CULTIVATE A BETTER WORLD!

That is the slogan of Chipotle.  My favorite place to eat.  For many reasons.  Their new video came across my desk and I was AMAZED.  It's a true piece of art and way too good not to share.  

Have you seen it?

I really do wish people would be smarter about what they eat (I'm nowhere near perfect but I do try hard.  I try so hard!). I love this ADORABLE Scarecrow for trying to spread that message.  A message really close to my heart.  

PS ~ Ever seen this oldie but goodie?

PPS ~ This post reminded me of my Instagram entry from 2 weeks ago!

PPPS ~ I purchased the songs from both of these videos.  Aren't they amazing?

Snapshots from a Friday

This morning I decided it'd be kind of fun to document my day as much as possible by taking pictures throughout the day.  I didn't get to take as many as I wanted but here's a peek....

You'd think I'd never done this parenting thing before.  Clara LOVES washing her hands.  Today, I pulled a chair up to the sink, grabbed a few toys and let her have at it.  She played there, totally entranced, for 45 minutes.  FORTY-FIVE MINUTES!  It's the first thing that's ever held her attention for more than a few minutes.  Seriously.  How come it took 18 months for me to figure that out???

THIS was my big purchase at the antique store!!!  A small little pitcher in my favorite color. As soon as I saw it, I knew I'd buy it and I knew I'd use it as a vase.  Clara & I made a run to Trader Joe's this morning and I bought one of their $3.99 bouquets.  I smile every single time I see it on my kitchen counter!  Awesome purchase!

At Trader Joe's, I also picked up some items for a gift for my sweet aunt who hasn't been feeling well.

While Clara was napping, I took Hubbs out for a walk.  He LIVES for these breaks from wearing his cone. And I'm really enjoying walking him several times each day!

When I made Sophie's bed, I remembered how much I love her room.  When I decorated her nursery, I often said, "this is my favorite room in the house".  It probably still is.  Clara's nursery would be a tough competitor.....if I ever finished it!!!

When I make Soph's bed, Clara relishes the opportunity to play in Big Sissy's dollhouse. Today I wound up Sophie's jewelry box and Clara fell in love with the spinning ballerina.

When I straightened Clara's room, I wanted to take a picture of some of her books on her nightstand.  She is NUTS about her books and we read almost all of them within the course of a day!

Clara "helps" me with the laundry.

While we run some errands, Clara serenades me from the backseat.

 

For Clara and I, the highlight of our day is picking Sophie up from school.

Sophie shows off her school folder which reflects the highest mark on the behavior chart.  It was Community Helper Week at school and today she and her classmates had to dress like a community helper of their choosing.  Soph chose to be a veterinarian, a choice that I know was inspired by Hubbell's surgery this week.  To play along, Alain and I addressed her as "Doctor" for the entire day.

Chopping potatoes for dinner.  Ever since I learned that non-organic potato farmers don't eat their own potatoes, I've only bought organic ones.  To me, it's worth the higher cost.

So, that's it.  These photos are only a smidgen of our day and doesn't include our family walk, a lovely Shabbat dinner, a visit to a few stores, and all of the other moments.  Still, it was kind of fun having the camera at my fingertips and remembering to use it every once in a while!

Hope you all have a lovely, lovely, lovely weekend!

HUG A VEGETARIAN!

The lovely Kay, my most devoted commenter, emailed me today to pass along a "hug" (virtual) because it's HUG A VEGETARIAN day!!!  How sweet is that? Kay isn't even a vegetarian. No one else I know sent me a hug!!!  (I had forgotten it was today so I was thankful that Kay reminded me.  Then I was able to send hugs to my ONE vegetarian friend.  And both of my girls!)   If you read any of the comments on this blog, you'd know that Kay is a real sweetheart.  She once sent me a package with some lovely crocheted butterflies for both girls as well as a crocheted cloth and a lovely doily.  During her last trip to England, she mailed me a postcard from there.  Snail Mail ~ I was so happy!  You see, Kay knows that I also have a very English heart! If you're able, visit Kay's blog ~ she always posts the loveliest photos of Arabia and Stone Mountains in Georgia. She also loves beautiful flowers and our friends, the birds. 

In honor of Hug A Vegetarian Day, I thought I'd mention a new recipe I tried yesterday.  I found it in the latest issue of Whole Living but the recipe was contributed by the founder of Cannelle et Vanille (a most wonderful blog that will make you salivate!).  The recipe is for the Roasted Cherry Tomato Clafoutis. I had been looking for a recipe for cherry tomatoes because we're overloaded since the last harvest from our garden.  I'm not a natural cook (I can get quite stressed if it's not fairly easy!) but I found this recipe straightforward and uncomplicated.  The result?  Well, Sophie devoured hers and asked for seconds.  It also prompted a compliment from Alain.....and, if you know Alain, a compliment from him, especially regarding food, doesn't happen all that often!  This clafoutis will definitely be a repeat in our house.  It's listed in the magazine as a brunch recipe but we had ours for dinner with a salad, some bread and farmer's cheese.  Yum yum!

All of the recipes on Canelle et Vanille are gluten-free so it's the perfect source for creative gluten-free recipes!  Next up for me is the Butternut Squash, Apple and Hazelnut Muffins.....I can't wait to try those!

Kay, thank you for your email ~ it was a lovely surprise and made me smile!!!  

{Images via Whole Living}

Some Great Ideas

Too good to not share...

1.) When we flew to New York, the folks next to us had carried on some Cup O' Noodles cups. When the flight attendant came around to offer drinks, they requested hot water, poured it in and, voila!, instant lunch. And for free, without annoying airline charges!!! I know it's not the most nutritious lunch but it works in a pinch. It'll also get you through security without a body check (hopefully!)

2.) It's birthday season in our house. We've had about eight straight weeks of birthday parties. I know how hard it is to plan a party and to try and make it seem original. But I do have one small pet peeve. Goody bags full of junk. Bubbles, sidewalk chalk, crayons, coloring books and the like = GOOD. Small plastic bits made in China (think "princess rings" - PUKE, spinning tops, bouncy balls, etc.) = BAD. I usually throw them away within 24 hours and my daughter has never once noticed. It's such a waste. So I was pleasantly surprised when we went to a party today and received THIS in our goody bag. Now THAT is original. Thank you, Shellie!!!

Even better, it was made by my dear friend, Leslie. Visit her Etsy shop if you like this idea too! I think my favorite part of the whole thing is that a friend was helping to promote another friend's interest. I love that! And my daughter looks really cute in her Hawaiian Hello Kitty shirt.

3.) I was very comforted to know that at least one other person was reading my blog when Leslie called me last week to invite us strawberry picking with her family. We went and had a wonderful time. And she introduced me to this wonderful product:

Do you know how easy it is to make chocolate-covered strawberries with this? You just pop the container in the microwave for about a minute and a half to melt it, dip and pop the strawberries in the fridge. I recommend letting them set in the fridge for at least 1/2 an hour ~ then PERFECTION. I plan to go to the farm again soon (they almost know me by name!) and make mine with chopped nuts. Can you say DIVINE??? Les/Shells, thanks for this idea. My family thanks you as well. Yum. Please excuse me while I go wipe the chocolate off my chin....