Sunday, April 25, 2010

Weekend happenings...


We spent the weekend in south orange county with our friends again, we spent the day at the beach on saturday, laid out, read magazines, ate sun chips, dipped our feet in the water, just relaxed, then headed back to their place and barbequed sausages for dinner;) But before we did all this, we recycled...

Meet Allie & Travis, the eco friendly couple;)


Friday, April 23, 2010

What a beautiful friday...

Today my topic is friendship, I have a group of really close friends whom I adore! I chose this picture because its one of our most recent when we were all able to get together at once, usually atleast one of us is missing. It's cute, we all look so happy! I will tell you about my friends one by one, for today I choose Meghan (she's pictured here the 2nd from the right)…not just because she’s one of my very best friends, or because she had me over her house for dinner last night and made me laugh all evening, or because she’s caring and thoughtful, but because I appreciate her friendship very much. Meg & I went to high school together, however we did not get to know each other until after, she comes from a really tight knit family (who are all great too). I’m really happy to have Meg as part of my life for over 10 years now…so Meg if you’re reading this, just wanted you to know that you’re one of a kind. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and are lucky enough to have a close circle of friends in your lives too! Xo

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

In my life...

There are places I remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more
---The Beatles

Monday, April 19, 2010

Sunday a special day...

Sunday morning was so beautiful and sunny...

We hiked down to the beach...
We took in the pretty view and listened to the ocean breathing life...
We felt the warm sun on our faces...
We posed for pictures...
----------------------------
Then we were off to my grandmother’s birthday bbq, she turned 78. What a life!

I chose this picture because she’s posing with her great grand kids and they all are looking in different directions, it’s funny! Guess it might be because it’s about the 5th picture they’ve taken!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Happy Weekend!

This morning we took our puppy to get his shots, poor Teddy he was nervous and cried when he had his shots;( I'm sure he won't be happy that we have to take him back in 2 weeks...now we're headed to Loren & Michelle's bridal shower dinner in Irvine, its wedding season... then we're staying at our friends Allie & Trav's in Aliso, looking forward to taking a walk on the beach tomorrow morning...have a great weekend. Cheers!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Happy Birthday Nyd's!


Today is my sister's birthday, she's one of the best people I know, has a big heart, is a good mother, sister, and daughter, has a smile that can bring happiness to anyone, she's beautiful inside and out, she's an inspiration to me, I love her to pieces, lucky for me she's my sister...I like this picture, we're glistening because we had spent the whole night dancing;)

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Things I love...

I love making breakfast for my husband on the weekends and then taking a nap...aaahhh the simple things in life;)

Friday, April 9, 2010

Life in perspective...

I couldn’t sleep last night… I was up thinking about life and death. A girl I knew, suddenly died yesterday, she was 29, a mother of 2, a wife, and though I did not know as well as others, I knew that she was a positive and genuinely nice person. The way people spoke of her makes you realize how good of a person she was, it’s sad how one day you could be here and the next day be gone. It resurfaced all those feelings I’ve been shoving back for so long, the pain of losing a loved one, it breaks my heart to think of the people she left behind, her daughters and her husband, her family and friends. Makes me want to be a better person, not a different person but a better version of me, a better Norma, a positive spirit, a cheerful heart, I know better, I’ve been through a lot, yet sometimes I still let the trivial stuff get to me…we all have to remember each day is new and what we make of it is in our hands…how do you want to be remembered when you’re gone?

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." Marcus Aurelius

“Attitudes truly are contagious, and from time to time we need to ask ourselves, ‘Is mine worth catching?’” Mac Anderson

"Will someone else's life be brighter tomorrow because of what you have done today?" William Arthur Ward

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Day light savings time...

I love it, it's 8:00pm and the sun just set! It should be this way all year long...I just had dinner with Nat, Meg, and even Irene had a chance to drop by for a drink before heading over to a concert with her sister. Side note: While walking up to the restaurant, Irene had a thought, not an unfamiliar one to those of us who know her well, she wished that she could move to Claremont, haha, she wants to live in every town she visits, either way...We met at the Back Abbey http://www.thebackabbey.com/, a wonderful little pub style restaurant. They have every type of beer or "birr" like I like to call it, the best hamburger, The Back Abbey which include aged Gouda, mustard aioli, caramelized onion, Niman Ranch bacon, and micro greens served on a Brioche bun...yum, and their Pomme Frites (full order, because Nat wouldnt let us order any less)...either way, it was a really nice evening, got to hang out with my girlfriends (these days, I have to join facebook to stay in the loop) enjoyed a Saxo (a sipping beer, not a guzzling one), a nice meal, and alot of belly laughing! Its fun to get silly with my girlfriends:) Having talks about the drink bourbon or like Meg likes to call it, Bourr-bonne, and admired this Irish rock (got to love Allie’s moments of clarity)..haha! I realize as we get older it takes that much more effort to keep in touch with your friends, people grow up, move away, get married, have families, work, have a life, etc...so when I have a chance to hang out like this, its something to boast about! Cheers!


It's strawberry season!

While browsing the Food section of the LA Times today, I came across this recipe, doesn’t it sound yum! Can’t wait to try it out:)

Strawberry dumplings

Total time: About 1 hour
Servings: 8 to 10

3 pounds strawberries
1/2 cup sugar plus
3 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 vanilla bean, seeded
4 teaspoons Amaretto
1 1/2 cups (6.4 ounces) flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold butter, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup cold buttermilk
1/3 cup sliced almonds
Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

1. Heat the oven to 425 degrees.

2. Hull the strawberries. Cut the strawberries, keeping the pieces large (leave the small strawberries whole, halve the mediums, and quarter the large). Place the strawberries in a large bowl. Toss with 1/2 cup sugar, the vanilla seeds and Amaretto, making sure the vanilla and amaretto are evenly distributed.

3. Pour the strawberry mixture into a 9- by 13-inch baking dish.

4. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, salt and baking powder. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or fork until the butter is reduced to small, pea-sized pieces. Pour in the buttermilk, and stir until the mixture is combined to form a thick, sticky batter. Gently stir in the almonds to combine.

5. Scoop the batter into 8 to 10 portions, using a large soup or small serving spoon. Space the dumplings evenly over the strawberries. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake until the dumplings have risen and are golden brown and the strawberries are softened and bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the dumplings should come out clean.

6. Remove and cool slightly on a rack. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.Each of 10

servings: 257 calories; 4 grams protein; 41 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams fiber; 9 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 19 mg. cholesterol; 22 grams sugar; 236 mg. sodium.

And it’s only 257 calories a serving, not too shabby at all!

Here’s the link: http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-dumplingsrecc-20100408,0,2656045.story

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Happy Easter

James & I posing with our Teddy
My family...minus Alex
My cute nieces and the pup
My puppy bear
Our family..minus a few

The boys
All About Zane!

Friday, April 2, 2010

Happy friday...

Feeling Good

Birds flying high
You know how I feel
Sun in the sky
You know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life for me
And I'm feeling good
Fish in the sea
You know how I feel
River running free
You know how I feel
Blossom on a tree
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life for me
And I'm feeling good...
Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don't you know
Butterflies all havin' fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
That's what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold worldFor me
Stars when you shine
You know how I feel
Scent of the pine
You know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life for me
And I'm feeling good...

So inspiring to wake up to this song...I love Michael Bublé!