Pantone...color of the year

Pantone's color of the year: 2013

Pantone has called out Emerald as their color of the year.  My favorite is Grayed Jade, followed by Linen and Dusk Blue.

Just in...here are the colors that Pantone has declared "it" for the upcoming spring season, and the color that will be gracing catwalks and fashion and home displays all year.  2013 is the year of EMERALD GREEN....which looks beautiful with the other colors Pantone predicts will brighten up this spring's collections.

I knew that Pantone offered some crazy expensive markers, so crazy expensive that they made Prismacolor colored pencils seem reasonably priced.  Those markers don't touch upon this Pantone item....

Pantone cotton color swatch kit, $5,195.00

This product is so popular that shoppers receive this message "

Due to high demand, this product is currently on backorder. All new orders will ship on a first come first serve basis. You may place your order now and we will not charge your order until this product is ready to ship."   

Put me on the list, just like I am on the list for an Hermes Birkin bag.

I am assuming these shoppers include Vera Wang, Monique Lleulhier, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, et al.  

I am a bit of a Pantone color nerd, so I am thinking that a Pantone mug may end up on my wishlist this spring:

2013 color mug...may be the start of a sweet collection

And, I am thinking that this item might be sucking up part of my iTunes gift card from Dan....

Iphone app...of course, its $2 cheaper for the android.

..so I can feel cool at the yarn store, trying to be all fancy with my Pantone app.

What crocheted cute little things would you like to see in Pantone's new color of the year?  I am thinking I may be making myself a cowl to warm up this winter and Domenic might look handsome in a Nonno cap of this color.

a little, quick recipe

We have all been tired and overworked lately. Between open house at school, PD, many Principessa Sweet Pea orders coming in, and chasing after D... Cooking just isn't happening.
But, opening the freezer and grabbing some of Trader Joe's frozen finest is just about perfect.  In order to make their frozen corn and tamales perfect we dressed them up with these recipes tonight:

lime butter corn:
this could not be easier, but we simply put the corn in a microwavable bowl, cover with a damp paper towel and zap for1 minute, 30 seconds.  In a perfect world, we'd have had Mexican cheese on hand, and thrown that and paprika on in addition to a couple tablespoons of butter and some (bottled) lime juice.
We used what we have, so a bottle of food-store brand lime juice and some butter it was.  Topped with kosher salt.  If our fresh cilantro was still going strong, I would have added a bit of that, too.
The lovely part was how the lime and butter rolled down on to the plate and blended with the super-quick tamale sauce.

After searching for an easy and quick tamale sauce, I decided to give up and just make one up. And it came out delicious!

super-quick  super-fresh tamale sauce:
We happened to have a bowl of tomatoes on the kitchen island, so that's what I used.  Canned would work but would cause the sauce to lose the fresh taste that the garden tomatoes we used gave us.

3 tomatoes, rough chopped
1 Tbsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ancho chili powder
1/2 tsp smoked sea salt  (any salt would work, but we love the smokey flavor this gives sauces)
1 Tablespoon olive oil

Take the tomatoes and cook them down on low heat for about 5 minutes.  Add the spices and oil and continue to cook on low for about 5 more minutes.  Using a stick blender, blend the sauce until it is mostly pureed.
Here's the only real ambitious part of this meal...Use a food mill or a strainer and push through the sauce so that the seeds and peel are removed, leaving a liquidy sauce.


Microwave the tamales as directed.  I put a damp paper towel over them to seal in more steam.

We are lucky that our spice rack contains things like ancho chili powder, cumin, and smoked sea salt.  We get all our spices at a huge spice warehouse in North Truro MA....highly recommend making a list of spices you see over and over in recipes and starting your own collection!

baby bees and baby nephews

I am very excited about becoming an aunt for the first time in a couple months.  My only sister is having her first baby, another little boy! She decided that his room would be black and yellow with a bumblebee theme.  Hearing this, I started stocking up on yellow yarns and bee ideas.

Baby T, of course, got a hat:

and a little stuffed amigurumi bee to cuddle:

...and then, I add to make him a hot air balloon to fly above his changing table.  I made my first hot air balloon for my best friend's niece.  She told me what a great distraction it was for diaper changes.  Since then, my little guy has loved his, as has BFF's second niece.  While I made the balloon in the bee colors, the passenger is a black bunny.  My sister has a GIGANTIC black rabbit named Marvin and so I made a little tiny Marv for the balloon:

So those were the gifts, but I really enjoyed trying to get crafty with the party. Thank you, pinterest.
Little tiny bees flying over the flower plants, with bee patterned fabric covering the pots and scrapbooked signs welcoming the boy:

Of course there had to be some yummies, too.  I made oreo truffles with edible paper hearts (I love wilton sugar sheets). I made bee cakepops, displayed on the cake pop holder that my husband made for me at 11pm the night before the party.  What an improvement over the cardboard contraption that fell apart before I started using it.  N made some absolutely delicious cupcakes with brilliant yellow frosting.  J was commissioned to make the fondant covered cake with yellow and chocolate layers to look like bee stripes.

crocheting with the kiddos....

Spring time is MCAS time in Massachusetts.  This high stakes test strikes fear in many hearts, and when I get nervous...I crochet.  So, as I proctored my students through a test that I am not allowed to look at (except in cases that legally require me to provide support and the state makes me sign a non-disclosure form about) I worked on some amigurumi.  The kids took interest in what I was doing, and one student asked me to show her how to do it. 

