Bountiful Harvest

I just love this time of year in our town.  We have so many farmer's markets with their locally grown and organic produce to choose from, that every day is a veritable food adventure.  It's really been pushing us to try new and interesting recipes, which I always love sharing here on the blog too.  Another benefit of living in the city is that we've been able to walk to at least two different farmer's markets per week - and the time spent outside with the girls has been so full of happiness and childhood bliss.  I feel like we're making such great memories this summer, and both my stomach and my soul feel so nourished because of it. 

Last night we walked to our one of our favorite farmer's markets (the girls love it because there's always a kid's activity...which is just so thoughtful of the organizers to put together), and Yousuf and I love that there is always a fantastic variety of food to pick from. 

So get this - for under thirty dollars, this is what we brought home:

Kale, blueberries, beets, carrots, blue potatoes, peaches, apples and some cute little patty pan squash.  The baby was free, although I did have the urge to take a nibble out of one her delectable cheeks. 

By the time I had snapped this really not-so-good quality photo, she'd already half-finished a peach.  Which was then followed by the rapid inhalation of blueberries and squash:

I had to stop taking pictures when she made a grab for the carrots and the beets (both of which she managed to take chunks out before Mean Mommy took them away).  I had plans for those!

I hope you're all enjoying your summer as much as we have been.  Here's to long summer days filled with lots of great adventures.  And to fabulous food!

That's What Little Boys Are Made Of...

My brother and his wife are expecting their first baby any moment. Literally! We've been waiting with baited breath since yesterday because it seems as though my sister in-law is in early labor, and every fiber of my being just wants to hop into our van and drive the four hours to be with them RIGHT NOW as they welcome this precious little soul into the world.   I'm going to be only slightly less annoying, however - and just blog about how emotional I get about the people that I love having little people of their own to love.  Because I know that won't annoy my brother AT ALL.

I can't quite believe that my little brother is going to be a father.   A part of me still expects all this new baby-ness to be one of his legendary practical jokes (like the time he told me that he backed my parent's car into a lawnmower just after I actually DID back their car into a lawnmower.  I was SO FREAKED OUT that there were evil lawnmowers lurking behind every bush and boulevard ready to jump out and bash themselves into us - all while he laughed himself to tears every time I drove anywhere - for DAYS.  Not that I'm an easy target or anything....).  But, I've seen the evidence firsthand - in the form of my unfairly gorgeous and glowing sister in-law - and all signs are pointing to BABY! 

Mansoor and Nadia's baby boy is already so loved, by so many of us - at our house, Inara has already been telling everyone she meets that, "I have a sister named Issie and a baby brother and his name is Ameer and he is coming really SOON!" - at which well-meaning and ignorant strangers look down at my belly and say, "Oh! You're expecting again!  And so soon!"

And that's when I regret eating that Post-Day-From-Hades bowl of ice cream after my little cherubs have gone to bed.  Again.

Ahem. I digress.

Right. So apart from the fact that Inara is clearly over her little sister and is now yearning for a little boy counterpart (to which I say I AM NOT READY TO DO THIS AGAIN. Yet. Ever. Probably. Maybe.  Oh but babies smell so good....Ack!  I must remember the sleeplessness and the non-stop fighting and the needing and wanting....and oh, the smell...the squishy cuddles....and, oh crud...I...just...can't....resist....) - we're all eagerly anticipating Baby Ameer's arrival.  I'm personally looking forward to being the Aunt that buys him cute clothes, keeps him up late, and sneaks him unhealthy treats.  So basically the things that Mansoor and Nadia have been doing with my kids for years.  DON'T THINK I DIDN'T NOTICE, GUYS.

So, hurry up and come on out, sweet baby!  We can't wait to meet you - and your mama REALLY wants to get some sleep!

Ameer, my little prince, I am so looking forward to gazing at your genetically-blessed face and marveling at your amazing metabolism (which you surely will not have inherited from me!).  I know that you and I are going to have so much fun together in the years to come. I can't wait to tell you about the time your daddy ate dirt, or snuck out of the house or the many times that he stood up for me and protected me, his big sister, when nobody else would.  I love him, and your mommy, and YOU more than words will ever be able to express.

Sweet little lovely boy, you've already melted my heart and you're barely even here.

Look Out World...

