Today we woke up to beautiful fall weather. We decided to get outdoors and enjoy it.
First, we tackled a few hiking trails in our town. The woods were really beautiful with all of the colorful leaves. I love the sound of the crunch underfoot, and just the smell of all of the foliage.
After our hikes, we stopped by a local farm to pick up some pumpkins. One of our nicknames for Tessa is “pumpkin girl,” so it was only appropriate for us to get photos of her in the “patch.” :)
It seems like just yesterday that my best friend had her baby girl. When she was about three weeks old, I drove the two hours to meet her.
Today, I drove the two hours to celebrate Ryanne’s first birthday.
Michael and I arrived at the house about an hour before the party was scheduled to start. Bethany had asked me if I’d be willing to take a few photos of Ryanne, so we quickly got the birthday girl dressed in her special outfit and headed outdoors for a short photo session. Many of you have asked me to share photos from my sessions, and I’m happy to say that this time, I can! Since she’s my best friend and all… :)
Although I spend a lot of time behind the lens, we had to get one with me in front of it as well…
Since Ryanne isn’t quite walking yet, I had to pose her in places where she could sit, or stand assisted. Although that somewhat limited what I could do, it also meant that she wasn’t able to run away from me! :)
Before long, it started to sprinkle a bit and we had to head inside to get a few things ready for the party. Little Ryanne was loved on by all of her family and friends, and we did all of the traditional first birthday stuff…
It was a great day, and I loved having the opportunity to see Bethany and Ryanne.
Now, Michael and I are actually off to a 30th birthday party! I guess it’s just a good day to celebrate LIFE!
We have quickly established a new Friday night routine for fall. Food and beer. Doesn’t really get any better than that.
Except when it’s homemade food, and it’s pumpkin ale. Yes, my friends.
We’ve taken to enjoying a few pumpkin ales while making dinner. Tonight, it was pasta with meat sauce. So good.
Enjoy your weekends!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
In September, I read A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. You may recall that I read and enjoyed his other award-winning novel, The Kite Runner, earlier this year.
This book truly took hold of me, and did not let go until the final words had been read. I devoured it. A Thousand Splendid Suns is a powerful read, a story that is somehow disturbing and beautiful, all at the same time. I suppose it is life’s hardships that bring out the strongest in all of us, and there is no question that the women in this book are fighters. They fight for each other, their families, and themselves. One of the characters in this book makes the ultimate sacrifice for friendship and family, and reading it shook me to the core.
At the beginning of this story, we are introduced to Miriam, an Afghan girl who is the illegitimate daughter of a rich man in the city of Herat. She is raised alone by her mother in a small kolba, but she greatly loves and admires her father, who pays her weekly visits.
After tragedy strikes in Miriam’s life, she is forced to marry and move to Kabul. Her husband, Rasheed, is a shoe maker. Just as Miriam settles into her new life as a wife in Kabul, things change for the worse.
Years pass, and soon we are introduced to another female character, Laila, who is the young daughter of some of Rasheed and Miriam’s neighbors. The families do not have a relationship with each other, but when war breaks out in Afghanistan and Laila experiences a horrific tragedy of her own, the lives of Miriam and Laila soon become connected in a way that neither would have ever expected.
I won’t say much else for fear of giving away too much of the story, but I cannot stress how much I loved this book. It is perhaps the best one I have read in years, and quickly soared to the top of the list of my all-time favorites. I loved it all the way through the last page.
A Thousand Splendid Suns affected me in a way no book has done in a really long time. When I closed it for the last time, I actually said to myself, “Wow.” It’s just a beautifully written, wonderfully constructed book with characters you will actually care for. I cannot recommend it enough.
As always, the comments are open to any and all comments about this book. If you have not read it, beware of spoilers! You have been warned. :)
Here’s another super easy, delicious, and (pretty) healthy meal to add to the rotation. And it helps give me my weekly fix of Mexican flavors. Yum.
These wraps are “designed” to be a freezer meal, so they’re perfect for making in advance and popping into the freezer. When wrapped individually, these make for great lunches to bring to work, or for a quick weeknight meal.
Because of the amount of salsa used, at first I thought they were going to taste like salsa–with other ingredients mixed in. I’ll admit that would still be tasty, but not exactly what I’d call a stellar meal. However, when the spices are all mixed in, these have a surprising amount of flavor… and a bit of a spicy kick, too!
Chicken and Rice Wraps
(Source: Proceed With Caution, adapted from WC Freezer Friendly Recipes)
Ingredients:
– 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
– 2 cups cooked brown rice
– 2 cups salsa
– 1 recipe taco seasoning (recipe follows) — or use 1 packet store-bought seasoning
– 4 cups cooked, shredded chicken
– 1/2 cup shredded mexican cheese blend
– tortillas
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. If freezing, scoop into tortillas and fold into a burrito shape. Wrap with foil and freeze in a freezer bag. To re-heat, unwrap from foil and microwave until heated through (about two minutes), flipping over halfway through. If eating immediately, microwave chicken mixture until heated through. Scoop into tortillas and fold into burrito shape. Cut in half and serve.
Taco Seasoning
(Source: Allrecipes, as seen on Proceed With Caution)
– 1 tablespoon chili powder
– 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
– 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
– 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
– 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1/2 teaspoon paprika
– 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
– 1 teaspoon sea salt
– 1 teaspoon black pepper
About
I'm Heather. I'm 33 and have been married to Michael for seven years. Together, we have two beautiful little girls we love more than anything, and a miniature dachshund who drives us crazy. I'm a full-time working mom who has very little time for my own "stuff" these days, like home improvement, cooking/baking, cake decorating, and photography. Despite the team not making the playoffs since 1999, I'm STILL a Buffalo Bills fan, which I think speaks to my loyalty AND sense of humor. I can't wait to pick up the pace with travel again some day... you know, when we're done being ruled by tiny fists. Welcome to my blog.
