Wall Decor for Cy's Room

 

This weekend I did a little shopping. I finally purchased something for his wall.  I am not really going with any theme, just color. His room colors are blue, green, brown and white. I figure if I stick within those, I can put up anything.

I got this animal letter picture at Pottery barn Kids that says Explore in a white frame. Here is an image similar. What was great is that I got it on SALE!!!  My bestie Adrienne also gave me a beautiful picture (in a white frame) of the sunset in Santorini, Greece and I am going to put that above Cy's crib. I like the idea of photography maybe around his room. Pictures of far away places, etc. I am thankful my friend Adrienne is so good with photography that I am going to ask her to help me with some of that picture detail.

So, the designing process has begun!  I am so excited. Once I have all the furniture purchased and put in I will then decorate the walls and post pictures!

Peace and Love

Pesto! Pesto! Pesto!

Jeremy and I have never been fans of pesto.  Even when we traveled around Italy, we never ate it the entire time.  We just didn't like pesto - until recently, with a meal that we had with our neighbor Matt.  We literally call it the most legendary lunch of all time!  First, let me describe the lunch.  We had homemade pumpkin ravioli that Jeremy made with a brown butter sage and manchego pesto (pesto made by my neighbor Matt) and left over Flank Steak marinated overnight in a homemade chimchurri sauce.  Now...take a moment to picture the deliciousness. That was the beginning of a new love affair with pesto.

The key for me with pesto is using Manchego instead of Parmesean. For those non cheese enthusiasts, Manchego is a Spanish cheese from the La Mancha region of Spain from the milk of sheep. I prefer to use the 6 month aged cheese.  Here is neighbor Matt's Pesto recipe:

Everything (per Matt) should be equal parts:

• Fresh basil
• Pine Nuts or to save a little bit of money...walnuts
• Manchego
• 2 or 3 cloves of garlic

Matt told us to not use oil when you blend everything, and instead add it when you pull it out of the freezer. I freeze in separate parts.

Tonight, Jeremy and I snacked on the yummiest treat!  I toasted bread with a little olive oil, spread pesto and topped with a tomato. I also sauted up some sliced Japanese eggplant to add to the bread too.  Here is a picture to get your mouth watering!

This is made with everything grown in our garden, locally made (the bread) or homemade!!!  Picture perfect of summer plenty!

Dol Janchi Korean First Birthday Party

Dol or doljanchi is a Korean tradition that celebrates the birthday of a one-year-old baby. This ceremony blesses the child with a prosperous future and has taken on great significance in Korea. The birthday babies wear a hanbok and a traditional hat: a jobwai or gulle  for baby girls and a bokgeon or hogeon for baby boys.

History of Dol

In the past, the death rates for children were high and many children died before their first birthday, so it was an important milestone to the baby and parents. The whole village used to celebrate a baby's first birthday, sharing foods and wishing for long life and fortune for the baby.

Ritual and Food of Dol

Food plays a big part in a child’s dol janchi. Special dishes are served such as miyeok-guk a seaweed soup, tteok rice cake, and fruits. The highlight of the festivities occurs when it’s time for the dol jabi  ritual. During this time a low table is brought out for the baby with several items on it which represent the path the child’s future life will take if she or he grabs it. Typically the following items are used.

A pencil: Which means the child will be a scholarly academic.
Money: Which means the child will be wealthy.
A string: Which means the child will live a long life.
A bowl of rice: Which means the child will have food and shelter.

Cy celebrated his birthday on June 27th. We just found out the object he picked up....A PENCIL!

Pencil: Which means the child will be a scholarly academic.

Pinterest....the Phenomenon!

Last night my bestie Heather introduced me to Pinterest...OMG...is it addicting!  She had sent it to me awhile back and I was like what is this crap. Glancing momentarily before clicking delete and never looking at it again.  It just looked like a bunch of clutter. Yesterday, that all changed.

Last night she walked me through the whole process. It reminds me of two things; dream boards when you would cut out stuff you love in the magazine and make a collage and the second is every time I got a catalog I would pick one thing on each page that I would love to have...a wish list of sorts.  This site is all that rolled into one! So much fun!  I love how I can get so many ideas for my house, Cy's room, style I love...and what is the best part...if you LOVE a top...click a couple times and you can buy it!!! Oh dear oh my...it is splendid!

I have attached the link, just click on the name. If you join...make sure you follow me!


Pinterest

Nala....she has come a long way!

Over 5 years ago my husband and I adopted our dog Nala.  Nala is half Great Pyrenees and Half Golden retriever. It was an interesting adoption. We utilized the services of the Golden Retriever Freedom Rescue in Denver, Colorado. What we liked about the program is the dogs are fostered before you take them home (it seems to be a trend with us).  I remember being at my friend Erin’s in Minnesota and I saw the picture of her. I called Jeremy and the meeting was orchestrated. Nala was interesting. I am not sure if it was love at first site for me.  The foster mom brought her up, she was timid and fragile. After a meeting we accepted her as our dog.  Well, it was a rough beginning.

At the time we were living in a duplex and our downstairs neighbors had a black lab, which was great!  He was old and gentle.  The first night Nala attacked him; Jeremy had to throw Nala off of him.  She would growl at us and snap if we even came close to her food or her. Obviously she was skeptical of us. Nala's problems started when she was in Texas at a Great Pyrenees Rescue. Nala isn't big, she is definitely a runt. She was picked on by the larger full breed dogs.  By the time GRFR went to pick her up, I think she was pretty shaken.

My husband read all Cesar Milan’s books to try and find how we could work with her and make her a little more calm.  Nala looked like a white golden retriever so we just assumed the same for a personality. We soon learned that was NOT her personality. She was more Pyrenees.

Here is a little background on the Great Pyrenees.  They are a capable and imposing guardian, devoted to its family, and somewhat wary of strangers - human or canine. They are often used to guard livestock. When not provoked, it is calm, well- mannered, and somewhat serious. Courageous, very loyal and obedient. Gentle and affectionate with those they loves. Devoted to family even if self-sacrifice is required.

Back to Nala, we have worked a lot with her over the years. We learned she is a resource guarder and how to work with her personality. Now she is the most loving dog. She has never gotten on our furniture or pee’d in the house.  She is such a great dog and has come a long way!  Recently, our friends Corrine and Brian watched her while we traveled back home to visit family.  I have attached a picture of Nala with their cat!!! I am so proud of Jeremy and I and how successful and how far we have come with Nala.  

Here is a recent picture of her with our friends cat!

Peace and Love!

Package to Seoul

Today I put together our last package to Korea for Cy. It is hard because I want to buy a bunch of stuff but all I get is whatever will fit in a 1 gallon plastic bag. Here is a picture of all his goodies!  We will be adding an updated photo montage and a nice gift for his foster mother.

The waiting is getting harder and harder, considering we were supposed to have our son by now.  However, there is a purpose to everything...right?  I know I need to start nesting. It is important for me to get some stuff ready, so when we are ready to go I have to do very little. Plus, it makes me feel a little closer to him...like it is more of a reality.  When I mean "reality" it is hard to explain unless you have been through the adoption process. You have this connection through pictures and updates from your agency but sometimes he feels so far away...detached. The more that I do stuff that is for or about him...the closer I feel.  I will document more and more about how I will decorate his room, getting the house in line as well as his wardrobe!

Peace and Love Everyone!