Happy Anniversary!

Tonight was Omid's parents 41st wedding anniversary. We went out to dinner to celebrate with them. Fari & Mansour in 1968

Fari & Mansour 2009

Happy Anniversary song from the Olive Garden staff.

Hey Nas: Update your blog!

After dinner, we decided to take a walk along the river.

My 3 favorite people!

Omid and his heroine: Sacagawea

Matty thinks she's pretty cool too.

Love affair gone bad

A year or so ago, I fell in love with MAC cosmetics; specifically their eye shadow & paint. I used it for eyeliner and thought this stuff was magic. I am now breaking up with MAC. For some reason, my left eye hates the stuff. I now have another gross bump from the eye paint. After the last bump was removed, I religiously sterilized the eyeliner brush & paint every morning. Yesterday morning, I woke up to a terrible bump and knew it was the MAC. I am so sad. I now have to find yet another eyeliner to wear. Any suggestions?

Oh Remy!

Yesterday just wasn't his day. He seemed out of sorts and was mopey in the morning. I took him for a walk and he was just fine and dandy. Omid came home later in the afternoon (on the scooter); and the two played a dangerous game of 'chase.' The game was going like it always does...Omid ahead, then Remy ahead, then Omid ahead. Well, this time, after Omid 'won' the game, Remy nipped/bit Omid on the calf. He has NEVER done this before. Omid couldn't believe it (I don't think Remy believed it either!). We looked at Omid's leg and sure enough, Remy had nipped him hard enough to puncture the skin.

After that, I took Remy for another walk/run to burn off any excess energy he had. He came home and slept. He seemed fine and was excited to go for a car ride with me to pick Nas up from an activity. I saw our district superintendent at the HS and he wisely stood back about 10 feet to conversate with me (as he saw Remy's formidable presence in the front seat. Remy can look downright menacing at times!). When Nas came to the car, Remy refused to move to back seat and just ignored Nas' commands. He finally listened to her & begrudgingly moved to the back seat. As we were driving by Lacamas Lake, Remy spied a box of tissues on the seat and starting pulling them out of the box (one by one) and eating them. I was driving and had to try and grab him with my right hand and tell him to STOP! Nas was completely oblivious to what was going on as she was listening to her iPod. I finally had to get her attention and ask for her help so I could get us home safely.

When we got home, Remy went straight to his kennel and just sat moping in there. I have no idea why he had such a bad day and was acting out. Not even my special treats could make him happy.

Tapas!

"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die. "
Sorry! I couldn't stop myself. I love The Princess Bride & felt this quote was appropriate for tonight's post.

Omid and I went to our friends house for a Spanish Tapas bbq tonight. Lyn & Alan lived in Barcelona for several years. They have been talking about the exquisite food for quite a while and tonight they let us share in the bounty. It was good!

Hosts Lyn & Alan

There was pan con tomate, a-tun, pollo, asparagus & lots of other things plus cava & delicious rioja wine. I gained 10+ pounds tonight!

Omid & I enjoying the gorgeous view of Lacamas Lake & kicking ourselves for not buying in Lake Pointe 4 years ago!!! Please note: I wore white pants tonight (as did my friend Janet). As of today, it is 'okay' to wear white pants & shoes until Labor Day. Woo hoo! Let's hear it for white!

Here is a small sample of the tapas before the rest were put on the island. Omid and I ate our fill and most of everyone else's too. Sorry!

BBQ

Tonight Omid smoked ribs, made baked beans, & a salad. Tammie & Jeff brought Texas cornbread and an amazing cream cheese corn casserole. It was yummy! Prefunctioning!
Good friends!

Is it just me or does my head look enormous at this angle?


Remy had garbage gut and was not himself. He chose to be a loner most of the night and ignore everyone. This is how we knew he wasn't feeling good...usually he won't leave us alone. Poor boy!

Fari & Mansour

Din din!

We hardly saw the kids all evening. They somehow knew it was time for dinner and showed up then, only to leave again and arrive in time for dessert. It was very sad!

Omid, Matty, Austin & Jeff caught a bunch of shad and one bass today. The shad are now residing in our freezer and will be crab bait someday soon. Remy checking out the day's haul.


This is a salad Omid made tonight with lettuce from our planter boxes. Yum!



WARNING: GROSS PHOTO BELOW!

Warning.....last chance to turn back!

Don't look if you don't like gross things!

Prepared to be grossed out!

Here is the butter Remy ate earlier today:

This little piggy...

The boys went fishing with friends today so Nas and I thought it would be nice to treat ourselves to a pedicure. There is a place we usually frequent and sometimes the owner is a little moody. Today was no different. I don't think she was happy we 'dropped' in & didn't call first (even though there is a big sign out front that says "drop ins welcome!"). Unfortunately, it's the only place open on Sundays near our house.

The last time we went to get pedicures, she refused to use the color I wanted because she didn't like it. I argued with her that I liked it and I was paying for it, etc., but she flat out refused. I was midway through the pedicure, so I couldn't leave. We did come to a compromise on the color. Whew!

Today I chose a different color and made sure she was going to do what I wanted before the pedicure started. Now I have the French tips that are bright orange and so fun. Nas chose a bright pink which looks so cute with her naturally tan skin.