So, one Monday morning, I had one third grade student learning to stitch with me.  Soon, a couple fourth grade girls also showed interest and we were a group of 3..and then 4...and now I have a group of 6 girls learning to stitch.  Today some boys approached us to see what we were doing. It gives me something to try to multitask while on morning duty watching 250 third and fourth graders.  I do feel bad for my partner who has to carry more than her fair share of that load.  I couldn't believe how interested the kids at our urban school are in this craft. Even the kids in the Emotional/Behavioral room have asked to see how to do it.  

My hook case is now curiously short of G, J, and K hooks...and the halls of my school are clinging with the sound of dropped aluminum hooks.  Right now, the girls are working on chains and making headbands of strands of chains.  We aren't to flowers quite yet, but this is a good idea of what the headband looks like. 

Our next step is single crochet, and we'll probably be trying to make little head kerchiefs.  I need quick projects that will provide some instant gratification for impatient young artisans. 

1 done, 51 to go....

On etsy, there is a whole community of crafters who support each other by driving SEO, offering advice and helping encourage our businesses. To prevent the usual "oh no, I haven't made enough stuff" before craft shows and to try to make my own little shop a little stronger, I have joined a team that pushes us to create and list 1 new item a week all year.  Doesn't sound too impossible, until you take into consideration that custom orders (more than 90% of my sales last year) don't count. 

So, I look forward to 52 brand new items this year! Hopefully there will be some popular new products in there.  Here's number 1: 

I really love it! I wore it to work today and got quite a few compliments and a couple orders. Feels nice to have my first "garment" for adults go over well.  The etsy listing gives full details.

new year...new goals...new look

I am quickly becoming very interested in getting my little company up and off the ground.  To that end, I am taking the advice of successful etsy sellers and linking my blog to my store to tell the stories behind the items in my shop.
At first, I wasn't sure about this, but then I saw that my last post (about a year ago) was as I was getting started with Principessa Sweet Pea.  So it was ready to happen.
I have a few new items coming in the next couple days...and these are for mamas, and other ladies wanting some cute little things for themselves. Can't wait to show them off.

cute crochet

I have continued to practice my crochet ... um, skills ... and after finishing off a couple baby sweaters for both my bambino and his bestie Kev (his mom and I already decided they will be BFF by geography....they live 10 houses up the street, will be in the same school, on the same bus, and most likely have the same daycare.) They also both had a couple hats made....there were a few pair of booties...some baby blankets given up on....and then I discovered amigurumi.

Amigurumi is Japanese-inspired crocheting of dolls, stuffed animals, and other cuteness. Think of it as 3D anime. Everything is cute. Or maybe it started that way, and ended up perverse. Exploring examples on Ravelery.com I found some really interesting projects (like "adult lip balm case" ... you can google it.)

Like every other new interest I have, I immediately took this topic to Amazon.com and have purchased 4 books so far this week on amigurumi. I have also started a few projects with varying success. And varying challenges....like a missing bunny head, which the puggle is absolutely being blamed for at this point. The biggest challenge, though, is my lack of ability to create a "magic circle". In my search for the right way to do this, I discovered a great website with the first directions for a magic circle that have ever worked for me.

Planet June is full of cute patterns to purchase, helpful free tutorials, and a starting point to trying out amigurumi, or just crochet, for yourself. June's book is on its way this week. Its also the best resource for the details you may want for your own creations, like the eyes, noses, etc. that are not available in stores and even extremely limited for purchase on my beloved amazon.com.

Without further ado....here is my 2nd ever amigurumi....a very simple bunny for the bambino.


I long ago created "Alvira Loo" who know resides with a BFF of my own, but failed to photodocument her awesomeness. There are 2 other toys in process right now...with many more to come. Another snowstorm (4th this season) is on its way this week, so hopefully I will have more couch time to keep the cuteness coming.

2010 is almost over...

....and it has been so long since an update.

In that time, we found that the baby we are expecting is a healthy (thank you, God, and everyone who's prayed for us this past year) boy. And my days have been filled with fun stuff like professional development at school, sciatic nerve pain (literally: a pain in the as$) which seems to move side to side, a couple of my usual fall into winter calls for anti-biotics (strep, sinusitis, laryngitis, a couple of other 'itis'es....bambino is going to come out pre-disposed to needing super strength anitbiotics, sorry babe.)

I've also fallen back into my winter craftiness. Baking cookies, decorating sugar cookies, baking dog cookies, decorating dog cookies, making candy, burning skin off my knuckles (ouch...boiling sugar), and of course, crocheting.







