Who says my daughter doesn't smile?

If you've ever met Emery, you know she's rather, well, judicious would be a nice word, with her smiles. But I've promised you that she does smile a lot at home - here's proof.

(Keep in mind that all I was doing to get her going was keeping my mouth open wide, which apparently is the funniest thing in the planet to this child.)

A very merry Christmas

We're moments from leaving for the airport - an easy excuse to post photos, but without captions.  Use your imagination :) ... it was a fabulous time with family and Emery was delighted with her first Christmas!

Recipes worth repeating

When it comes to cooking, I like a lot of variety, almost to a fault. Instead of pulling out tried and true recipes on a regular basis, usually the latest (insert food blogger) post or Wednesday food section in the paper distracts and tempts me to save boring old turkey meatloaf for another night. This method often can produce good results, but there are plenty of nights when I know it would have been better for everyone involved if I had just stuck with what I know works and tastes great.

One way I'm remedying this is by keeping a dinner journal. The rewards are two-fold - we can take a trip down memory lane anytime we want to remember what happened at the dinner table, and I have an on-the-ready assortment of recipes worth going back to over and over again.

Here are a few keepers from 2010!

Quick and Easy Ciopinno - this fish stew is affordable, nutritious and truly doesn't taste like it was quick and easy
Yukon Gold Potatoes - Jacques Pepin Style - Crispy, flavorful and so simple
Toasted Marshmallow Milkshakes - I don't even care much for marshmallows, but these just hit the spot
Pasta with Peas, Prosciutto and Lettuce - the soft, salty, and crunchy tastes of spring, right in your pasta bowl!
Baked Sausages with Apples and Onions - a super supper you probably already have in the pantry, provided you keep some sausages in the freezer for last minute meals
Salted Caramel Brownie - a lot of work, but sublime
Flatbread with Roasted Apple, Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion - if you're a vegan, you've hit the jackpot with this one; if you're not a vegan, well, you just might become one after this

Pursuing happiness

This fall I read "The Happiness Project; Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean my Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle and Generally Have More Fun" by Gretchen Rubin.

I can't say enough good things about the book. For starters, it was an enjoyable, easy read. It actually motivated me to take tangible actions, rather than leaving me inspired, but unsure of how to use the book's content to improve my life. And the book contains some excellent insights on the nature and importance of happiness, freeing readers to pursue something that on the surface might seem selfish.

One of my favorite parts of the book were the easy-to-remember phrases and commandments Gretchen developed to remind herself of what makes her happy. Here are some examples:

- Outer order contributes to inner calm
- Act the way I want to feel
- Spend out
- Do it now
- Do what ought to be done
- Lighten up

I wish I could be original right now and say I've developed a half dozen of my own commandments to be happier in the new year, but I think they'd really just be variations on what's above. Like,

- Try to not overreact
- Just do something
- Take the long view
- Create beauty
- Play more

Is any of this working for me? Perhaps, though I think I still have a ways to go. Yet, that's the nature of resolutions - they're not one-and-done kinds of things, like the goal of running a marathon or losing a certain amount of weight.

My mother has also commented that I'm not quite as dramatic about life's little problems these days. For someone who has a pretty marked up track record of overreacting, I'd call that the beginnings of success.

We've been having fun

Yesterday Emery and I made a stop at the toy store before heading across the parking lot to the grocery store. Here she is on the "Rody," an Italian riding toy that she's obviously not quite ready for yet.



Then, we (well, I) had a moment of devastation, followed by elation, when I learned that they hadn't actually run out of peppermint ice cream and there was more in the back of the store. Hallelujah, especially because Matt doesn't even care for this flavor. More for me!



We also picked up an orchid! I've been orchidless for a while. Thank you, Mom, for funding this purchase :).




Later in the day, we went out again, for a quick Christmas shopping trip. More elation - look at this lovely snack arrangement that greeted us when we walked in the door! Not only were there some delicious treats to choose from, they kept in mind germophobes like me and even provided individual bags and scoopers.



On the way home, Emery did what she usually does - ripped off her socks and shoes and didn't seem sorry in the least that her tootsies were chilly.





Bathtime is getting better and better, now that there are toys involved!



What's Christmastime without a festive sleeper? Cheer up Emery, 'tis the season!



And this morning might have been one of the best in Emery's life - she experienced french toast for the first time. And for the first time, she didn't rip off her bib within 30 seconds of being seated. No, she just kept stuffing it in her mouth and kind of got a glazed over, very contented look on her face.



This is a wonderful development, except there's a tiny part of me that is nervous, because french toast was literally all I ate for quite some time as a child. Like mother, like daughter? We shall see ...

Lunch got a little messy today,

so I forced Emery to go topless. (yes, I realize it doesn't appear all that messy, but her shirt told a different story)

What does it mean when kefir is a "new item" at the store?

It's been interesting getting to know the food culture of Chattanooga. The city has some fabulous restaurants with inventive menus that make the most of local ingredients, yet the daily newspaper regularly reviews chains restaurants like Chili's and Panera. Not that there's anything wrong with these restaurants, but do their cookie cutter menus really warrant culinary reviews?

We've got a few great organic/natural foods grocery stores like Greenlife and Earthfare, yet Trader Joe's is reluctant to join the party, hinting that our population might not be well educated enough. And I had to laugh - today I made a quick run to Bi-Lo (the standard, run-of-the-mill, don't expect anything too special and probably shouldn't buy the meat) grocery chain in town and said a quick prayer that they would have kefir. And lo and behold, they did! But, it was featured as a "new item."

I really don't know where this leaves me or what the point of this post exactly is. Perhaps just to say that whatever your appetite, Chattanooga can satisfy it.

P.S. And Trader Joe's, puhlease try to look past our Bi-Lo shoppers and Applebee eating diners and come as quickly as you can!