lesson learned.

never bet your first child's future college education on the outcome of a football game. 

p.s. happy birthday carlee. i'm sure you are sulking right now, but try to keep your chin up. it's your day - this too, shall pass. 

p.p.s. i love you. 

thanksgiving.

{napa valley, thanksgiving day}

i woke up this morning before the sun came up, a little restless and full of mixed emotions. this is the very first thanksgiving i will not be waking up to the smell of the turkey already cooking in the oven and the thanksgiving table already set. the first thanksgiving i won't see my dad hovering over the turkey, and my mom perfecting the sides.

i can't wait for the day where i can host my own thanksgiving, in my own home, with both of our families. it will never be as good as my parents...but i will try. there will be candles, warm lighting, the smell of pumpkin-spice filling the house, family, classical music, children, take-home bags of leftovers and goodies...all this done while wearing an apron. i wonder how i became this girl. the one whose biggest dreams include throwing dinner parties. nevertheless, i am thankful that i know this day is in our future.

until then, and today, we will be spending our thanksgiving here. as a newlywed couple, our first thanksgiving on our own. and might i point out...our first time out of the city since we moved here. i am so thankful to be spending this thanksgiving with the husband. i am so thankful that i have been able to spend almost 8 months now being married to my best friend. i have no doubt that we will always remember our first thanksgiving together as being one of the greatest. 

so much to be thankful for this year. thankful for our families. and thankful for our friends. so thankful for a heavenly father that has my best interests at heart and makes things just fall into place. so thankful that happiness now seems so simple, and gets better by the day. am thankful for my life.

wishing you the happiest of thanksgivings....much peace and love. xo.

"gratitude is a mark of a noble soul and a refined character. we like to be around those who are grateful. the tend to brighten all around them. they make others feel better about themselves. they tend to be more humble, more joyful, more likable." 

~ joseph b. wirthlin

a few things.

"if you love large, you've got to hurt large. if you've got a lot of light, you've probably got an equal amount of darkness." 

~ sarah mclachlan

it's nearing 9pm on a tuesday night, the husband is still hard at work, and i can't really figure out what is going on with me. my head is fuzzy and buzzing with all kinds of thoughts. whatever my body and mind needs right now...time, rest, food, etc....i'm not really sure, but the only thing that is making me feel good right now is cough drops, split pea soup and old episodes of 30 rock. i'm such a cliche. an attempt into the city this afternoon left me cranky, tired and suffering from hot flashes, so i'm not moving. i hate thinking that i'm wasting such good weather inside, but sometimes you just need to stay in, i guess. 

today marks 14 days before it is 25 days until christmas. does that only make sense to me? i used to always think of the holidays in that way when i was younger, and i'd say things like, "tomorrow we will be able to say that it is 1 week until christmas...".  guess i haven't changed much. the holidays are in full-swing here, but i'm still under strict instruction in our household not to break out the christmas movies, music and candy cane cookie cutters until after next thursday. i guess i can understand where the husband is coming from, (even though i did secretly let a little mariah carey christmas sneak out of my ipod earlier today) but san francisco does a much better job of putting me in the christmas spirit than los angeles ever did. something about 80 degree weather and palms trees that just doesn't do it for me. 

excitement for the holidays is definitely in the air, and the city is buzzing, as usual. it's interesting though - that in a city filled with thousands of people in every direction, you can still get lonely. spent some time chatting to this girl, and this girl today, and it made my heart ache. actually, to be honest, my heart aches a lot these days. seems like forever since i was able to call them up just to go to a movie, or lunch, or anything for that matter. seems like forever since i could just drive to my parents house just because i needed to see them. seems like forever since i hugged my nieces and nephews just because i could. it seems like i should be at the age where being homesick is only a distant memory, but it has only gotten worse the last month or so. i've spent the last couple of years craving adventure, new people, new experiences and just...change. wanting to experience something different than what i thought everyone i knew was....almost running away from what i grew up around. that sounds bad, but mostly i just wanted to feel like i wasn't settling, or getting settled. but what i'm feeling lately, is much different than that one-time girl-of-change. 

i blame this on my husband. 

being married to quite possibly, the most perfect being in the world (i really feel sorry for the rest of you), makes me ready to be settled. ready to start a family. to be around our families. watching him work so hard for our future, is pretty inspiring. watching him sacrifice his time, and sometimes, his immediate happiness, so he can secure a happy life for me. i still get shocked that anyone loves me as much as he seems to. coming home at all hours of the night, sometimes on the weekend - and yet still, his concern is taking care of me and my needs. making sure i'm happy. making sure we are watching my favorite tv shows. playing by my rules, so to say. i know this is how every marriage should be, but i know from experience, that it's not. i've seen this act of selflessness in my parents throughout the years, not knowing that it exists in others. happy to report that it does. making me love more, dream more, and believe in more. all this goodness i see and feel in him, i can only hope, is rubbing off on me. 

whew, i can be long-winded...thanks for listening. i just needed to get a few things off my chest. chances are, if you are reading this...i'm missing you. heart-achingly missing you.  if you haven't guessed that already. 