This year, its baby blue items galore. So far I have:

1. discovered Ravelery.com, and wasted many hours looking at patterns

2. made a periwinkle blue elf hat, good only for photo ops

3. made matching periwinkle blue booties

4. worked on a sweater (needs button) and matching toque (looks more like a yamaulke right now)

5. gave up on...poncho to cover large belly, christmas table runner, beige thick scarf

Our big gift from each other to each other is a dSLR camera....we have over 600 pictures of the puggle at this point. Look for more this coming year. The well taken ones are from Dan. The not-so-great ones are mine. I may try the 365 pictures in 365 days project to force myself into playing with the camera and catching up to my husband's abilities.

summer into fall

When I last wrote, I was anxiously looking forward to a new school year in a new role at a new school.
I kept wanting to write how fantastic it is, but wanted to wait for "the other shoe to drop". I historically end up in pretty miserable work situations...the kind that make me want to never see another Monday as long as I live, send me to doctors for stress-related illness, and cause many, many tears.
Somehow...the stars lined up just the right way...I was hired at a really great school this summer! I am doing the job I have been wishing for, teaching small groups of students who need reading support, and working typical teaching hours. The administration is great, and so far, very level-headed. The other teachers actually respect me. They are kind, encouraging, supportive, and cooperative. There is no junior high type gossiping. There is no tattling. There are no unreasonable and malicious rumors. I love it here!!!

So that is what brought me from summer into fall this year.
As the cool weather rolled in (I saw snowflakes Friday!) my favorite winter time passtime has made a come back, I am spending a LOT of time crocheting. This also has a lot to do with football and hockey. Thanks, Dan.

Hopefully my first big project will be done and posted this week....meanwhile, I will enjoy this Sunday afternoon and continue working on a mini-project while 'watching' football this evening. And look forward to work tomorrow.

changes

Change is a good thing. Change can make you feel better. hopeful. excited.

Change is a scary thing. Change can make you feel frightened. anxious. worried.

This is what the beginning of a new school year is about: new clothes, new haircuts, new teachers, maybe new buildings. And, this is the same for teachers as children. This year, I will be a new teacher again. I am teaching in a new school, in a new city. I have a new role, teaching reading to students who most need it. I have a building full of new teachers to meet.

And I know how those kids are going to feel this year. As much as this change is a good thing --- a really, really good thing --- its scary to leave the comfort of the room I knew, the role I knew, and most of all the kids I know. I had reached the point of knowing almost all the kids in the school. I knew parents, I knew the teachers' stories. Now, I am the new kid on the block again. I am so excited when I think of all the positives of this new adventure, but still I have those "new kid butterflies".

We'll all be OK. The butterflies will leave our bellies and help us fly to new, wonderful places, where we should be. If you are bringing a child to school for the first time, or the first time just for this year, you can tell them that the teachers feel the same way. And mean it.

cape cod geography...

I wish that I was still on vacation. I spent hours on the beaches of the cape. I also discussed the beaches a lot recently, and realize that they have been named with the mission to confuse the hell out of us on the mainland. Let alone those poor foreign visitors, like the busload full of elderly Russian female tourists who were dumped at Marconi at 5:30 on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

I think I have the lingo of the cape down. Let's Head Down the Cape--- this means traveling from anywhere to Cape Cod. You could be driving from Florida, all 19 hours straight north, but you are going Down the Cape, as is: "We are not excited for this car ride, but it will be worth it. We are going Down the Cape." Before we even go to the beaches, let's straighten out the regions. It took me a good 9 years to get this down.

Upper Cape: the part of the cape closest to the bridges. Bourne, Sandwich, Marstons Mills, Mashpee, Falmouth and Woods Hole (which are actually the lowest physical part of the cape). The Upper Cape brings me to the baffling Barnstable/Hyannis conundrum:
the county- Barnstable
the actual town- Barnstable
the city (within the town and county)- Hyannis (and Hyannisport)
and then there are several smaller "villages"/towns- Marstons Mills, Centerville, Craigville, and they are all also "Barnstable".

Mid Cape: this one actually makes sense, its the middle of the cape. part of Barnstable (the Hyannis part) Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich (sometimes but more often is considered Lower Cape). Harwich is actually "the five Harwiches" but they thought ahead to keep the name "Harwich" as part of each, as in Harwichport. They saved their confounding naming skills for their streets, but that's another post for another day.


Nugget, the beach puggle on Bank Street Beach, in Harwichport. There are rules concerning her time at the beaches in this town.

Lower Cape: Harwich (most often), Brewster, Orleans, sometimes Eastham and sometimes, the entire Outer Cape falls under the Lower Cape label.



Outer Cape: This is my favorite part of the cape, and the least busy, also the most expensive. There are no tacky areas to be found, actually there is no route 28 either. Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro (favorite town in the world so far), and Provincetown. I think this part of the cape now boasts 2 Dunks, thanks to the new one in Wellfleet.
It's also home to Seaman's Bank. <----- that's for you, Deb

OK? following so far? Now we visit the actual beaches. I am only talking about the Lower and Outer Cape, as those are the beaches that I frequent.

confusion #1: The National Seashore.
It's one beach. It's not six beaches. It's national but not all of it is available to everyone. There are 6 beaches that a National Seashore pass will gain you entrance to. There are several town managed beaches that require a separate sticker or fee. Then there is open space that you can explore, and 8 self-guided trails. And a museum. And a couple visitor centers. And an airport. All of this is considered National Seashore, a National Park. An interesting side note overheard on this stretch of beach: Since its national its federal. Since its federal, state laws don't apply. Also overheard: "It's no $100 fine for smoking green here. Its felony time." And, now you know, gangstah.


