Simple Joys | Bubbles

Bubbles are magic.

And there is something worth pondering that a few pennies worth of soap can create little fragile rainbow spheres that float.

A few years ago, I bought a pretty little glass jar for my back porch that I keep stocked with bubbles. A couple of wands with welded-copper circles sit beside it so that this magic can break out any time.

I highly recommend the practice.

Calling the Lurkers to Come Out and Play!

Okay so we're halfway through the year, and I bet you weren't expecting this. Soooooo....lurkers....How are you doing on your year's theme?

To recap, this is what you said back the first week of January:

David-the-Artist-Pastor said....Otro dia, otra aventura!
Big Tea said......Wubbba, Wubba, wub. Do Wop a do.
Happy said.....confidence.
Ashley said....hope.
Nancy-the-Insightful said....Trend and Fit.
Shannon-of-the-Six said....Follow Through
Robin-the-Artist said......Consistency
Floyd-the-Sidekick said....Onward, with feeling

Mine was "believe" and I thought it was fun that I found the whole word sitting staring at me in a store one day a few months ago. (I spraypainted it black and put it on my mantel. It was a funky moss color.) And oddly enough, the theme has played out in my life and thoughts. It has definitely been a year of challenging my beliefs and spending time in examining what I truly believe in.

So...those of you lurkers who played at the first of the year, chime in with an update. And, if the idea is new to you, start now and let us know. There is nothing more magical about January than July.

Simple Vegan | Greek Potato Salad

One of the things I've missed since giving up dairy is potato salad. I was pretty excited when VegNews posted this one on their website. I made a minor adjustment in leaving out the spinach. The results are surprisingly tasty, and best of all it was the perfect thing for me to take to Crosspointe's old fashioned church picnic.

Greek Potato Salad
1-1/2 pounds new, fingerling, or red potatoes
1/4 t salt
1/4 cup fresh basil, julienned
3/4 cup marinated artichokes, chopped
2/3 cup red peppers, finely chopped
1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives, chopped
1/8 cup pine nuts, toasted

For the vinaigrette
2-1/2 T red wine vinegar
1 t Dijon mustard
1-1/2 t agave nectar
1/2 t salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/8 cup pine nuts, toasted


1. In a large pot of water, add potatoes and salt. Bring to boil, then lower heat and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender when pierced. Drain potatoes.
2. Using an immersion blender in a small bowl, blend vinaigrette ingredients.
3. While potatoes are still warm, cut in halves or quarters. In a large bowl, toss gently with vinaigrette. Add remaining ingredients and mix. Serve warm or chilled.

Mmmmm....I will definitely be making this one again. A new summer staple.

When opportunity strikes...

I've been carrying a harmonica in my purse for the past six months. When asked why, I always give the same answer...because someday, I'll run into someone who can show me how to play it.

As it turns out. Today was that day.

Carl-the-Famous-Theologian and Sunny-the-City-Girl just introduced me to Martin-the-Blues-Harpist. Okay, so that isn't his official title. He is actually the vice president of a Christian organization and I believe he is also a chemical engineer, but any professional accomplishment pales in comparison to the fact that he comes from the land where harmonicas are made--and he can actually play one.

Today, I commandeered him away from the church picnic to give me a lesson. And he was kind enough to help me make the leap from the discs I've been listening to to actual personal instruction.

This evening, John and I invited him back to our house for dinner, and the five of us (Carl and Sunny) shared Fourth of July fare, beers and interesting conversation.

I love serendipity.

Kaboomtown

A great benefit to working at AD is that Addison--where our offices are located--is the home to one of the best fireworks shows in the nation. Kaboomtown is rated one of the top places to watch fireworks in the country by the American Pyrotechnics Association, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

Each year, all of the families in our company get together for a catered dinner, then pull up lawn chairs at the hangar and watch the airshow. When it gets dark, the fireworks begin.

This year--because it was a Friday night, we skipped the catered dinner and went for something a bit simpler so our whole team would actually get the day off. I made bentos for John, Beth and I. (John's is shown. I had a vegan version.)

During the show, Bethany leaned over and said. "We are fireworks spoiled."

Yep.

Definitely.

An evening of softball

Since I have the day off tomorrow, I got to go see the Knights play tonight. So, armed with a bottle of all natural mosquito repellent and some sunscreen, John and I loaded up and went to Grapevine. It was an awesome game. The Knights got a zillion runs and creamed the other team.

Of course one of my favorite parts was that Kacie is back in town. She and Will are hanging out in Texas for the summer before his next movie begins. (Will is an effects wizard.) Kacie caught me up on the drama of their landlord who decided she no longer owned the house they were renting and blew off the foreclosure notices. She also caught me up on beach life and the joys of the dog beach--where the canine members of their family get to play in the surf. However, best of all, she and I did some surfing of our own (iPhone) so that I can find a bike like hers. (Very fun.)

Before the game, John worked on his hitting with his new invention--which is actually pretty cool. He's been working on adjusting his swing, and as it turns out, this contraption made of PVC pipe has been helping.

Afterwards, we all headed to Buffalo Wild Wings where Steve C. regaled us with his Cicada story. (Steve is the very best storyteller....Really.)

It was a great night. I love holidays.

Simple Vegan | Spicy Cold Soba Bento

I discovered Bentos through blogger, Biggie's Lunch in a Box and started packing my own. Not too long after I found her blog, I went out and purchased this three-tiered lunch box at my local Asian grocery store. Most days I pack breakfast in the top and lunch in the lower two tiers.

This time I pulled out a recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks, Marilu Henner's Healthy Life Kitchen. I discovered Marilu back in 2000 and actually followed all of the steps to her Total Health Makeover. (For a long time, my son, Chase called her "the woman who destroyed his life." He was referring to me throwing out all the dairy, sugar and junk food.)

This is a variation of the Spicy Cold Soba Noodles recipe from page 257.I've adjusted some of the amounts to make it more to my taste.

1/3 c soy sauce
1 T molassaes
2 T sesame oil
1/4 c tahini
2t chili oil (or a squirt of sriacha)
2 T balsamic or red wine vinegar
1/2 bunch scallions thinly sliced

1/2 lb soba noodles (Japanese buckwheat noodles)

Start water boiling for the soba noodles. They cook really fast (5 min) so you don't want to throw them in until the sauce is almost ready.

I heat the soy sauce in a pan then throw everything else in and stir with a wisk. (There are much more proper directions in Marilu's cookbook.)

Once the soba noodles are done you rinse them in a collander with cold water. Then mix it all together and voila.

The best part is they taste better cold the next day so they are perfect for Bento. In case you are wondering, the other container has matchstick carrots, edamame, cherries and a container with sriacha--in case it wasn't quite spicy enough.