the color green

St Patrick's day is on March 17th. Here are some green crafts dedicated to the color green:

Green slime. I am totally giving this a go this year. Mei is currently obsessed with slime. "mommy it's eww, but we can eat it, right?"... "Um,wrong!"

Green glow water.  I don't own a black light, but it's still neat and green.

Green homemade play-dough. To make it green just use green food coloring. So st. patricky right?

Any crafty ideas dedicated to the color green in your quarters? please share

***

When I first got pregnant with Mei, I signed up to receive their updates, four years later and two babes they're still going strong.

In their weekly emails they have a section called fun facts for the week, here's this week's fun fact:
The biggest Rat in the world is as big as a dog. (should've been titled the scariest and grossest fact of the week!) I so did not want to know that!

Peace, hmph!

Right here, right now

It feels like spring over here, complete with random passing thunder storms n all. Was it yesterday? no the day before that: sixty degree weather and sunshine, we made it back inside with a struggle, which is what has been happening lately every time we try to go back inside. Mei throws a fit. I would too, except that someone has to prepare dinner--otherwise...

Don't expect much sense from me today. It's not likely--  you see I recently discovered a free kindle app. on my beloved iphone, older books can be free of charge or for a dollar max. You know what this means? (other than major squeals and dorky dances from my behalf) Alice in wonderland read out loud to both girls during bath time, and then a little bit more. The possibilities are limitless.

***

I used to think that I minded the rain, apparently I don't. (except when it's below freezing and raining) We ventured out today in the rain, no car, no stroller, no umbrella, or rain boots. ( I know I need to work on the latter two) The L was our friend for the day. I took the girls to not one but two different places with two different train stops, lots of up and down stairs, puddles, splashes, pigeons (?) stop lights, you get the idea (God bless the Ergo carrier.) I used to think I didn't like going out in the rain. I have no idea why i thought that, when all of my rain memories are good ones. Anyhoo this is my conclusion for today.

Also I haven't been taking pictures (well that's not entirely true of course, I do take "right now" photos still and share them with family, this doesn't count though, or at least to me it doesn't... alright?) I haven't been rushing to capture moments these days, because I don't feel the urge to find something inspiring or beautiful, the weather is doing this for me these days. I just want to sit and enjoy the transformation of our white grounds to brown, the little bulbs pushing through the earth, the birds songs, the sunshine and the rain, my babies running in our yard with just their t-shirts on. I don't want camera captures for these... I just want to be right here, right now.

Happy spring everyone (I know we're still some time short... just don't tell anyone)

Peace.

Try this, Ful

(get it?)

I've been meaning to share several fava bean recipes, but haven't had the chance. Here's a very simple recipe if you choose to make it from a can. 

But first--a snippet from wikipedia, for the novice fava bean eater:

Fava beans are a common staple food in the Egyptian diet, eaten by rich and poor alike. Egyptians eat fava beans in various ways: they may be shelled and then dried, bought dried and then cooked by adding water in very low heat for several hours, etc. They are the primary ingredient in Ta`meyyah (Egyptian Arabic for falafel), and Egyptians have made deriding Levantine felafel (made from chickpeas) as inferior something of a national sport. However, the most popular way of preparing fava beans in Egypt is by taking the mashed, cooked beans and adding oil, garlic, lemon, salt and cumin to it. It is then eaten with bread. The dish, known as ful medames, is traditionally eaten with onions (generally at breakfast) and is considered the Egyptian national dish.

You can also read this NPR piece about it.
know enough now? Good. Shall we proceed?

If you are of the fussy type– you can by all means buy your beans dried or fresh (if you can find them) and dry them, then soak them, then rinse them, then cook them over very low heat for over 8 hours, then mash them,  then dress them up in some salt, pepper, oil and lots of cumin, then follow the recipe below.
But if you want a quick health-ish fix, then start from this step :
Ingredients:

Pre-cooked and peeled fava beans (Buy this brand and no other If you can find it at your local Arab store– “California Gardens” precooked and peeled fava beans. Or do the above prep. first.
2 table spoons olive oil, or butter
1 big tomato- chopped
1 small onion- chopped
1 small bell pepper- chopped
Half a bunch parsley- chopped ( and a little for garnish)
2 eggs
In ( preferably an non-stick) skillet, add your oil and toss in your onions and cook until soft and translucent ( don’t over cook) for about two minutes. Then open your can, and dump the contents of the whole thing in your skillet– stir it with the onions, and let cook for a couple more minutes.  Stir-in your parsley and tomatoes and cook until your veggies wilt a little.

Now, here’s the fun part– make a well in the middle of your skillet and break inside it one of your eggs, then carefully spread all the egg whites in the mixture, also scrape the top of the egg yolk, very careful not to pop it ( I don’t like wobbly thingies in my eggies!) and incorporate it in your cooking beans. Repeat this step for the second egg.