Marconi Beach, July. Walk far enough and you can have a whole stretch to yourself.



confusion #2: Nauset v. Nauset Light.
Nauset is in Orleans and Chatham. It is not National Seashore (separate fees). Nauset has an ORV trail. Nauset also has the coldest water anywhere. 58 degrees cold. Part of Nauset Beach is called North Beach, just to make things fun.
Nauset Light is part of the National Seashore (let's call it the seashore from now on) and is located in Eastham. It has a lighthouse called...duh...Nauset Light. I think that at one time Nauset Beach stretched all the way up to Nauset Light Beach.

Nauset Light in early June....brrrr....brave soul.

confusion #3: Coast Guard v Coast Guard Road
Coast Guard Beach is in Eastham. It's part of the seashore. It has a shuttle. I have never been here. It has a shuttle.
Coast Guard Road Beach is in North Truro and is the most beautiful stretch of Cape Cod beach that I have ever seen. This is a town managed beach. It can be reached with a half mile or so walk from Head of the Meadow Beach, which is part of the seashore. More than half of the people on this beach at any given time will wonder what beach, exactly, they are on.

confusion #4: Head of the Meadow v Head of the Meadow
This is one beach divided into two. There is the National Seashore side to the left and the town side to the right. But, really its just the parking lot that is divided. Once on the beach, you can walk to either part so long as its not closed for plovers or terns nesting. Actually if you park in the National lot, you could walk down to any of the Truro town beaches according to the ranger station when I called a couple weeks ago.



So, now I am so looking forward to the coming weekend's escape to the seashore.

twilight weddings

If you know me well, you know there is little in life that I enjoy discussing more than a wedding. You also know that I am obsessed like a 14 year old girl with everything and anything Twilight Saga. Yesterday I got to see Eclipse (so good) on the IMAX (so BIG!) at Providence Place Mall.

Before discussing the actual movie, let me quickly recap what the IMAX theater experience was like. It was the first time I had seen a movie on the giant screen, and wasn't sure what to expect. Neither was D. She was concerned about seeing every detail minus her glasses. As soon as we got there, she commented that not having them was clearly not an issue. What is difficult is trying to take it all in at once. We were about 7 rows back and in the center. Next time, we'll probably take it back a few more rows. The matinee was $12 and well worth the extra few bucks for the opportunity to see Edward's beautiful face at about 30 feet tall.

OK...so the movie. Was it as good as the book? not really...it never can be. Was it awesome? absolutely. The tent scene was as promised. The Jacob kiss- beautifully shot, but I just keep thinking he's so manipulative. (Clearly I am not Team Jacob. Sorry S.) The graduation party and the fights looked just as they did in my imagination. What I was expecting was just a little more of Bree Tanner, given her 200 page book and all. Though, it was details of that book that gave us the Riley scenes in the beginning. Poor Riley.

Now, let's talk about decapitation. It happens in this book. I remember being somewhat shocked the first time I came upon that. David Slade illustrated this in a really cool, sort of gross, but not disgusting way. The shattering noise fx were the best part of the vampire fights...something breaks, you hear this cool shattering sound instead of the goopy, bloody sound fx we usually hear when limbs go flying in movies. (How do I know this?) Edward's sparkly skin worked well in this movie, too. Something I wish for more of...Seth's character development, especially how he and Edward work so well together. Hopefully in Breaking Dawn....

Speaking of: My very favorite part of this movie is definitely the engagement scene (and can you imagine it as a rated R movie...ooooh!) and the final scene with the wedding planning. I found this online, and it just brought my daydreams of the Breaking Dawn wedding into even clearer detail. InStyle is already one of my favorite mags, but the fact that they have 10 designers envisioning Bella's wedding gown for me, well, that just elevates them. I think the Monique Lhulliher is my favorite, but there are a few cool designs in there. Christian Serriano is just fierce, you know he's in to the saga and this assignment. One of the sketches is just odd. See if you can tell which one baffles my mind. And, if you know anything about that designer....please let me know what I am missing!

Meanwhile, go see the movie. Buy the soundtrack (fantastic). I am off to download some more of Sia's songs....she is amazing.

vicarious shopping....budget pains

Macys Fashion Director: "

I love this outfit - check it out!"

well, its not that I exactly love it, its that I love the idea of a $1000 Macy's gift card, so I could for-real shop. And, actually, given the items to work with, I think I did a pretty decent job on the above. The itty-bitty, teeny-weeny, yellow polka dot bikini is great for its iconic status (and being bandeau for the most part. I am obsessed with bandeau bikinis since getting my first last year. No tan lines for whatever neckline shirt/dress you wear. greatness). The hat, despite bearing Jessica Simpson's name is pretty darn cute. And I covet a new (bigger) pair of seven's. Call them priced for the name, but they fit better than any other pair while making me look better than in any other pair. There is only one other pair of jeans I have ever owned that can compare....a 13 year old pair of A&F jeans that are so torn up, I really can't wear them. But they are so velvety soft and carry so many memories, I can't let them go.

Anyhow....cute marketing idea, Macy's. I had a lot of fun pretending I was a guest stylist on "How Do I Look?" while whiling away 20 useless minutes. And until the budgetary disaster is relieved, well, as D said: "We window shop. Oh Look how nice. I would love to buy it, but let's LOOK at it a while and pretend..."

ETA: Oh, If you click on the link above, you can vote for me. Or make your own weekend collection. There's the marketing part!

fear of needles - conquered.

