Sunday, February 27, 2011

La Vida Lista Encyclopedia: Volume C

Before I was married, I had four (yes, four) C's in my first and last names. I love this letter!

But instead of giving a list of the many things that begin with C that I adore (Coldplay, chubby bunny, charming towns), I decided I would write a story I've been meaning to share for a while now instead. It's about cookies.

Comfort Food




Anyone who reads this blog knows that I lost my beloved Grammy about a month ago. When my sister and I traveled up to Massachusetts for the funeral, we kept discussing how much we missed her cookies. You see, my Grammy was a health-food nut who could tell you the caloric intake of eating an apple, but there was one treat that she did make... anise cookies.


These delicate little tea cakes with a subtle flavor of licorice are quite unlike any cookie ever. And they look like they are made for a party, all covered in icing and rainbow sprinkles. They are as sweet, delicate, fun, and old-school Italian as my Grammy herself. She would bake them for every family dinner, ever graduation, even every Christmas, neatly stacked in tupperware containers and mailed to us in Virginia. When we were little, my sister and I would lick the icing and sprinkles off each one 'cause that's the best part.

As we were in her little pink and blue house in Massachussetts getting ready for the wake, we were struck by how empty the house was. The absence of my grandmother was palpable. We desperately wanted to hear her laugh, hug her one last time, and eat another one of her cookies.

"Maybe she left a bag of them in the freezer?" my sister Bethany asked hopefully. But I knew even as she scoured the shelves that she wouldn't find any. My Grammy didn't keep sweets around unless there was a special occasion coming. Then, Bethany suggested that we make them ourselves, but we couldn't find the recipe. I guess Grammy knew it by heart after forty-some years of making them.

That afternoon, my family and a handful of other relatives went to my grandmother's wake, where I said my good-byes. We came home red-eyed and exhausted. There was a bag of comfort food and wine from our amazing Aunt Linda and cousin Lisa on the front porch. And what did we find at the bottom of the bag?

A plate of anise cookies.

My mom laughed as my sister and I immediately inhaled three of them each. I have to admit, I had to choke back tears when I tasted the licorice flavor. It was like a piece of my Grammy was back, right there in the kitchen with us, baking and taking care of us.

After the funeral, my sister and I went up to Aunt Linda who had baked the cookies. Our aunt is such a warm presence- loving, funny, and sassy, but even with her being all-around amazing, we were still shocked that she had remembered and baked Grammy's specialty, especially since Gram had almost always just made them for us, not friends and extended family. 

We crooned to her, "That was so thoughtful! You have no idea how much that meant to us! Grammy used to bake those cookies all the time."

I promise you all I'm not making up or embellishing her response...

Our aunt looked at us, completely bewildered for a minute and then responded with a grin, "Oh! So glad you guys like them. I didn't know Ann used to make anise cookies. Actually, I was baking pizzelles, and then I realized I was making the wrong dough. I looked through my recipe box and saw that I was making anise cookies, so I went out and bought anise and sprinkles and that's what I made."

Maybe it was just a coincidence, but it makes me smile to think that Grammy was and is still taking care of business from heaven. As my Dad said with a twinkle in his eye, "Grammy knew that her girls needed some of her cookies."  And if it was just a coincidence, it was such a nice one.  My Dad joked for the rest of the day that Aunt Linda was in direct contact with our guardian angel.  He smiled for the first time the entire weekend. 


Bethany and I polished off the enormous plate of cookies within two days. Cakey, soft, delicate, licorice, sprinkles, sweet... just like Grammy used to make. The ultimate comfort food.
(Pictures from here and here since I forgot to take photos of the ones we ate. A recipe can be found on first link.)

Sunday, February 20, 2011

The La Vida Lista Encyclopedia: Volume B



Remember when I started the La Vida Lista Encyclopedia a few weeks ago? You know, the place where I categorize the sweet nothings of my everyday life? No? Well, this can jog your memory!

Here is volume B:
  • Bad things that I love
  • Bethany
  • Blog, recently stalked
  • Brain, babies on the

Bad things that I love

I love when something is so bad that it's good. You know, something that makes you cringe but then smile, like cheesy nickname with your spouse (Dan is known as "Danimal")... or anything with Velveeta in it.

A few of my favorite so bad-that-they're-good things include:
* Pug faces- how can something be so wrinkly and yet so simultaneously adorable?
* "Love is a Battlefield" - the cheesiest of all 80's love ballads

* "The Safety Dance"- terrible song + chance at doing synchronized dance = love

* Add "Mambo No. 5" played at weddings. Yes, you will find me on the dance floor.
* The movie Labyrinth- Oh, David Bowie, why do you, the mullet, & tights hold so much entertainment power? Terrible, weird movie... but I still love it.