When we came home & walked in the door, Remy was acting suspicious, so I knew he had done something. I looked and looked for damage and couldn't figure out what he did wrong. I had planned to make Pioneer Woman's Dump Cake for a bbq we are having later today and went to get my butter that I had set out to thaw. The butter was gone (both cubes!). That's why he was acting so guilty! Naughty boy!

Lost & Found!

I took Remy on a walk today around noon. It was quite windy and I needed both a hat and a coat. My favorite hat is the one I purchased a few months ago for the Baby Dorr fundraiser & I usually keep it in my car. When Remy and I returned from our walk, I placed the hat on my trunk, with the intention of placing it in my car later. When it was time to pick the kids up from school, I completely forgot about my Baby D hat and drove off!

On our way home, I saw some people walking their dog & they both were wearing hats. My brain quickly remembered that I was also wearing a hat...but I had no recollection of taking it off my trunk and placing it in my car! Both Nas & Matty were so good about looking for my hat on the busy road. Thanks kids!! I had visions of it covered with tire tracks. We turned onto our street and spotted the hat on a fence post. Whoever you are...Thanks so much! I love my hat! Lesson learned: Always put things back where they belong!

Reunited!

$Money$, $Money$, $Money$

Anyone know of any grants out there for small business? I have to wait another week before I can meet with the people at WSU for information. Meanwhile, I am trying to find grants I can apply for to get my small business started. I refuse to take out a loan in 'these tough economic times.'

Meanwhile, enjoy this video from one of my favorite bands:

Sunday Party

Omid spent the better part of the day prepping food for Lin's bday party today. On Wednesday, he and I watched Rick Steves Travels in Europe. That particular episode, Rick visited Tuscany. We were so hungry watching the delicious Italian food and sangiovese wine. So today, we paid tribute to Rick Steves and Omid bought some artichokes & grilled them.We also bought some of the Tuscan wine to sample. In a word: scrumptious. Omid also made Persian bbq (grilled koobideh kabobs, jujeh kabobs, salad shirazi, rice & sabzi). We cheated on the cake and bought cupcakes from Coscto instead (you can't argue with a $5 coupon!).

Sangria!

Waiting for our very late guests to arrive!

Omid prepping artichokes.

grilled artichokes.

Omid giving Austin a lesson on how to ride the z50.

Nas & Lia

Bday girl with Tammie & Maddie.

Ward & Omid launching the potato gun. This gun was so loud, Remy stayed inside and was shaking from fright. I tried to capture it on video but somehow, the sound of the explosion is missing. It was loud...trust me!

Sangria

Omid and I are hosting a bday party for Lin tomorrow. We spent the day preparing food & drinks. I made a super good sangria. How do I know it's good? I keep sampling it! Here's the recipe if you want to make it.

1 bottle Cella Lambrusco (the large bottle)

1/2 cup brandy

1/3 sugar

1/2 lemon

1/2 cup sliced strawberries

1/2 cup sliced red grapes

1/2 cup raspberries

1 large peach - sliced

Mix and refrigerate for an hour. After the hour, take a potato masher and mash the fruit (really good!). Return to the fridge and sample to see if it's to your liking. Add more fruit if you want it sweeter. Strain the fruit before serving.

The original recipe called for oranges & lemons. But...that makes Christmas Wassail punch. That's great in December...but not now. I also don't add the bottle of sparkling water. The Lambrusco is a sparkling wine so it adds the sparkle. :)

Yesterday afternoon, Omid took Matty to an empty gravel pit near Highway 14 to ride his little Z50. Omid decided it would be fun to also go '4 wheeling' in his Excursion. I went along too (even though I had a sore throat & headache. I figured the sunshine would do me good). Matty

Omid & Matty
We're going up, up, up.....

Omid insisted I ride along with him and take some photos with my phone.


Afterwards, Omid got on the bike and zoomed around the pit for a while.


What!? You never seen a grown man on a teeny motorcycle?!

Trailer hitch.

hair conundrum

For the past few months, I have been trying to grow my hair out into this "lob" worn by Gwyneth Paltrow. She looks so adorable. Unfortunately, I don't have the patience to get my hair this length.

I found this style in a magazine and thought it was cute. But...I decided that the next time I get my hair cut (end of June), I will get it cut like this style below.

This is the Swedish pop star Robyn & she is sporting the cut I want to have. Short like a boy in the back with long bangs in the front. Too cute! I can't wait!

fainting goats

I really want one of these adorble goats for a pet. They are too cute! I wonder if my neighborhood CCRs would allow one....

Candied Nuts

Tonight I made candied walnuts to put on our dinner salad. They are soooo good. I wanted to make candied pecans - but pecans are not affordable right now. Try these - they are addicting!

1/2 cup bourbon
1/2 water
1 cup sugar

Mix on medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a slight boil. Add nuts to coat.

Preheat the oven to 300*. Grease a cookie sheet. With a slotted spoon, take the nuts out of the syrup and place them onto the cookie sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Cool & enjoy!

Mother's Day Dinner

Omid made a delicous mother's day dinner for his mom and I. The happy chef.

Lobster tails!

Ribeye & t-bone steak. Omid also made asparagus for us. It was delicious! Thanks Omid!!

Ready for our

tummies!