This past year gave me excessive opportunities to face my fear of needles: root canal, amniocentisis, countless blood draws, a third ear piercing set, and the long awaited tattoo...well, tattoos...no, singular tattoo.

Just about a year ago, I decided to go for it. Not sure what caused me to think I would do it, but thanking D for forcing me to go through with it. She all but dragged me into Sacred Harp tattoo in Salem for my first experience with the ink and needle. A xanax later, I was in the chair, cringing in fear and clutching D's hand as the needle first hit skin. Waiting for agony, it felt like...
well, like scratching a sunburn by accident when it itches. Not the most pleasant feeling I've known, but not the worst either.

Being a fan of pain meds to relieve unnecessary discomfort and knowing that complaining to doctors will do the trick (why suffer in silence? really? the good folks who make hydrocodone do so for a reason), I am very used to the 1 - 10 pain scale. migraine = 8 or 9, cramps = 7 or 8, blackout cramps = 9 or 10, rH negative shot = 5, tattoo = 2 or 3. see, not so bad.

But I digress. So last July the first tattoo was done in about 20 minutes time. I was quoted 45 - 60 minutes, but I was "a rock"...I didn't move or need a break, and it was done super-quick. I had pink angel wings and 3 little stars on my back.


love.

The stars were for the lost sister and brother who remained angels, and my 'other' mom Trish.

Fast forward to December. I had my own angel baby to forever remember and thought the best way to do this would be with an additional tattoo. I found this design and thought it perfect:


Back to Sacred Harp we went. When sketched out and applied, it was a mess. Symmetry is huge in tattooing and the lack of symmetry in the new design did not work. When all was said and done, I ended up with this:

Not so perfect. Pretty much pain free again, so that was good.

So, after weeks of stressing over how to make it perfect, hubby treated me to a "re-do" at Electric Angel in NH. The name of the shop sounded perfect. The photos of Laurie's work were incredible. My friend's own tattoo done there is absolutely breathtaking. So off we went.

Let me tell you, she did an awesome job, but OH. MY. GOD. pain! this ranked up there as a 6 or 7. Tears were trying to escape, and hubby couldn't stay in the room to watch the whole time.

Later, he took the bandage off and OH. MY. again. This tattoo bled! No blood before. I had one of my panic attacks upon seeing this picture while hubby cleaned it off for me.

holy bloody mess.

Anyhow, after cleaning and applying aquaphor...

well, it looked worse.

Few minutes later, and this is the final result.

total love.

I am already planning the next one! My foot is looking pretty boring and I have a sketch in my head ready to go.

So, do I offer any advice for those of you considering some ink?
1. have a CLEAR idea of what you want before you go. Find or draw it out.
2. take an advil before you go.
3. know that the more detailed the image, the larger it will need to be on your skin to maintain detail as you age.
4. know that you will not be able to get it in pool water, pond water, or ocean water for 10 days to 2 weeks. Plan around vacations to avoid missed fun.
5. if the tattoo artist suggests making it bigger, he/she's right. You will be glad you did!

summer 2010

I have not bothered with this blog for a long time.
Actually, that is not entirely true at all.

I have not posted on this blog for a long time.

When last I actually posted one of the many rambles that I have typed, I was very excitedly looking forward to my first child's arrival. I was a happy pregnant lady.

Those of you who actually know me (which may be 3 of the maybe 4 people who've ever read this) probably know that 1 month after that fateful post, we lost our baby girl. Its been a hard few months. There have been silver linings that are still so tarnished they've yet to shine. And there have been posts that I typed, mostly for me, and kept to myself. So now, I am trying to actually step back into the world I was in last summer before everything went tipsy topsy and dropped me, and my heart, on my ass.

I missed writing. I love it. I would love an audience for my ramblings, but am happy to believe that you're out there. I love reading blogs and peaking in on other people's lives, and finding connections. Maybe you do too...and you will read on.

Anyhow, most of what was true about me last year remains true. Puggle - check. She is now elevated into even more "crazy lady and her spoiled crazy dog" status. There will be dog information on this blog. promise. Teacher - check. I am leaving my favorite class ever...there will be stories about my kiddos. Beach goer - check. I legitimately could happily spend the rest of my life lounging on beaches. I look forward to sharing that with you. Diner - check. Still love me some good foods. Shopper - check. well, sort of. Budgets blow. Twilight fan. Oh hell, yeah. Will share thoughts on Eclipse next week.

So stay tuned....the pricipessa is back, and she's got a lot of time on her hands this summer.

being pregnant and being a foodie

I have a fairly decent excuse for not updating this blog in goodness knows how long. In late August we found out that our family of 2 (plus puggle) will soon be a family of 3 (plus puggle). For various reasons, this just became public (that is, Facebook) knowledge, though the new grandparents to be certainly helped share the information for us as well as a status update could ever do.

There are so many things to discuss about being with child...and so many have already been discussed ad nauseum (sp? blogger's spell check can't get this one either) on blogs, in books, on sites devoted to every little thing pregnancy-related.

So, I figured I would discuss the one thing that I have not found a good source of information for: being a foodie while eating for two.