peace, love and a good night. xo. 

let's talk kale.

since i usually (and by usually, i mean always) overindulge on the weekends (see post below), i like to get back on track during the week by overdoing it on greens. kale, the vegetable extraordinaire, was just introduced to me about a year ago and i can't get enough of it. brimmed with antioxidants, a, c, and e, a natural detoxifier and booster of the immune system - mixed with shakes, salads, topping veggie burgers and wraps...i feel healthier every time i eat it. plus, could the kale green, as i now call it, be any prettier? such a bright, vibrant and happy color green.  it also reaffirms my dream of growing all my own food one day, bunches and bunches of kale...green as far as the eye can see. 

but since i'm not fully-food-sustainable yet...whole foods, my home away from home, makes the best kale salad, and i just found the recipe so i can mimic its perfection at home. yes, its that good. 

raw kale salad

the key to this salad is finely chopping the leaves

ingredients

2 bunches kale leaves, finely chopped, stems and tough ribs removed

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 red onion, chopped

1 avocado, cut into small chunks

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

directions

in a large bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, red onion, avocado and sea salt. add kale, toss and combine to serve.

delicious and nutritious. enjoy. xo.

project thankful: am thankful for the color green, and all things associated with it. most specifically, the green earth that gives us so many delicious and pure things to eat. to quote michael pollan, of in the defense of food fame, "eat food. not too much. mostly plants." good stuff. 

let's talk cookies.

because it is one of the things i do best. i understand that i have had an overload of pumpkin, and chocolate, and pumpkin mixed with chocolate on this blog, but it's the husbands favorite, and i aim to please. plus...it's a cheap saturday night date. i could not, not share this recipe with y'all. these are by far the best of the best pumpkin chocolate cookies i have ever made, and it may be the last recipe i'll ever use. i don't know if it is the extra large guittard chocolate chips used in the process, or the soft, delectably-oversized cookies themselves, but this particular recipe can't be beat. soft and chubby - just like i'm becoming by consuming the entire batch - these cookies melt in your mouth and will make your holidays very, very happy.  

the great pumpkin chocolate chip cookie 

{adapted from big fat cookies}

ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg (i used ground nutmeg)

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

2 eggs 

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup canola oil

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 (overflowing) cup chocolate chips

directions

1. position rack in the middle of the oven, preheat to 325 degrees. line two baking sheets with parchment paper, and lightly grease.

2. stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices together in a medium bowl and set aside. 

3. in a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together on medium speed until smooth and lightened in color, about 1 minute. 

4. on low speed, mix in oil, pumpkin and vanilla until blended.

5. mix in flour mixture. stir in chocolate chips. 

6. using 1/4 cup measuring cup or large spoon, scoop mounds of dough onto prepared pan (leaving 2 1/2 inches in between).

7. bake the cookies one sheet at a time, about 16 minutes, or until tops of cookies are firm, and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 

8. cool cookies on baking sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to rack to cool completely (ours never make it to this step). 

9. dust cookies with powdered sugar or leave alone - both delicious!

and what do you do with an excess of chocolate chips....??

make dipping chocolate of course. 

project thankful: i am thankful for netflix and their quick delivery of dr. quinn medicine woman, as the dvds are my best friend here in san francisco...outside of the husband of course. 

happy monday. xo.

thanks, sister.

oddly busy this week, not a lot of time to post. am trying to figure out if i take the blog up a notch (new format, etc) or if i slowly wean off all together....what to do, what to do. 

project thankful today has me thinking about my sisters. this sister, who makes me think and makes me laugh. this sister who makes me want to be better, so i can be a better example, for her. this sister (needs a blog) who i admire as a woman and mother; this sister, who supports me no matter what and provides the best advice; and this sister who is my best bud, confidant, and soul-sister in all ways humanly possible. so, so lucky for sisters. and i miss and love them so much. 

"for there no other friend like a sister, in calm or stormy weather, to cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands." ~ christina g. rossetti

oh...

 and ms. jenny bowen....the husband drew your number. congratulations on the win! email me your shipping info (@laurajcampbell@msn.com)and expect some deliciousness coming your way. 

Nate, Jenny and Amelia said...

Since reading your post about oatmeal, I have tried to find almond butter! Now you're on to pecan butter. I need this giveaway so that I can keep up with you! Any time you have something you make and want to give away, please send it my way!

NOVEMBER 7, 2009 6:12 AM 

have a happy weekend. xo.

some days

{rainy day san francisco, photo by nitsa}

some days are very rainy and cold.

some days the sun doesn't come out at all.

some days you visit 4 different stores trying to find just one thing.

some days you feel stranded.

some days the wind blows your $4 umbrella inside out, making it useless.

some days your walking shoes are on their last leg and your feet end up very wet and cold. 

some days you forget bus fare.

some days you wish you lived in the suburbs where you know exactly where everything is, and exactly how to get it...without having to walk miles and miles to get there. 

some days it's best to go back home, get back in your pajamas and watch movies the rest of the day...

and just start again tomorrow.

only some days.

