it makes me very happy.....

being home. as much as I love roadtripping, it feels so good to sleep in our own tiny house in our own tiny room. 

clean sheets.

fresh utah peaches....

....for breakfast, lunch, dinner, bredtime snack.

technology....all of our family lives so far away and I love that I can reach them so quickly via phone or text. after text after text.

kids who sleep in.

drinking ice cold water.
the tuesday night farmer's market has started!
going to the library.

babies. I have been so lucky to be able spend time with my new niece and new nephew in the past few weeks. babies are the best.

Something that makes me very VERY happy, is bringing a few things in from the garden, and mixing and matching our garden goods with my farmer's market finds to make a quick easy dinner that 

everyone loves, and doesn't heat up the kitchen.

We had this with a side of sliced garden tomatoes and mozzarella, and a pile of peaches....kind of a random assortment for dinner, but oh well.

Warm Zucchini, Corn, and Black Bean Salad

in a large pan with olive oil on medium high heat saute:

-2 medium zucchini, diced

-2 ears of corn, cut off the cob

-1 small red onion, diced

-1 jalapeno, seeded and diced

-2 garlic cloves, minced

-large pinch of coarse salt

when zucchini starts to get tender (I cooked mine for 7-8 minutes, but you can cook it as long as you like, depending on how small you diced it, and how firm you like it), add: 

-2 cups of black beans, drained and rinsed

cook for a few more minutes until beans are heated through. 

turn off heat and add:

-zest of 1 lime

-juice of 1 lime

-a large handful of chopped cilantro

mix together and enjoy!

this recipe is one of our favorites--my kids LOVE it and it's so versatile. 

 -eat is as a side OR a main. 

-it's great cold the next day for lunch

-add it to toasted corn tortillas for tacos

-throw it in with some lettuce, tomatoes, and avocados for a taco salad. 

What makes YOU very happy?

it makes me very happy.....

....goat cheese, cherry tomatoes still warm from the sun, basil and cracked pepper on toast

....small town rodeos, country music, and fireworks

....camping trips, fishing, and cozy tents

....the last Harry Potter. love love loved it.....so sad it's done

....thunderstorms crazy eights, and old maid

....running as the sun is coming up over the mountain

....weekend. always, weekend.

what makes you happy?

it makes me very happy...

From now until September I could easily title every post "I love summer", with a photo of something simple and summery that makes me happy. Every single day I find new things to love. 

Like being outside all day long. 

aaalllll day long.

in the sunshine.

Digging in the dirt. 

Weeding (ok, lets not lie. I hate weeding, but love being in the garden with the kids)

Roses. in my house. to smell.

Sweating outside in the sun, and stopping for a drink of ice cold water. 

Bonus: Ice cold water with lemon and mint.

Giving Charly a bath.

A clean dog. 

bonus: a clean dog that smiles for  pictures.

Swimsuits all day. 

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack. 

Still in swimsuits.

We have more and more tiny green tomatoes each day.

Farmers Market on Saturday.

Cars 2 this weekend! The boy has been counting down for months!

One last big project and Robby is officially done with school for the summer!!! 

I He We have made it through the first year!

What makes you happy?

__________ makes me happy

Eating a simple dinner:

-homemade naan

-shredded chicken (baked or slow cooked for a few hours with lemon, olive oil, S&P

-hummus

-greens

-marinated peppers

-sundried tomatoes

-goat cheese

-a favorite vinaigrette or a bit of lemon & olive oil

feeling SUNSHINE!

lying down in the (needs-to-be-mowed) grass and taking a deep breath.

the month of April.

reading.

hyacinth. 

Tom from Parks and Rec. 

finally being able to buy Tangled. I cannot get over how much I love that movie.

when my dreams have music in them (The Weepies Antartica)

Ben Kweller.

A certain little girl insisting that dandelions are "beeaauuutiful flowers, and that they should go in vases all over the house (which they did).

What makes you very happy?

Happy Weekend!

the art of doing nothing

an art I have mastered.

Yesterday.

I should have cleaned my closet.....I curled up on my bed and read. 

I should have folded the mountain of laundry that is piling up and threatening an avalanche that will burry my children in mismatched socks.....I feel asleep on my bed, after I read of course.

I thought about making chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles.......I threw some waffles together while I was on the phone.

I should have made the kids pick up their rooms.....but we read an extra chapter in our book.

I should have given the dog a bath.....but....well....I just didn't want to.

I looked at some recipes trying to decide what to make--cookies? muffins? granola?.........we had a handful of trail mix instead.

I should have got into a crazy spring cleaning mood and scrubbed my baseboards......but who does that?

I wanted to be productive......or did I?

I thought about maybe, possibly, regretting not getting much done.....but then I didn't.

phew.

what didn't you do?

(it kinda feels good getting it all out in the open:)

make my day....

Who makes your day? 

He makes my day. 

The little 5(and a half!) year old boy who gives the best hugs, tells the silliest stories, and isn't afraid to give me extra kisses in front of his friends before school. 

He makes my day. 

He is constantly giving me little notes that he writes, and today it came at just the right time. 

translation: "I love you too and thanks for the note"

(we share notes on expired polaroid film with dry erase markers:)





your turn:
________________makes my day

it makes me very happy.....

I'm most happy when I'm_____________________

-eating guacamole

-snuggling on the couch watching a movie

-at the top of the hill

-walking in the door of the yoga studio

-cooking for my family

hello.

*****

mildly sweet, made with whole wheat flour, and perfect for a rainy day.

Butternut Squash Bread

1 1/4 c whole wheat flour

1/2 c unbleached bread flour

1/4 c rolled oats

1/4 c flax seed

1/8 c wheat germ

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 TBS ground cinnamon

1/2 TBS ground nutmeg

1/4 c browned butter

1/2c agave nectar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 c butternut squash puree*

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour one 9x5 loaf pan.

*For squash puree:

-Halve and clean squash

-Brush with olive oil.

-place squash (cut side up),  on a lined baking sheet and roast at 425 until fork tender, about 30-45 minutes  Squash will easily scoop right out of peel when it is done roasting.

Place in food processor and puree

In a separate bowl combine all dry ingredients and mix. 

I an a mixer, combine browned butter and agave.

Mix in eggs until well combined, about 1 minute.

Mix in squash puree and vanilla until thoroughly combined.

Slowly add in dry ingredients, a little at a time, until just mixed in. Do not over mix.

Pour into pan and place on bottom rack of oven, and bake for 40-50 minutes, until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

enjoy!

Now it's your turn......

I'm most happy when I'm_________________