So, about my new lamp...

 

This past Saturday, we (along with some of our friends) were hanging out on the back deck for a BBQ.  I had gotten up to refresh a beverage or two, and as I was walking through the kitchen, I could see out the front window that a Fed Ex delivery man was walking down our driveway.  I hadn't been expecting a package, so I headed out to the front porch to see what had arrived.

 

Much to my surprise, there was a giant box on my porch with the words "Crate & Barrel" written across it.  I pulled out the invoice thinking the box had been incorrectly delivered to me, but my name was on it.  Once I opened up the paperwork, I could see that the box contained "1 Large Finley Wheat Pendant Lamp".  I immediately recognized the item name as something that I had on my Crate & Barrel Gift Registry - one that I had been using as a "wish list" of sorts for all of the items I wanted, but was not ready to purchase.

 

As I dug deeper into the packaging, I found a card. 

 

 

How sweet!  The only problem?  I don't KNOW Kaye and Lew.  My mind started racing, and I'll admit, the first thing that crossed my mind was that some stranger was performing a random act of kindness.  (Ha)! 

 

As my investigative skills began to sharpen, I located the billing address - Texas.  I then looked online and discovered that an entirely different Jessica Ingle is getting married next year, in Texas, and this gift was obviously mistakenly purchase off of my registry instead of hers.

 

So here I am, with a beautiful lamp purchased by a stranger off of the wrong registry, with a house full of people - one of which just happens to be an electrician. He immediately volunteered to hang the lamp for us right then an there....and I mean, how could I refuse?

 

 

 

To save some time, don't worry - I did the right thing.  I mailed a very nice letter explaining the mistake that had occurred, plus a check for the amount of the lamp - and a picture of the lamp hanging in my dining room.

 

I hope she finds the situation as hilarious as we do :)



Yard in Bloom

I'm mostly posting this so that my mother in law, Marcia, can see how much our yard has "sprung" this Spring!  I know nothing about plants and flowers (yet) so even though she will be here next month, I want to make sure she sees what is happening now in case anything changes :)

 

Back when she was here last October, she did a bunch of pruning for us - I cannot believe how much everything has grown!

 

 

Flowers in the front of the house

 

View from the spare bedroom - on the left side of the house

 

Plants in front of Ben's room

 

Planter boxes in the back yard - I hope these become beautiful flowery plants...

or else I may have to change that some day

 

This plant/tree/bush/whatever over our gate was cut ALL THE WAY BACK last Fall/Winter - it literally grew back in a week's time....and it has these beautiful, hanging purple flowers all over it!

Also, our lawn is growing like crazy!  I had no idea that during the spring it was normal to have to mow it 2 times a week!  I'm told it will become less maintenance as we get into summer, but still - the things you don't know until you are responsible for a lawn!

 

Meal Planning: Week of April 1st

Woah...April already? 

Review of Last Week:

• I LOVED the chicken sausage and quinoa stuffed squash.  (Thanks, Brenna)!  It was simple, and didn't require too many ingredients, and I will definitely make it again.  It made for a great lunch the next day, (since, duh, Greg doesn't eat squash).

• The turkey spaghetti bake was good, too.  I made mine with chicken.  Ben devoured it for dinner 2 times and once for lunch.
• Pineapple pork kabobs - yum.  We had them on Thursday night, after Greg mowed the lawn, on the back deck, with an ice cold beer.  It was lovely :)  Springtime is the best.

 

Sorry for all the photos, but I wanted to document our first dinner on the deck since we have moved.  We LOVE it here.  Very much looking forward to all that Spring and Summer will bring :)

 

 

And one outtake...:

 

• I Didn't make the stew this week - I ended up juicing the kale instead and making sweet potato fries to go with the kabobs :)

The extended forecast is looking nicccccccccccccccce.  (How sad is it that mid-high 60's is so thrilling around here)?  I am eager to (have Greg) BBQ a lot this week - so the more of our meals that can be cooked outside, the better.

This weekend, we have some friends coming over on Saturday evening for dinner.  I'm hoping that we can put the patio furniture outside and at least enjoy a cocktail out there before it becomes too chilly.  (Might need to invest in one of those outdoor heaters they sell at Costco....someday).  The plan is to have blackened cod tacos and margaritas!

Sunday is Easter, and my parents are coming over for brunch, egg dying and possibly an egg hunt for Ben :)  My mom is making her delicious danish puff, and Greg and I will make scrambled eggs, bacon and mimosas!

And for the week:

Monday:  Grilled tandoori chicken and risotto.  (Trader Joe's has a delicious mushroom risotto that is quick and easy).  Greg's marinade is amazing and simple - teriyaki sauce and tandoori spice.  Try it.

Tuesday: Steaks and grilled vegetables

Wednesday:  Boboli Pizza and salad.  I've discovered a new favorite homemade recipe: prosciutto and "power greens" (or arugula) with a pesto/alfredo sauce.

Thursday: Burgers with sweet potato and parsnip fries.

Friday: Our rescheduled dinner date with the Pieper's (Ben was too sick for us to entertain last time).  I'm taking next Wednesday-Friday off, and I'm tempted to slow roast something "fancy" since I will have the time to do it....but I cannot land on a recipe quite yet.  I'll probably end up meal planning for this night and doing the shopping for it next week.  Stay tuned!