* The Twilight movies- all those melodramatic sighs and cheesy special effects and "smoldering" stares from Edward that could be confused for constipation, yet my sister and I still go every opening night so we can laugh ourself sick and debate which team we're on
* Us Weekly and any other celebrity gossip mags- terribly written trash, but I (and a certain other teacher I know by the name of Danimal) always reach for them in the grocery line.
See also: the movie Clue

Bethany


My sister Bethany is one of my favorite people in the world. Going along with the above entry, it's appropriate to mention that she's my partner in crime for anything cheesy or nostalgic (Glee, Halloween, the movie Clue). Yep, she's the best... even if she did talk smack about my blog.

Blog, recently stalked


My new favorite blog is 1,000 Awesome Things, which includes shout-outs to such awesomities as:
#313- Showing old people how to do something on the computer
#317- When you hear it snowing
AND # 330, which I just had to share with you:

#330 Clean baby smell




Sniff those powdery fresh fumes as you pick up that fuzzy bundle of flabby cheeks and drooly drips.

Someone just had a bath.

AWESOME!
Photo from: here

Awesome observation of life from 1,000 Awesome things

Which brings us to my last entry in "B"...
Brain, babies on the

I've been amazed by how much I've thought about babies this year. Maybe it's because I'm turning thirty? Or maybe because two of my friends are pregnant and a few from work are? I have no idea, but the inner dialogue doesn't stop. Hmm, am I ready? I want a baby... like, yesterday! Wait... do I? Damn! Do you really lose your hair after giving birth? Wish I hadn't read that story on that pregnancy site. Forty hours of labor? Whoa... Will I be a good mother? Will I be an out-of-control worrier? I love my life now; will it change too much? Will Dan and I be able to remain close? Oh! That baby with the bedhead is too freaking cute! Hmm, am I ready?
And the truth is, I know I am ready (though I'm not pregnant yet). But that doesn't stop the idea of having a baby from being really scary. And it doesn't stop me from asking a bazillion questions and freaking myself out by Googling after each horror story from my colleagues at work. I'm curious: Anyone else out there go through the never ending questions too?
Volume C coming soon!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Just do it #14: 12 restaurants in 12 months

I'm back with restaurant #2 in our 12 restaurants in 12 months challenge.



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This month: Indian

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With my tutoring money burning a hole in my pocket, Dan and I decided to try a trendy place. We finally settled on Lehja, the brand-spanking new Indian restaurant that opened a few months ago.

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Dan and I both love Indian food ever since we tried it for the first time in a cozy curry house on Brick Lane during our trip to London. It was the last night of our trip, and we decided to be adventurous by trying a new type of food. Mr. Picky, who usually sticks to hot dogs and maceroni and cheese, fancied himself Anthony Bourdain for the night. We ducked into the tiny three table-top place in the middle of a rainstorm and swooned over all the spicy sauces and the mango relish and the garlic naan. So you can imagine that we were psyched to try this new Indian place so close to home.

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We did have one reservation when we first read the review for Lehja though: It's located near the mall. Would it be trying too hard? Would it be cheesy? Would I run into a million of my students who swarm the nearby Claire's Boutique?

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Turns out, we judged too quickly.

*

Without further ado, I give you...


Restaurant 2: Lehja

First, the atmosphere:

Once we entered, I started taking mental notes on the Domino-esque interior, full of chic and creative touches.

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There was a bead curtains that somehow worked as a subtle, shimmering divider. And I originally thought bead curtains were something you'd only find in an aging hippy's rec room...


There was also a painted zebra rug, colorful pendants that highlighted graphic architecture on the ceilings,


and a modern bar:



The food:

I ordered a shrimp in a sweet jaggery-tamarind sauce (there. are. no. words.) and Dan had lamb so tender he could cut it with his fork. And we polished off two baskets of garlic naan and some Indian beers and rice. Carb heaven.

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Side note: I don't have any pictures of the food because the flash on my camera inevitably makes the food look like a blob of something completely revolting and because I try not to tick off the other customers trying to enjoy their meal without a flash in their face.

*

In short, Lehja was modern, just as delicious as our meal in London, and fun... and didn't even have a hint of "I'm around the corner from a food court." Score!

Monday, February 7, 2011

All sweetness and light

Dan let me have full reign of decorating our bedroom, which was fun for me because I got to have a dreamy, b & b look. Not the most masculine room ever, but it's definitely my style!

Anyhoo, I did a few small updates three weeks ago and finally am getting around to hitting publish. The updates included: a DIY framed piece of "art", a reading nook, a new side table, and a shit ton of lamps! There are five in all, making it the most illuminated room in the house.

Before, our bed was kind of lopsided with only one lamp and side table:


And here it is with my new side table and lamps:


The lamps are those same Target one that I bought for the living room. I'm kinda boring in that when I find, say, a shirt I like, I buy it in two colors. I don't really care about variety. So when I needed lamps for my bedside tables, I simply bought two more of these teardropped ones. What can I say? I like the linen shade.