It's been a pretty huge week for us at the VeniVidiHousehold.  We had back to back birthdays last weekend - on Saturday Inara turned the big 0-4, and then on Sunday I turned...yeah, I'm not telling you how old I turned. It's far too depressing.

Ahem.

And now this!  This, my friends, this is HUGE.  Talk about icing on the cake...and talk about a big week for our family.

Before you get all your skivvies in a knot, let me just preface this by saying that I AM NOT PREGNANT. So let's just nip that in the bud right there.

And yes, I am totally screaming like a middle-aged mom at the latest Twilight movie premiere.  Not that I'm a fan of Edward (Go Team Jacob!) or anything.

Ahem.

Check it out!  THIS IS HUGE!!!  I personally think the ending is the best...

Wanted: Stylish, Sleep-Inducing Window Coverings

One of the first things that attracted us to this old house was the windows.  The house may be on the smaller side of life, but it is brightbrightbright, because of the numerous and very large windows scattered throughout our home.  Now, however, what started out as a beautiful and attractive feature is quickly becoming a pain in my backside, and something needs to be done - fast.

The problem becomes complicated by the fact that I don't really want to do anything with the windows, and mostly I'd just like to leave them the way they are, showing off their beautiful trim and crown moulding.  Check it out...so pretty, no? 

 The window at the top of the stairs.  So dreamy...until you see the parking lot right outside.

However, I also don't want to look into my neighbor's kitchen when I come out of the bathroom, you know what I mean?  Right now there are really, really not-so-pretty plastic blinds on the bedroom windows, and I'd like them to be gone, like yesterday.  It sounds like it should be a relatively easy task to take out the blinds and replace them with something modern and stylish, like a printed roman or inside-mounted roller shade - but again, it's a little more complicated than that.

That little complication comes in the form of two angelic cherubs who, given the opportunity, will wake up at the bumcrack of dawn if even so much as a sliver of light enters their room, at the right angle, at the EXACT WRONG time.  In our house, bedtime is a complicated ritual that involves bizzare light-eliminating acts from every single nook, cranny, crevice, gap, and crack...everywhere.  We basically walk around smoothing down every bumpy surface around the windows and doors, and then cross our hearts and hope to die, stick a needle in our eye and pray to the heavens above to not be woken up at 5am by two little people who don't NEED TO SLEEP IN ORDER TO SURVIVE.  They freak me out, man. Especially when they're staring at me with their wide, non-sleepy eyes and their heavy, non-sleepy breath and saying, "Mama!  MAMA!  Look...I can see the light! The light...the light...I must go towards the light....."

Okay, maybe they don't say that last part, but the fact is that my kids have an uncanny knack of sensing daylight and it must be constantly quenched in order for me to function like a marginally normal, occasionally-twitching human being. 

Enter my design dilemma:  Do there exist pretty shades that a) show off my GORGEOUS window casing, and b) keep bedrooms so dark that you can't see your own hand in front of your face?

Yousuf thinks that we should go with cellular shades...but honestly, I find them to be a bit boo-ooring.  But, I think I could learn to live with them if they really are all that and a can of beans at keeping out light.  I need your advice, oh wise and sage internet readers!  What's a sleep-deprived, yet style-hungry mama to do???

Lazy Summer...

Look, I know I haven't been around lately.  To be honest, I have about 10 posts that I've started and for one reason or another, just never gotten around to finishing up.  The truth is, we've been enjoying the heck out of this summer.  Sure, we moved, we unpacked, we're settling in - and all that stuff does take time, but there's also something else.  And that is that we're ENJOYING OUR REAL LIFE!  Shocking, I know. 

We're still not getting a lot of sleep, and there is still so much to be done to this old house, but our little family of four is having a fantastic summer.  We've only had a couple of setbacks - the biggest one was that my bike got stolen last week (which apparently is an unfortunate side-effect of city living, I'm told).  However, the good news is that it wasn't worth a lot of money, and now we know not to leave our bikes out back.  I think more than the loss of my bike was the fact that some jackwipe came ONTO our property just for an old bike.  The world really is full of crazies, I tell ya. 

Here's a few shots of what we've been up to.  I hope you won't mind my laid-back and lazy summer style of blogging over the next few weeks.  There is just so much to sunshine to soak up and lots of lemonade to sit back and sip. 

And you know what? I'm loving every second of it.