Meal Planning - Week of March 25th

Review of last week:

• The cream of tomato soup was SO good.  Greg and Ben highly approved.  Ben especially loved dipping his grilled cheese into it.
• The crock pot beef carnita tacos were amazing as well!  2 for 2 with the new recipes!
• I discovered a new favorite juice recipe: Pineapple, Mango, Ginger with a dash of vanilla.  I rarely buy mangos, and in the process of buying some for juice, I discovered that Ben LOVES them.

We recently purchased a cheap, $20 BBQ grill to hold us over until Greg finds his "perfect" new outdoor grill.  It has me yearning for warm summer nights where I can enjoy a glass bottle of chardonney out on the deck or patio while I watch Ben play in the yard (or in his sandbox that I am determined to build for him).  I came across this add in the new Target "Threshold" catalog, and am hell-bent on creating a similar outdoor atmosphere:

 

I have already purchased a set of twinkly lights, we have the patio furniture set, we brought Greg's super old (but surprisingly nice) table and chairs from the house he lived in when I met him 8+ years ago (that had been being stored by his old roommate all this time!) and I bought a new set of outdoor/plastic plates and bowls. 

 

 



Now, all we need is the freaking sunshine and warm weather!

 

This was a massive tangent all to say that I am planning to have Greg do a little grilling this week in anticipation of the months to come!

 

Monday: Turkey Spaghetti Bake with salad.

 

Tuesday: Pineapple Pork Kabobs with rice.

 

Wednesday: Leftovers!

 

Thursday: Slow Cooker Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Kale Stew

 

Friday: Chicken Sausage and Quinoa Stuffed Squash

 



Tuesday Night Lights

 

One of my favorite things about our new house is our neighborhood.  It still amazes me how quiet it is, and I try to get out and take a walk with Ben as often as the weather allows.  Last night after dinner, the three of us took a walk up the street and eventually found ourselves at Ben's future Junior High School.  I told Greg that I wanted to walk around the campus and check it out, but before we got to that, we could see that the lights on the football field were turned on and some sort of team practice was taking place.

As we got closer and closer, we saw one of the nicest football fields ever at a middle school - MUCH nicer than my high school field and track were!  We took a lap around, watched some kids during their soccer practice, and talked about how we imagine it will be like when Ben is their age - him attending school here, practicing with his team after school - with Greg coaching and me as the team mom ;)

GO KNIGHTS!

Beautiful Day in Bothell

 



The novelty of having a yard has NOT worn off on us yet.  Every day (particularly on sunny days) we love dressing Ben up as a bear and running laps around the house. #HomeSweetHome

Project Furnish

 

We sure have come a long way since September!

Lately (in photos)

Here are some of the photos that haven't made it to the blog yet:

 

Ben seems very confused when I turn the iPhone camera around on him.  Like, WHO is that baby staring at me?  And why is he so beautiful?

 

On the ferry - such a beautiful day!

 

Petting the kitty

 

Going on his weekly garbage can ride

 

Climbing into his wagon, only to kind of get stuck back there.

 

Hoods

 

"Boo"!

 

Nutella waffles

 

Addict

 

 

THIS is Ben's "OMG I'm having so much fun" face.

 

 

 

Very into his play food these days.

 

 

 

Superbowl Sunday!

 

Texting

 

Modeling the new couch

Best Day Ever?

I wish every day could be Saturday.  Especially one with zero commitments, where we can just get up and go do whatever sounds good in that moment!

We started our day with brunch at Portage Bay Cafe in Ballard.  I have always wanted to eat here, but never have taken the time to plan ahead and make a reservation.  We have tried to get in a few times, but at the last minute (and during a popular time) it can be a bit of a wait.  But on Friday, I called and made a 9:15 reservation - leaving us just enough time to eat, (color) drink coffee and get to the music class we had signed Ben up for at 10:15 down the road.  (I had the Oatmeal Cobbler French Toast, and it was heavenly).

 

The music class I signed Ben up for was at Gymboree.  Not all of the locations have the music option, so we did have to drive a ways to attend.  The first 20 minutes were great, and Ben really seemed to enjoy himself!  But after that, I think he was either over-stimulated or just over everyone sitting in a circle.  We let him wander around the room a bit, but towards the end he was crying and only allowing Greg to hold him.  (My attempts to bring him back into the circle to sing and dance were unsuccessful).  Another mom there told me that her daughter was the exact same way her first class, and while I am sure he would get used to it, it's not worth the commute I don't think.  We will try more things like this near home, though!  

 

 

When we got home, my new couch had arrived!!  (My mom was there to receive it as our delivery window was overlapping with music class).  Our living room is starting to look like a living room!

 

 

After Ben's nap, and after I went grocery shopping, the three of us headed to Bellevue for a trip to Total Wine and More!  It's basically a wine-Costco, and it's really amazing.

 

After visiting mommy's playground, we thought we should reward Ben with a trip to his kind of playground!  How beautiful is this park in Bellevue?

 

We went home to make pizza, drink wine, take baths, and relax.  I wish I could relive that day a few more times.

 

Happy Monday (womp womp)!