*project thankful: even though today, didn't work out....i am still so thankful for the rain. i love it above all other weather elements. 

friday pumpkin giveaway

i've taken on a little holiday job here in the city, and its putting me in a holiday mood. the holiday-gift-giving-mood.

what happens when a wanna-be-cook takes a job at williams-sonoma (the ultimate chef's home-away-from-home) and is over-enthusiastic about trying out all the products??

they give her free stuff!

i have a surplus of williams-sonoma pumpkin spice quick bread mix, and pecan pumpkin butter and i want to share with you. i tried it out last weekend and it was easy to make, moist and delicious. could pass as homemade. i won't tell if you don't.

you can make this...

and top it with this...

or it would even make a great gift.

leave a comment and tell me why you'd like the deliciousness that is the combination of these two. if i have as few readers as i think i do, you'll have an even better chance at winning.

the husband will randomly pick a winner on wednesday, november 11th and we'll send it your way...

"if more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. " ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

*project thankful: i am so thankful for a husband who loves me. and i know he really loves me. tells me, shows me, and makes me fall more in love with him everyday. so, so thankful.

have a happy, happy weekend. xo.

fall foliage

just as i finished bragging about the amazing weather we are experiencing in san francisco...the sun came out and pounded on the city's pavement yesterday. it was a scorcher. still, it was a day too good not to be spent outside, and it was all errands for me. ah, the life of a housewife. my trips home from the store are usually accompanied by many heavy bags. i can't help it. whole foods calls to me. the walks home become a workout in and of themselves, and i was dripping through my uniform (also, known as yoga clothes) as i was wandering yesterday. 

i am really loving life without a car, and getting used to finding other ways to get around. so far, being able to walk almost everywhere is a real treat. i think i'd miss so much about this city if i was relying on a car. little details - people, sounds, architecture, smells, art and just pure fabulous-ness stand out to me - that i believe would stay hidden and unnoticed behind the glare of street lights and a steering wheel. i don't know where we will be living in four months from now, but i hope so much that it's within walking distance of everything i need. if not, biking-distance would do. 

i meandered by the yerba buena center for the arts (which is lovely, by the way) on my way home, and look what i found...

those are fall leaves, my friends. as it turns out, california does see more than one season. what a nice surprise.

*project thankful: today i am thankful for two healthy feet that can carry me from one place to another. as much as i complain, pick and sulk over my body, i am grateful that i am healthy. the ability to have use of all my limbs, to walk a mile, carry groceries, and get everywhere i need to on my own is not a luxury we all have. treating your body like a temple, takes on a different meaning when i think of it that way. 

"health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. when one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open." ~ B.K.S. Iyengar

much peace and love. xo. 

...i bought the pan. and boy, was it worth the 7-9 business-day-wait.

i toyed with the vegan and regular recipe, and i must admit...the regular ol' normal person recipe was much tastier. they come out warm, scrumptious and are fun to pop in  your mouth - with or without the glaze. so very cute and tiny that it hardly feels like you are breaking your "diet rules" at all. i strongly suggest making them for the holidays...

...or come visit me, and i will make them for you.

baked pumpkin doughnuts

ingredients 

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger)

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup butter, softened

cinnamon glaze

ingredients

1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

1/4 tsp vanilla

4-5 tsp milk

directions

in a medium bowl, mix together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, salt and baking soda. add pumpkin, eggs, milk and butter and mix together with an electric mixer on low speed until well combined. spoon the mixture into a pastry bag (or i used a ziplock bag and cut the tip). pipe into well-greased doughnut pan. bake in a pre-heated 375 degree oven for 8-12 minutes or until golden brown. cool doughnuts on rack.

in a small mixing bowl, stir together powdered sugar and vanilla. stir in enough milk to smooth icing of glazing consistency. brush or spoon over doughnuts.

*project thankful: today i am thankful for the beautiful weather we are experiencing in san francisco. low-70's and sunny. near-perfect fall weather...want to come visit me yet? :)

peace and love. xo.

good morning, november

{view of the city from alcatraz, october 2009}

recovering from a sugar coma as we ended october with a bang. had some of our favorite friends for the weekend and explored the city like true tourists do. am amazed at how much this city has to offer and how much is packed into such small spaces. i appreciate it even more when we can share it with friends. 

its also amazing to me how halloween immediately brings in the holidays. as we walked the city the night after a fun-packed halloween, butterflies were my stomach as thoughts of the upcoming months bring family, togetherness, gratitude and love. made me even more excited to see these two perfect beings come december....

{pictures by amanda}

the cutest snow white and best utah cheerleader i have ever seen. 

truly the best time of year. am following in the footsteps of one of my favorite blogger's - project : thankful  - and writing down thoughts of gratitude every day. we all have so much. 

*project thankful: today i am thankful for the sugar and carbo-loading i did this weekend to give me the energy to jog/walk along the embarcadero this morning, the perfect-morning activity. how have i lived here a month and not discovered this gem?

happy monday, and happy november. xo.