around here

Hello from this very pregnant woman & her growing Beeb! We are over halfway there and I can hardly believe it! Now that I'm past the days of day-long nausea, the time seems to be passing much more quickly. And let me tell you, I would trade constant sickness for exhaustion & discomfort any day. Bless the second trimester. Little Beeb girl (yes, girl!!!!!!) wiggles around every single day and feeling her getting bigger & stronger is thrilling, terrifying, mysterious, and magical. I know it's so cliche to say, but I really am getting so so very excited to meet this little human. Ryan and I have been compiling all her things on our registry and are just crawling out of our skin thinking about her being in that stroller and the little onesies and headbands. (who am I???) We are thrilled to pieces. She'll be here so soooooon!!

In other news - 

Other than growing a human, I've been keeping myself busy teaching Acting classes for kids at a dance studio here in town (I love it), reading, yoga-ing, and trying lots of new recipes. I made this soup the other day and it turned out really freakin delicious, so I thought I'd share! I didn't follow any recipe, I just threw in a bunch of delicious things, taste tested as I went, and it was a smashing success. (oh, and here are those cookies)

rustic chunky vegan cure-what-ails-you soup

serves 6 or so

(all quantities & amounts are estimates. eliminate or add as you see fit. :))

a big red onion

eight cloves of garlic

three big carrots

six brown mushrooms

a whole bunch of mini purple potatoes

five smallish tomatoes

three stalks of celery

five purple kale leaves

fresh rosemary

fresh thyme

salt & pepper

three boxes of veggie broth

- Dice onion & mince garlic. Sauté for a bit in some olive oil in a large soup pot (everything will go in this pot). Add carrot circles to sauté. Add some s&p. Add a few sprigs of fresh rosemary & thyme. Continue to sauté on low-medium for a little bit, maybe five minutes. 

- Add enough veggie broth to cover the veggies. Simmer while you chop up the other veggies. 

- Chop up mini purple potatoes and mushrooms in bite size chunks and add them to the pot. Continue to cover the veggies in more broth and add more s&p and r&t as you like. 

- Add chopped tomatoes and celery. Keep on simmering. Keep on taste testing. 

- Add chopped/ripped kale at the end, maybe 15 or so minutes before you plan on eating. It's still pretty nice and crunchy if you do that. 

Hope you enjoy! :) 

...

Other things - 

Ryan & I recently watched Before the Flood, the latest National Geographic documentary on climate change, and it was completely moving. It needs to be watched. 

I think this is amazing & incredible & wonderful. What huge, monumental steps we have made as a democracy. And how far we still have to go. I hope that tomorrow I will know I am bringing my little girl into a country I can start to be proud of again. #imwithher

I've been pretty into The Crown the last few days. It's so British and so monarchy-esque and all the people in it are beautiful. It's kind of the perfect escape from modern news right now. 

That's all for now! Next time I'll come at you with an even bigger blossoming belly. Aren't you excited??

~A

around here

The last few weeks have been happily busy. Lots of color and life. I thought I would share some highlights. 

I love living in the farm-to-fork capital. It means delicious farmers market goodies all year long. 

For Valentine's Day, Ryan & I went to our favorite favorite favorite ever ramen restaurant, the Ramen Shop in Oakland. The best cocktails & appetizers & ramen I've ever tasted. Every plate & drink are so thoughtfully made. We could eat here every week, seriously. But, then we couldn't pay rent. So. You win some you lose some.

I love my Auntie B. At least once a month, she will suggest a dinner idea or a trip to the flower mart. Driving to San Francisco with her, chatting about everything under the sun, buying flowers, and eating brunch is definitely up there in the "This is What Life is About" category.

I mean, COME ON. Look at these beauties. I swear, buckets of flowers really do it for me. At some point in my life, I really want to get paid to arrange flowers. Hold me to that please, interwebs.

*heart eyes heart eyes heart eyes*

I've also been busy working at B Street, a theatre company here in town that I have a lot of affection for, doing lots of things here & there. I accepted a gig doing another school tour with them and I am so looking forward to hitting the stage again before summer.

My dear dear friend, Jordan, recently opened an Etsy shop (jamstickershop!) where she sells her hand designed stickers. They are designed for a very expensive planner that I do not own, BUT I couldn't help but buy some for my moleskine planner. They're just the cutest and so well made and really could be used for planning or stationery or anything you want cute stickers for! I'm totally hooked. Go check out her shop!

I am also completely hooked on this Skin Polish by Lady Made Stuff. She makes all her products thoughtfully with essential oils. This scrub makes me feel so happy about life. I discovered her on instagram a while back and can safely say I am sold sold sold. 

Also, I just love supporting the business ventures of strong women that are committed to creating quality products. 

Lastly, a few nights ago, Ryan & I went to see MuteMath, a band I've been a fan of for nearly ten years. I've seen them play live two other times before, but Ryan hadn't ever. It was his birthday but he went happily to see "my" band play. We had such a good time. I love that no matter if Ryan is not familiar with a band (or a play or a movie or any other given performing art medium), or a little familiar with them, or a lot familiar with them, he is just appreciative of good art. He's appreciative of stage presence & great technique & he always notices the little things. I love going to shows with him and just living life with him. 

He's the best. 

So, that's it for me, as of now! I hope that wherever you find yourself in what can be a very dreary time of year, that you can recognize the color & life & light & goodness around you and be glad you're there to experience it. 

~A