to the tween/teen crowd with popular songs rated as beginner, intermediate and advanced for various levels of piano expertise.
experiencing freezing fog...beautiful but makes for slick, frozen roads and school delays.
dreaming... of tropical beaches and walking barefoot in the sand...vs. feeling chilled from head to toe.
Sand courtesy of Cabo San Lucas - need to be back there pronto!
enjoying...warm beverages. Mmmm...nothing goes better with this cold front we are experiencing than hot cocoa, from scratch. Super easy combination of half and half, milk or cream with vanilla and chocolate chips or any version of chocolate you have on hand. Delicious with baked, (not fried) Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts from the Barefoot Contessa Foolproof cookbook.
testing... the Barefoot Contessa's Foolproof Cookbook and Jenny Flake's The Picky Palate Cookbook. I'm taste-testing recipes right and left and my poor family must give their input on new recipe after new recipe night and night.
eating...the Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps that keep making appearance after appearance. They are incredible and fit right into the "healthier lifestyle" we are adapting for 2013...at least January of 2013.
determining...the word FOCUS would be heralded as my "One Little Word of the Year".
working out... regularly (for a change after a month-long+ hiatus). Feeling. Every. Muscle. And remembering why it's not a wise idea to workout after a meal (as per my 8th grader's sage advice).
making a cooking video with Miss Bella...she may be a future Food Network girl with her ease behind the camera and her descriptive explanations of ingredients and cooking steps.
driving a different vehicle after the older version finally died while driving down Danger Hill. After I experienced a meltdown, the Hubs determined it was time for an upgrade. Betsy was a good family car for many years but she has been replaced by a faster, fitter, and much cleaner version named Frederick. He's dreamy and drives more like a car than a truck. Same SUV, different year. Running kids from point A to point B is better now. Much better.
researching... places to explore with my family as I was invited to be an "Out and About" writer for Today's Mama.
scrapbooking and documenting life... one of my favorite hobbies, especially while spent gabbing with girl friends.
getting excited for one of my favorite holidays...the love and romance fest - Valentine's Day! (and yes, I know it is a "made-up" American holiday but I can't help it...I'm a romantic). And...I have a few ideas up my sleeve that I hope to share here! xoxo
watching...Downton Abbey - Okay, okay...in my last update, I shared that we were late to the Downton Abbey craze. Apparently, we were not alone. We were able to stream the first season via Netflix but then we were left high and dry for season two as all the DVD's for season two were in high demand and we were unable to get them for sooooo (very dramatic, I apologize) long! Finally, they all came at once and in the midst of three super, busy weeks in which no one was home or able to watch them!
treasuring...time spent with family and focusing on what really matters most at the end of the day...those we love.
hoping...you all have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo
