30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 29: a Person I Love

This guy.

And as much as I want to insert hundreds of hilarious pictures and stories of him and how he enriches my life, I'll keep this short...

I simply love him.  

He's the best (and in case I ever forget, he'll be sure to remind me).  :)

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 28: a Place I Love

I love this place...

New York City...there's just something about it.  I absolutely LOVE it.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 27: a Child I Love

Wow...this one's going to take a little extra brainstorming. 

A Child I Love...hmmmmmm... 

Oh, I know! I love this one. :)  My cute little Giants fan.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 26: a Funny (True) Story

I'm absolutely determined to complete this 30 Day Blog Challenge that's been 5 months in the making...so like Day 24, I'm going to cheat on this one as well. 

The thing is, I'm not exactly funny.  My brother has actually counted the number of times I've said something truly funny and let's just say we're still in the single digits. 

Anyway...I'm also not a big storyteller.

But I want to get to Day 27 in this challenge, so I'm going to recycle a story that I found quite humorous at the time.  And someday when Abigail is old enough to appreciate it, I'm pretty sure she'll get a chuckle out of it as well. 

That being said, please enjoy {BREAKING NEWS: Is Abby Really a BOY?!?} - I know you all know the final result here, but it's still hilarious to me that we even dealt with this in the first place.

Oh, and when I saw my doctor after Abigail was born, she informed me that she'd NEVER had this happen to a patient before...in a strange way, it made me feel quite special.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 25: a Favorite Photo

This is EASY!!!

I took this picture yesterday while it was raining cats and dogs outside...Abigail just so happened to be smitten with the smiling sun toy that was dangling above her head (it's as if she knew it was raining) and I snapped this shot.

My happy baby. 

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 24: a Travel Story

I'm going to cheat on this one...I really want to complete this 30 Day Blog Challenge (I got a little distracted when Abigail was born), so I'm just going to use last weekend's trip as my "Travel Story."

In case you missed it, read about it here: {Our First Family Road Trip}

There...now I can move on to Day 25!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 23: a Video

This was supposed to be my challenge last Friday but I was having a tough time uploading the original video I selected...I'm actually glad it didn't work out because now I get to share this short clip with you.

After multiple attempts (again) to upload this sucker, I finally learned how to upload it to YouTube and "embed it" into my blog (I'm so technologically advanced...and yes, that's a joke) .  Hopefully it works for everyone!

Here's a look at the very beginning of our day last Saturday...around 3:30am...thank you Hubby for being on top of things (as usual).  I feel a bit vulnerable posting this video (probably because I'm in my super sexy hospital gown), but it's too special not to share...

ENJOY!  

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 22: a Favorite Joke

This may sound totally lame, but I don't have a Favorite Joke.

I most definitely cannot think of one off the top of my head, that's for sure...

I honestly just went to Google and typed in "dumb jokes" because I know I like dumb jokes...I just don't know any of them. 

Lame. 

I LOVE laughing...don't get me wrong...I'm just not going to sit here and search for a joke I think is funny...

Bad post.  Failed this Challenge.  Looking forward to the next one. 

Until tomorrow!  For now, just go check out {The Bump Report} because it's much better than this post...

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 21: a Favorite Recipe

a Favorite Recipe comes courtesy of my little Momma...she found this Chicken Curry recipe and it is absolutely DELISH!  

First I'll share some photos from the last two times I made it...then I'll add the recipe at the end.  

WARNING: it can be a bit expensive the first time you make it because of all the spices that are required...but if you're looking for a special dish, it's TOTALLY worth it (plus, the next time you make it, it'll be MUCH more affordable!). 

Let me know if you have ANY questions!

Chicken Curry Recipe

Murg Kari CHICKEN CURRY

To serve 4 to 6 

2 to 2 1/2 pounds skinned chicken legs and thighs and boned, skinned, split chicken breasts 3 teaspoons salt

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1¹/2 cups finely chopped onions

1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic 11/2 teaspoons scraped, finely

chopped fresh ginger root 1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground hot red pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground fennel, or fennel seeds pulverized with a mortar and pestle

1/2 cup water

1 cup finely chopped fresh tomatoes, or substitute 1 cup chopped, drained, canned tomatoes

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh

coriander

1/2 cup unflavored yoghurt

1 teaspoon garam masala (page 6) 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 

Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels and sprinkle them with 2 teaspoons of the salt. In a heavy 10- to 12-inch skillet, heat the oil over high heat until a drop of water flicked into it splutters instantly. Add the chicken and fry for 3 or 4 minutes, turning the pieces about with a spoon until they are white and somewhat firm. Transfer the chicken to a plate. 

Add the onions, garlic and ginger to the oil remaining in the skillet and, stirring constantly, fry for 7 or 8 minutes, or until the onions are soft and golden brown. Reduce the heat to low, add the cumin, turmeric, ground coriander, red pepper, fennel and 1 tablespoon of the water, and, stirring constantly, fry for a minute or so. Stir in the tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of the fresh coriander, the yoghurt and the remaining teaspoon of salt.

Increase the heat to moderate and add the chicken and any juices that have accumulated in the plate. Pour in the remaining water. Bring to a boil, meanwhile turning the chicken about in the sauce to coat the pieces evenly. Sprinkle the top with the garam masala and the remaining tablespoon of fresh coriander, reduce the heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is tender but not falling apart.

To serve, arrange the chicken attractively on a heated platter, pour the sauce remaining in the skillet over it, and sprinkle with the lemon juice.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 20: a Hobby of Mine

This may be an obvious one, but a hobby of mine is writing (hence the Blog).

It's actually been a hobby of mine since I was gifted my very first journal in 8th grade from my grandparents, Pop-Pop & Shereen.  