What is a foodie? My husband hates the term, though he falls into the category to some extent. Its someone who loves, adores, and will go great distances for really great food. A foodie is not scared by foods that are raw, items that they have never heard of, or cuisines from many time zones away. A foodie understands that Asian food is not the Chinese delights that are delivered to your house, and that Italian meals --- real Italian meals --- do not include melted mozzerella cheese. Foodies' concept of Ceasar dressing involves raw egg yolk and can't be purchased in a bottle. I have heard the following term describe my eating habit: "food snob". So call a foodie a food snob. It describes someone who loves unusual foods and unusually delicious foods, which could be as simple as a homegrown heirloom tomato with basil and a good extra virgin olive oil.


The following information is taken from my appointment with a pregnancy nutritionist and various reading materials. Please, please refer to a doctor with any questions about your own diet!!!!

Enter the restructions of pregnancy:
The biggest fear placed in the hearts of pregnant women is the fear of listeria. That's a lovely bacteria that lives in undercooked foods and unpasteurized cheeses. It can make a "normal" person have an unfortunate night of intestional issues and lose a pound or two the easy way. It can be utter disaster for the pregnant woman's unborn baby.
What this means for "normal" eaters --- hot dogs have to be thoroughly steaming (I love a good hotdog too!), no cold cuts that are not pre-roasted meat (bologna, etc.), all other cold cuts (turkey, roast beef, etc.) have to be toasted until steaming. Meat has to be cooked to well done.
No raw anything.
Only pasteurized cow's milk cheese.

What this means to me and my foodie friends --- No more proscuitto e melone. No more salumi, or charcuterie plates. No more smoked salmon, smoked duck breast, or other smoky delightful cold meat treats. No more pate, or terrain de pate. (Whoops. No one told me that prior to my birthday dinner. Sorry, little baby.) No more lamb chops, or any other lamb dish that is best served rare. (Apparently lamb runs the biggest risk of them all.) No more filet mignon, because there is no point in eating it cooked beyond a rare. (whoops again, didn't even know I was to be pregnant when I chose the filet at a wedding and didn't know the "at least medium well" rule when at said wedding) No more carpaccio. No more anything with crudo for that matter.
No more sushi or sashimi or salmon tartare. No more quail egg upon said sushi. No more maki with roe.
Adios to the delicious, non-cow's milk cheeses of Spain. No chevre, manchego, drunken goat. No more brie, either. Or feta. Or bleu cheeses, stilton or gorgonzolas.

Another great risk to the baby is mercury consumption. To this point, tuna is out. As is swordfish, steak, tilefish, and all other large fish. Granted, the only way to really enjoy tuna is raw anyhow...making one of my absolute FAVORITES a double whammy no. Back to my list of favorites that are off limits for being raw: oysters on the half shell. For my Dad's sake, I will mention that I am also no longer allowed cherrystones, though I can't really say I ever liked those anyhow.

So, where does this leave a pregnant foodie? Probably not even interested in half the foods she can eat. I lost my taste for any kind of meat that is not totally obscured by mincing and seasoning. Pork in a Peking Ravioli or steamed bun? bring it on. Pork chops...just typing the words are making me nauseous. Chicken in any way is not doing it for me these days. Oddly, the only 2 ways that I can get down beef is in a McDonald's cheeseburger (go ahead, call me a food snob) with tons of pickles, or in a meatball grinder.
On the other hand, tofu has become a craveworthy feast to me. And vegetables and fruits in any form. Pumpkin curry soup is a food of the gods right now. I almost tackled a student to the ground for a late season plum. Pomegrantes are a daily snack.

Here are a list of nutritionist approved foods to sate the foodie's hunger and keep baby happy:
maki - sushi rolls with cooked fish and/or vegetables. Some of my favorites include cucumber, unago (eel) and unavo (eel with avocado). Spider rolls may not be too great as soft shell crab is not in season, but they are a good cooked choice as well. In fact, I was told that cooked rolls are one of the best foods to eat: they are low-fat, nutritious, and the ginger settles the stomach. Add some edamame and miso soup and you have a very filling and healthy meal. PS- green tea is off limits. This is because it prohibits absorbtion of folic acid. Of everything I have had to give up, this one is probably the hardest.

prosciutto and fig - on pizza, in a pasta meal. As long as proscuitto is thoroughly cooked, and eaten sparingly, its OK.

cheeses - hard, cow's milk cheeses are also OK. I adore parmiggiano with some balsalmic drizzled on it. Melt a little into a crisp and you have an absolutely amazing snack. This is a good time to try some artisan cheddars, swisses or other hard, cows milk cheese. A word of warning on artisan cheeses: be sure they are pasteurized.

lamb - for me, its one of 2 ways these days: well roasted leg of lamb with a good minty jelly or in kibbe, a thoroughly cooked lebanese meatloaf.

salmon - this fish is ok 1 time per week if farmed, 2 times per week if wild. My favorite way to prepare it (besides in sushi or tartare) is baked with a sour cream and dill sauce. Try to find this delicious recipe by James Beard. You never go wrong with any of his suggestions.

