Summertime and the blogger is lazy

So, it's been almost a month - but what a month. We've celebrated an anniversary, gone to the beach, and taken a very brief and wonderful trip to La Jolla. I'm back! I need to update lots of recipes that I've been trying, as well as post the birth announcements and the baptismal gown...but here's my start. I hope you are all having a FANTASTIC summer!

Things Pregnant People Love When It's Really Hot!

It is still rather disgustingly hot here. And, though today is the "due day" I think Baby Icing is too overcome with heat to even think of coming out until it cools off. So, we are lying low, watching Food Network and doing a little cleaning. I'm scheduled for an induction next Monday if she doesn't come out on her own...but I sure would like her to show up on the early side of that!

This morning an appraiser came over to evaluate our townhouse so that if/when Baby Icing starts getting into trouble with all our wide open spaces and dangerous stairs, we can be ready to put this on the market. I think I'm a little hormonal, because even thinking about moving makes me weepy.

So as not to completely waste the day, I did drag myself back to Trader Joe's for more sorbets and other cool foods. I have to say, I'm in love with Double Rainbow - their chocolate and raspberry sorbets are to die for! TJ's makes a pretty good mango sorbet too. Plus, that parking lot in Westwood is so nice and easy during the week - how could I not take advantage of it.


And, I want to do a plug for the hardest-working maternity dress on the block - my short sleeve black wrap from Isabella Oliver. I don't have a lot of summery maternity stuff, because it generally doesn't get hot around here till later, and often April and May are quite cool and cloudy. That is obviously not the case this week, and this black dress is flattering and cool. I have a black summer dress from Old Navy that literally looks like a hospital gown or a sack, but I won't wear that if people have to see me, because it looks like I'm carrying at least four toddlers!

So, that's all the news from the home front. The cats are camped out on the tile floors downstairs, and I'm looking forward to the heatwave breaking so that I can go out for a little walk or something soon! If you would send "baby hurry up vibes" I certainly would appreciate it - as you can imagine, I'm getting really curious and can't wait to meet her!

Hot Hot Hot

The title is in reference to the weather here - it's going to be in the 90's here on the west side today. :( This is not the temperature of choice for the woman one day before her due date. So, I'm going downstairs to our cool and dark bedroom to spend the rest of the day watching my SATC dvds and drinking ice water. Like a vampire, I won't be venturing out until it's dark. I wonder how dated the first couple seasons are going to look now?

Little Things

I had my 39 week check up today, and Baby Icing is doing quite well, while I'm apparently getting ready for the big arrival, so let's cross our fingers she decides to show up soon!

Then I went to the paradise that is the Westwood Trader Joe's at 10:00 in the morning. It has great parking, wide aisles, and a really great selection. I would think it is horrible on the weekends, but this morning was lovely. Why does TJ's always choose locations in LA with bad parking? The one in Woodland Hills was the only truly large parking lot that I've ever seen!

I had my last eyebrows and related waxing appointment today - my aesthetician had to help me up! At least my eyebrows are ready for some post baby photos. And, tomorrow is my belated cut and color - my hairdresser is making a house call for me! We've been together for 7 years now, and I adore her. My friend M also uses her, and she'll be coming too - which will be super fun. So, I most likely won't have roots in the post-baby photos!

I made N butterscotch pudding (I'll post the recipe and pictures later) that was just so delicious! Now I'm resting on the couch and enjoying the beautiful spring weather through the open windows. Happy Weekend!

Adventures in Santa Monica

I went to the neatest little store today. It's a shop in Santa Monica that sells all imported Italian products. I was able to snag a freshly baked ciabatta, some Italian Nutella (a little more chocolatey than the American variety), a very nicely aged Parmesan for N, some pancetta for both of us (and the cats :), and some pretty pottery. All in all, a fun little adventure.

Baby Icing had a busy day of wiggling around, which I think means that she isn't interested in coming outside because she feels like she has plenty of room in there! I suppose I can't blame her too much. One good back pain trick that has been helping me and that I thought I'd share is bouncing on that silly exercise ball. I try to sit on it for a while during watching TV, and it does make my back feel a little better. All in all, I can't complain much. She'll come out when she is ready...or we'll evict her the week after next!

I tried the "Hearts and Minds" cake from Orangette's book, and I'll post a picture tomorrow. It's the sweetest story that she writes about it. I'm in love with her book! Tomorrow I'm going to try some stuffed shells (I may share a picture of my freezer - it seriously looks like I'm preparing for nuclear winter) and some sort of cookie/brownies to test for the l & d nurses. I also need to finish hanging the photos for Baby's room - one of the cats must have hidden the hammer!