For the corner of the room, I framed paint samples for a piece of art:



I loved how this completely stolen idea worked out! I borrowed it from Katie at Bower Power. (See how hers turned out here, along with fabulous instructions.) This project was pretty easy. In short, I just took some paint samples I had lying around, taped a few of them together, and framed them.

Can I just interject to say that my dream job would be naming paint colors? The below frame contains such luscious colors as "Venetian blue", "Peacock", "Whisper" as well as the sweet food-themed one "blueberry cobbler". Yum...

Lastly, I found some pretty unique lamps at Home Goods, like this artichoke guy:


And this one with the flowerered shade. Dan grimaced when he saw the dahlia print, but he came around. He finally grudgingly admitted that it's kind of modern.



Lastly, I added a tiny reading nook.


I think it's my favorite room in the house now! :) Just wanted to share!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Grammy's List: Part 2

I'm back to finish my list of ten little things to know about my beloved Grammy who passed away two weeks ago. I have to say it's been really wonderful to go through old pictures and write this list. The memories make me smile!

And by the way, I really appreciate you all for reading!

My grammy (17)

Last time we left off at #6. Here's the second half:

5. She loved to travel! She had many adventures all over the world, from Russia to France, Italy to Alaska, Germany to Mexico.
- My grammy (in her 20's) on honeymoon in New York City

Years after my grandfather passed away, my grammy, now in her 70's, decided she wanted to see Israel and Egypt. Determined, she joined a tour group and traveled half-way around the world by herself!


4. She loved movies, but never read reviews before going to see them. She would have no clue what she was about to watch and would leave the theatre completely scandalized.

I talked to her every few weeks, and she would give me the run-down of her opinion on each movie. Here are two of my favorite reactions:

Grammy: "Christen, there was A LOT of sex in it!"

About:

Um... duh!

And my favorite reaction...


"I thought it was going to about an Italian man named Machiete. But it wasn't! It was about a man who carried a big knife around and killed people!"

About:

And that, my friends, is how my sweet Grammy ended up seeing a slasher movie.


At least she could laugh about it!


3. She sewed all her own clothes, from shorts and tops, to gowns and bathing suits.


Grammy and Me (high school)


2. She gave the best hugs.

Grammy congratulating me at graduation.

And #1....


1. Full disclosure: I had a difficult time writing this last item on my list. Since it is #1, I felt like it needed to convey something bigger about her, somehow capture her essence.

I thought about writing about how much she was loved. Because she was as loveable as can be.



I thought about writing about her roles as a wonderful sister, mother, wife, grammy, and friend because she relished her connections with others.


But I ended up deciding to write this instead:
She had joy.


Grammy had tough times in life. She said goodbye to many friends. She lost two beloved husbands. She watched as her son developed muscular dystrophy and took to a wheelchair. There were many events in life that could have completely broken her spirit.


Yet, she rallied, she loved, she smiled, she didn't give up. She appreciated the small things, like a phone call and a trip to see the ocean and her cat. Even at the end, she made a comment that indicated that she had had a good life. She exuded joy.
And she brought so much joy to all those around her.

Love you, Grammy!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Grammy's List: part one

This past weekend, I said goodbye to one of my favorite people in the world.


My grammy passed away after a three week stint in the hospital recovering from heart surgery. As crazy as it sounds to say I was shocked when I heard of my 83 year old grandmother passing away, I truly was. She was so determined and strong and vibrant that I guess a part of me always thought she would pull through. That she would always be around. And I miss her already.

I've been working on this post for days now, and I keep deleting, cutting, pasting, and then shelving it for another day. I'm having the same problem that I did when I spent hours writing her eulogy for the funeral last weekend...

There aren't enough words in the world to sum up her life

and what she meant to me and so many others.


So instead of trying to capture everything, I thought I would just share ten little things about her (five today and five after I finish scanning pictures). Just so you all so you could get a peek at this classy lady...

This list is for Grammy:


10. Her signature colors were pink and blue, and she decorated her house with them everywhere.




And I do mean everywhere.
9. She was a hilarious hybrid of Italian cook meets health food nut. Everything she cooked was salt, butter, sugar, and fat free. (When Dan and I visited her two summers ago, we snuck out for Coldstone's ice cream like two addicts.)
Even if some of the food had us all reaching for the salt shaker, there's a reason she still looked so great in her 80's!
8. She loved to dance.

Grammy and me (age 3) dancing to a record.

Many of the guests at my wedding marveled at how she (then 78!) danced for hours!

7. She was fun!
No swimsuit? No problem!

6. She had a great smile :)

Love this 1949 picture!
Proud grammy at my sister's graduation
5. She was a girlie girl, just like me:
Grammy letting me (age 5) play with her make-up.
The second half coming soon...
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