Other foods that have been elevated in status in my mind lately include olives (I can not get enough), and ceasar salads (just be sure that you have "egg beaters" in the dressing, as opposed to real egg yolk. In CT, the law provides that restaurants have to use this egg yolk substitute. In MA, it could be the same and the last restaurant where I asked missed this caveat, or it could be legal to use the raw egg with warning. If you ask, the kitchen should be able to tell you. From my days of waitressing, believe me it is asked at least once a day at any restaurant serving this salad.)
There are select Chinese restaurants that make some absolutely delicious tofu meals, including one in Farmington, CT that makes a "vegetarian duck" and "vegetarian goose meat" from minced mushrooms and tofu sheets that is so good, I ask my parents to drive it up from home for me when they visit. I also love a good Sesame Tofu if it shows up on a menu.
Another great choice is Vietnamese bun with tofu or shrimp. ( I lost my love of shrimp with pregnancy.) Its light, tasty, and fresh. Great for my picky tummy.
Thai foods also offer lots of tasty, cooked choices and plenty of vegetarian selections.

Happy eating, friends. Even if you are not pregnant, maybe some of these foods are new to you...try seeking them out. They aren't too hard to find, if I managed here in Central Mass. Maybe you have some suggestions for me? I would love to hear them!

Meanwhile, I will continue to look forward to my anniversary celebration. Baby D is due 4 days before our 4th anniversary. My gift this year? A platter of sushi, a gallon of iced green tea and a magnum of Vuvet Cliquot, please. :-)

time for a little shopping, and dining.

I am absolutely using this space to make myself feel like I have my dream job from time to time. That dream job, friends, is a travel writer. It involves no children, no text books, no lesson plans, no early wake-ups (except for flights and excursions) and plenty of time on the beach and at the dinner table. Nevermind, the shopping! If only such a position as traveling critic/mystery shopper existed.....ah...sweet fantasy world. So, without further explanation...a couple shopping recommendations and a restaurant to be avoided at all costs if you happen to be down the cape anytime soon.

Chatham, MA- Girls, if you happen to need a cute dress (or a classy dress, or a unique dress, or a killer-"get the hell away from my boyfriend"-dress) for a wedding, shower or other event, I highly recommend "Violets". Its right on the main street where all the shopping is, in the center of town, sort of across the street from The Squire. The dresses are actually very reasonably priced for the selection and the variety. Shopping there consists of looking through rainbowed racks of dresses organized by color. They also have an amazing choice of costume jewelery to compliment their dresses or any pre-existing assemble you have to fancy up. The baubles are not nearly as affordable if bought in quantity (a necklace and pair of earrings cost me $70. A lot, I think, for costume jewelery.), but still ridiculously adorable and unique. I think that's the highlight of the offerings here...you are not going to be wearing something that anyone else is sporting to the same event. For example, my new earrings, which feature two thin, yet big dangly ovals, with tiny pinkish violet swarvoski crystals and a teeny little golden bird floating from the post. Not tacky...whimisical. A little bird! I loved them instantly. Whoever does the buying for this store clearly enjoys their role and has a lot of fun filling the small space with gorgeous items.

Harwichport, MA - On the same note of absolutely fall-in-love-with-everything-on-the-rack selection, with a more casual weekend feel, try shopping at "Isabel". On Route 28, across from The Mason Jar, this store took over for a consignment store a couple years back and has held on for the past few summers with adorable clothes. The feel is a funkier J.Crew, or a prepped out Anthropology, maybe. There are sundresses, shorts, jeans, t's, sweaters... if I had a black Amex card I could easily fill a closet here. The prices, for the most part, reflect the store's vacationy location. You pay a premium for shopping within walking distance to the beaches in town. For my Central Mass friends: if you are a Natick Collection shopper, the tags here will be par for the course. If you are a Greendale Mall shopper, you may be in for some sticker shock. That said, I have Natick Collection tastes with a Greendale Mall budget, and this store is great source of inspiration for adding to my season's wardrobe updates.

East Harwich, MA- For the love of god, do not confuse "The Upper Crust" pizzeria, located on rt.39 in the 400 plaza here with "The Upper Crust" located in Brookline and Boston. Do not order pizza from this place. The undercooked nastiness that we paid over $30 for this weekend shamed me as an Italian, and as the daughter of a family who owned a pizzeria. It shamed me as someone who eats pizza. Hell, it shamed me as someone who eats at all.

when did you grow up?

It was a couple weeks ago that I was flipping through a copy of "Real Simple" magazine and saw an essay contest asking would be authors to write about the moment they realized they were really, true, honest-to-god adults. Since that moment, the thought has popped into my head several times, interrupting my best efforts to remain forever trapped in college mode.

And my efforts to not grow up have been pretty impressive.
I am one of the last of my friends to hold on to non-motherhood. Not because I don't adore babies, but because I also adore laziness and sleeping in, and beach trips and unplanned runs to the store, and freedom to do what I want, pretty much when I want. The puppy can go in a crate (but rarely does when I am not working!) but a baby can not.

I watch E!, I read Twilight and buy US Weekly if anything about the movies are on the cover, I waste money on iTunes and more money on Coach bags. I still punch new holes in my ears and plan on tattoos in what my husband considers my midlife crisis (giving me a lifespan of 62. thanks, Babe.) Credit cards are still used, and 401K's...who really needs them. Especially when 11% goes to the pension plan anyhow, thanks Mass teacher retirement fund.

BUT...despite this...I did discover this month that I am, in fact, a true grown-up.