 

That’s it you’re done, add your garnish and serve with warmed pitta bread. ( btw I didn’t have parsley or bell peppers on hand)

Stay tuned for more fava bean recipes.

Peace.

Scenes from our weekend and links

We've been having lots of sunshine (except for today's dreary weather) and above freezing temperatures. In celebration, anticipation, gratification and any other fitting-adjective-than-ends-with-ation, we bought one of those make-your-own-cheap-birdhouses from Target. (I now know why it only costs what it did, don't buy it) it took about a thousand years to assemble, not to mention the hammering noises that woke a napping baby up and the frustrations. It now lives in one of our bookshelves waiting to be further secured-- I don't want no little bird's blood upon my hands.

 

(on the upside Mei had a fantabulous time painting it)

 

sun + above freezing temperatures = quickly lets go outside!

(At an Egyptian restaurant--kebab, black tea with mint and loud Egyptian music. It can't possibly get better than this!) 

(1cup warm water+1/2 cup salt(stir)+ 1 cup flour +2tbsp cream of tartar + a couple of drops food coloring. Mix everything on a burner = Awesome homemade play-dough. Store in an airtight container)

(homemade eggplant pizza from the five minute book)

Links:

This was the number one song on the year I was born (oooh oooh oooh, and yes I know I'm old!)

This is crazy cool. (A very important someone mentioned that they would like to know what the links are about so they don't have to open something that might be a dud, so this one is about the origins of the moonwalk, clear!)

 
This is on the weekly desert menu.  simple. easy. delicious (the three most important ingredients for anything to get done in this household by moi)

I want to go watch Alice in wonderland in 3D because I heart Alice, also I heart wonderland and the title of the movie contains both of the words I just hearted but that's just me, I can't let it be, you see! (I couldn't help myself, sorry!)

 How did your weekend look like?

Peace.

Just SCREAM!

I have one week left to finish my online writing class. I have three classes to go through, a ton of writing exercises, and a paper to hand in... Also a program to download so I can do all of the above.
Here's what I've learned so far:

I can spot most of my writing mistakes right away.
I have been reluctant to write because of the above reason.
I am a slacker.
It is very difficult to finish two writing classes back to back let alone three, my brain is fried people.
It's no fun learning about something you think you like-- you might discover you probably don't like it that much.
My writing skills are exactly the same-- expect now I can spot my mistakes.

Right now, my baby sitter is downstairs with the girls and I should be catching up with my class. Instead, I find myself looking at my sewing machine in despair. Maybe I signed up for the wrong class!

***

The other day I was thinking about all the the stuff looming over my head, while watching my three year old trash our living room (I've been unsuccessfully trying to teach her to clean up after herself...she's taking her sweet time) 
Okay Mei, let's leave all this junk behind and go outside for a walk. (Trying a final route to not give in to depression.)
No! I want to stay here.
Mei, pleeeease.
No mommy, let's make a train.
Mei, you'll get a lollipop when we go out, better yet, we can go to the coffee shop for some warm-hot-chocolate!
She thought for a little while. No. was her firm well thought of reply.

I was quite for about five minutes and then it came out, AHHHHHHHHHHH I screamed at the top of my lungs.
Mei looked at me perplexed and then she said: Mommy is this a game... A screaming game?
Yes! It's a contest Mei, of who can scream the loudest! Ready... AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! We both yelled together, then Grabby came closer to where we stood and gave her strongest squeal yet.

Our screams were replaced with loud laughter.. and then a miracle happened. Mei started picking up her blocks... all one hundred of them.

It pays off sometimes, you know being mad n all!

Peace.

No Complaints...

Today is a good day, for I have successfully managed to transfer my photos from one device to the next without loosing any toe or bathroom tile in the process.

And you really can't go wrong when at sun down your kitchen window looks like this:

(disregard the random items scattered on the floor, and if you're wondering about our dinner table chairs...

 

mystery solved, they were turned into a train of course!)

 

It is also a good day because Grabby said "snow"today-- and she says it exactly like that, without any mispronunciation or anything.

And because of her

 

And him...

Here's another Happy-Inducing-Link. That's it... no complaints...

Have a good one!

Peace.

Deleted Bench and links

I was just going to log on, give you a very late, yet silly Bench Monday which entailed a puppet camel and a thrifted chest, but I indeed have bad Camera mojo these days. I some how managed to erase all of today's captures... go me!

So instead you get links:

Her niece could really use some help.

I am considering getting this for Mei in yellow (her favorite color).

They have giant sale at urban outfitters, hop over there quick!

I had no idea that new bowls are a mood changer. Feeling restless towards the end of the season... treat yourself to some bowls!

Spring cleaning on my mind. (inspired by her, also check out her links)

What an awesome pattern!

I am all about solid scarves these days (they go with everything and are simple and straight to the point) I found some reasonably priced over there.

We are currently into this show. It's really interesting once you pass the first episode.

Anything you guys care to share?

Peace.