“how to cut celery”

Wherein, as a bonus, I showcase some of the yummy stuff I’ve cooked so far this year.

When I first got married, I was extremely unconfident in the kitchen. I don’t say incompetent, because given a decent recipe and enough space and time, I could make good food. However, I was nervous about every step, so I read each one at least twice, worked painfully slowly and only by the book, and I could not handle the imagined pressure and judgment of another person observing me while I tried to cook.

The first time I cooked dinner for Justin, early in our dating, I may have yelled at him to get out of the kitchen….

Charity Reset by Vomit

I got an unexpected “blessing in disguise” this week: My two preschoolers had a stomach bug. And Justin went out of town for work before it was over. Stay with me. I know it sounds awful. And….it was….but….it was also a good Reset for me.

Lately, I have found myself being a “hurry up and do what I said” mom more often than I’d like to admit. I said to do X, so do it right now. Don’t finish your picture first. Don’t get a book to bring with you. Just do it. 1….2….3….4….

*sigh*

That’s not really the kind of mom I want to be….

I didn’t get a picture.

I picked out a darling, bejeweled, dark red dress and a sparkly black sweater for her at the second hand store. I convinced her to wear the sash that came with it in her hair like a headband tied with a bow below her ponytail. Her baby sister was in an off-white ruffley dress with tiny blush pink roses sewn (and carefully safety-pinned, one of them) on, also with a matching headband. My dress was black; an off-white shiny scarf as a shawl brought the plain (nursing-friendly) dress up to level with my fanciest pearl earrings…