Several occasions illustrated this to me in glaringly obvious and painful ways. Let's look at last week-

Monday - Try to plan camping trip with girlfriends. Two of us must "check with husbands" first. (Reminds me of being a child, checking with Mom) Three of us must schedule around parental doctor appointments. (When you hit the "real grown-up stage", you take your parents to the doctor and help them fill out forms, give medical histories, and calm them down.)
Go to dermatologist - instead of being inundated with sun safety and acne info, shown botox info. Awesome. Told that "freckle" on face is "age spot". Revolt with third piercing in each ear. Now I look 15 again. Except the little sign indicates that I need a parent to sign if born after 1990. I was in high school in 1990, wasn't I?

Tuesday - Bring mom to doctor. Try to help her with "these ABC's that you're so good at"...by that, she means the medical terms and abbreviations. I am not good at them because I have a master's degree in reading, I am good at them because I have a list of them on my own medical history: GAD, SAD, IBS, GERD. Have anxiety induced stomachache waiting for mom's appointment, which the nurse asks me to accompany her in for. "My mom needs me too, she is forgetful". Um...shit...when did my youthful mom get old enough to need me to help her? when did I get old enough to be helpful?

Wednesday - Funeral. For the day old daughter of friends. When you see the child of someone your own age pass away, you know that you are the older generation. When you see any child pass away, you wonder how it could happen. I believe that we needed more angels and she was too perfect for this imperfect world, and so was called to be an angel. I imagine my 'other mom', my nonna, and my mother in law, in heaven, cooing over her and taking care of her now. I pray that her family finds strength and comfort, but can not imagine how.

Thursday - still sullen from yesterday, I head to the dentist. They show me the clipping of my wedding announcement from three years ago. Three YEARS ago?! While my mouth is otherwise busy being scraped and polished, I think back those three years. Then, I think back the 7 years before that. Then, I realize that my husband and I have been together for TEN years. Then, it hits me that he has been out of college for ten years and had I not taken that year off, I too would have been out for ten years. Next, I recognize the fact that we have been out of high school for 14 years. Good god. Grown-up. The hygenist and I talk about our parents' health. Grown-up.

Friday- I go to the beach with three friends. I am the oldest. By five years, at least. On the ride home, someone asks about a guy from my husband's home town. "He's old." He's five years older than us. Yeah, he IS old. He is probably not Grown-up. He is looking for legal representation. Knowing what I do of that family and town, he's probably functioning on an 18 year old maturity level.

I AM grown-up. I worry about my parents' health. I worry about a mortgage. I plan to have children, eventually, and realize I need to be less selfish to do so. I have seen loss, and fear it, but know it is unavoidable. I lose words, and have to stop and think to recall ideas that used to just pour out. My age has a three in the tens place. I am seriously considering entering an essay contest. You can win money...for more coach bags. :-)

Once upon a time...

there lived a tired teacher in a little, tiny town that she thought was too far away from anything really worth seeing. Like a mall with more than 10 stores. Or the beach. So on her first summer of not doing anything, she started talking to her dog. Talking to her dog too much for her own peace of mind. Hence, i diari della principessa.
At least now I can honestly say "I am not wasting time on facebook."

The beach comment above is not quite fair, as I do spend my weekends at the Cape. But its fair enough since the weekdays in summer are spent wishing my husband would make the career move into education and we could spend all week on the beach. He'd be a lot happier if I wasn't at home when he was at work.

Oh, the Cape. I just returned from a week at the Cape. I have a 15 month old Puggle, who is like my child. She loves the beach as much as I do (that is, she loves the warm sand and sun and wants nothing to do with the 57 degree water). And, the Cape welcomes her. Our usual beach, Nauset in Orleans allows her to bask in the sun as she deserves if she comes in on the O.R.V. road. And my father in law, he enjoys taking the truck out there too. As do many of my friends who purchased pretty expensive vehicles for the sole purpose of taking them on the beach. So we all rush to purchase $180 beach stickers. (well, not me. I drive a pretty badass corolla, but no one's beliving that thing can offroad in sand)
So, besides New England making some sort of cosmic mistake and believing that it was part of the Pacific Northwest for the past 4 weeks working against our beach plans, further insidiousness interupted the Puggle's plan for beach dominance last week.


The Piping Plover.

"tastes like chicken" "oh, cute" "our new babies" "little f*$#ers"
Go to any beach mid to lower cape right now, and you will hear these comments. I promise you.

No offroading at Nauset until August. No offroading at Race Point until god knows when. Half of Marconi is closed (2 were born). I can't remember which beach, but one beach closed entirely on the 4th of July (also the first sunny day in weeks) because 1 bird hatched. Or so a really drunk partygoer told me that night.

Nature is great. It does suck that we ruined their habitat, but there is a point where we seem to be overprotecting them. If we didn't exist, would they receive the protection they get now?

Eh, I am just bitter because everyone around me is cranky about this.

Personally, I have reason to be happy. We got a National Seashore pass and I get to spend the summer at beaches with bathrooms (!!!) No peeing in sand or running into 55 degree water for me this year. Daily drives up to my favorite towns on the Cape: Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, P-Town. Being able to just leave my beach crap in my car since its my car with the sticker on it. Being on my own schedule.

I will happily take it. I think I am going to go join some sort of group to protect those plovers. They did me a real solid this time around.