Since then, I've been collecting journals and filling them with completely insane thoughts, countless crazy crushes, goals of both the realistic and unrealistic sort, stories of how my life was both coming to an end and about to improve immensely (all in the same day), and the list could go on...

I have boxes full of these journals...

It's always been my intention to write a book someday (would this be a goal of the realistic or unrealistic sort?  That's TBD)...using my journals as material...so we'll see how that goes. 

But for now, I'll continue to focus on this journal - my online journal - which is still filled with much of the same (though I have less crazy crush stories now that I'm married and having a baby...). 

I truly enjoy my hobby. 

I hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing it!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 19: a Fun Memory

With so many wonderful memories to choose from, this is a tough "Challenge" - but after flipping through some of my albums, I stumbled across one from February of 2009 that made me smile from ear to ear...

It was one of those days in San Francisco that reminds you why you live here...perfectly sunny with a little chill in the air, gorgeous scenery all around, and nothing to do but go for a looooooooooooooooooooooooong walk...

Like...a REALLY long walk...for those of you who know San Francisco, Travis and I embarked on a journey that day that took us from Nob Hill, over to Pac Heights, down through the Presidio, over the Golden Gate Bridge, under the Golden Gate Bridge, into Sausalito (where we dined on some incredibly yummy Mexican food and Margaritas...the same restaurant we'd later go to in July right before Travis proposed), and back to San Francisco on the Ferry...

It was AMAZING.  Such a fun memory...such a wonderful day...here are some pics!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 18: a Baby Photo

Since Abigail hasn't made her grand entrance into the world yet, I suppose I'll just include a baby photo of myself!

Looking through baby photos makes me wonder what on earth Abby is going to look like...will she look more like me or her Daddy?  Time will tell...

Until then, here I am...in all my glory...circa 1984...when I took baths in sinks!  

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 17: a Photo of my Family

I have a bagillion photos of my family, but here's a relatively recent one...my brother, sister-in-law, me, hubby, Daddio and Little Momma...

Best family on EARTH!!!

March 27th, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 16: a Favorite Food

I'm going to post twice today because I failed to do any posting yesterday.

Day 16...a Favorite Food...this is hard because it all depends on my mood, the time of day, the day of the week, etc...and since I just ate breakfast, I'm not really having any cravings...

BUT...I'll go with something that I'd eat pretty much any day of the week (probably at any hour of the day)...

A Caprese Sandwich....there's nothing like the simplicity of Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella (with Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar and Salt and Pepper) - order it Panini style and you're good to go (can't go wrong with melted cheese)!

One of my favorites comes from Cheese Plus in San Francisco (it also helps that it's 3 blocks away) - go check it out if you live nearby or if you're in town!

DEEEEEE-licious!!!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 15: My Celebrity Crush

Gosh...I have too many "boyfriends" and "crushes" to even count (don't worry, Travis knows!)...but if I have to select ONE, it would most definitely be Ashton Kutcher...

Goofy, Tall, Handsome, Smart, Hilarious, Involved, and Interesting...oh, and SEXY!!! 

I'm curious - who's YOUR Celebrity Crush?

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 14: an Old Photo

Well this one isn't very specific, is it?  

An Old Photo...

I'm going to share two old photos...both featuring me and my partner in crime, my brother Christopher...both from the late '80's...both showcasing what goofs we were (and let's be honest, still are).  

The first is one of my absolute favorites - a classic photo of what was probably a rainy day where we had nothing to do but entertain each other...so we obviously decked ourselves out in our finest attire.  If you look close enough, you'll even see a bubble coming out of my brother's mouth...amazing. 

The second photo is just a fun one of the toothless wonders...and I'm not sure about you guys, but my Mom would "help" our loose teeth come out by tying a string around the suckers, attaching the string to a door, and then slamming the door at a drop of a comb (or anything else we were holding at the time).  

Sounds like torture, but for some reason we enjoyed the thrill of it...crazy kids...

All I can hope for is that when Abigail has a sibling (or two or three), she considers them her best friend as well...my brother was definitely mine!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 13: Something I Want to Buy

Easy. 

I want to buy a HOUSE! 

There's absolutely nothing I want more...I want to be a homeowner!  

And not that I'm picky or anything...but I want it to be white with black shutters and I want it to have a red front door...I want a big backyard with beautiful green grass, tall (climbable) trees for the kids and dog...a giant kitchen painted a pale yellow with a huge island in the middle for baking and cooking...a master bathroom with a his and hers sink (something I've always wanted)...walking distance to restaurants and shops...it'll be big enough to fit everyone, but not so big that cleaning it would become a weekly nightmare (or require a maid)...and a few other things...but really, something simple...

It can be a fixer-upper because fixing-upping (if you will) sounds like an exciting challenge to us...it just needs to be OURS. 

Our Home.  That we Own. 

And someday...we'll have it...I feel it in my bones!!!

There's nothing wrong with dreaming big, right?

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 12: Something I Bought Recently

We have yet to pack "the bag" for the Hospital (more on that later), but we have started thinking about the items that will be included in "the bag."  One (or should I say two?) of the items highly recommended by many people we've spoken to are slippers for moseying around the hospital...

And knowing me and my need to be up and about, I have a feeling some slippers will come in quite handy. 

One problem:  I don't own any slippers!

That is...I didn't own any slippers until yesterday...something I bought recently?

THESE SUCKERS!!!

On our way to the cash register at Target yesterday, I remembered that I needed slippers...so I ran off to the pajama section where I was happily greeted by these smiling Monkey slippers...now if THESE can't cheer me up when I'm dealing with contractions and waiting for Abby to arrive, I don't know what will!  

What a perfect addition to "the bag!"