The End of Week 38

I had a wee bit of heartburn last night, and ended up sleeping in until 10:00 today to make up for some middle of the night wakefulness. So, I'm sort of feeling like the cats today. However, despite that minor setback, I did manage to accomplish the following:

1. Buy a futon for our loft/guest sleeping space that appears to be comfy and is queen-sized.
2. Buy an exercise ball and some small free weights for after Baby Icing arrives and I need to start thinking about bathing suits :(
3. Went to the most awesome kitchen/cook's supply store ever. It's called Surfa's and is in Culver City. I think they also have a website. I needed some new cake pans and a jelly roll type pan, and walked out with those, in addition to hazelnut syrup for my coffee, and some delicious chocolate/hazelnut gelato. They have some really interesting kitchen implements - lots of stuff for restaurants, but also lots of stuff for the home cook, and really interesting specialty foods.
4. Generic tidying. I need to drag myself outside for a little walk, but other than that, I'm done.

All in all, fairly productive, and here's hoping I get a good night of sleep tonight!

Odds and Ends

We have a car seat! If you live in California, did you know that the Highway Patrol and local fire stations can provide clinics on safe car seat installation? I think other states provide similar services, so it's worth browsing around the internet. The officer who assisted us said that the vast majority of car seats coming in are not done correctly. So please call and get yours checked on this week! It was a great experience, because we got a one on one instructional session and learned a lot. Thank you CHP! (Below is the intersection of Topanga Canyon and PCH - it was a beautiful day to drive through the canyon and by the ocean!)

Our installation was out in the valley, and I used my time on the other side of the hills to enjoy a beautiful day in the valley. I know that if you don't live here, the San Fernando Valley has kind of a bad reputation, and I want to say that it is not deserved. The valley is a great place to visit with great restaurants and is warm and sunny on days when this side of the hills is foggy and cold. Maybe similar to New York, LA is clogged and traffic-infested, and the Valley is nice and suburban. I went to a lovely and uncrowded Target and Trader Joe's...heaven big parking lots, wide aisles, and a generally more pleasant shopping experience.

I availed myself of these opportunities and stocked up. We now have toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning supplies to get us through a month or so of baby-included chaos (including visits from my mum and N's dad and stepmother and his mum). We also have all sorts of frozen goodies from Trader Joe's and there is a lasagna cooking in the oven. I played around with my mother's recipe, so I'm going to test it, and if it worked, I'll share, otherwise I'll just post her original version (which is awesome).

After exerting myself, I am perched on the couch with my little buddy. Happy Monday, and if you're some place warm, please have a glass of chilled rose or some other summery drink for me.

Weekend Update

Spring has sprung in LA. It was absolutely beautiful this weekend. Honestly, we didn't do all that much, but I did get some nice cleaning done in my home office/aka the loft closet, and washed some more of Baby Icing's clothing. She has lots of clothing for someone with no Social Security number or birth date!

I'm also working on putting together a postpartum transitional wardrobe. In that spirit, here are two machine washable, potentially nursing friendly pieces from C & C California. Check out Bluefly.com for a great selection!

I got the wrap dress in grey, but couldn't find a photo.

Yesterday, we lounged and watched men's basketball, then went to see Duplicity! I LOVED it. Without spoiling any of the plot, there is great dialogue, intrigue and romance. It's the same director as "Michael Clayton" and I love how he gets big law/big corporations. Having worked in that environment, I really appreciate how silly those places can be.

Today I had brunch with another friend M (I seriously need for people to have different initials), and then the combination of sun, pancakes and maple syrup was too much, so I needed to recuperate on the couch for the rest of the day. I did make it off the couch to file away some recipes (I'm still working on the quiche issue) and general office tidying.

I have some exciting news - our car seat is getting installed by a member of the California Highway Patrol. I'm thrilled, and relieved because I was a little worried about doing it correctly! So, as a big thank you, I made the congo bars referenced earlier to bring to him. I'm also looking forward to visiting a Trader Joe's in the valley - the one near my house is literally the seventh circle of Dante's Inferno. Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Day One

Thanks for your sweet comments! I had a lovely day. First things first, I dropped the car off for a much-needed servicing (complete with hearing I need new brakes and new tires) - oh well, better now than later! Then, I went home where my lovely friend J braved cross-town traffic to bring me some sweet books and a beautiful hand knit blanket from her mother.

We had a lovely lunch and tea! Check out Amandine if you're ever on the west side during lunch - their asparagus/potato/pesto quiche is divine. (Why isn't quiche cool - I swear it's one of the tastiest lunches ever!) I'm saving my piece of "Delice de Chocolat" for tomorrow after my check up, but had a bite of hers and it was fantastic!

The UPS man brought me the baby bag above, and I have to say that I love it. It's black nylon, the logo is relatively discreet, and it's the perfect size. Then, I figured out how the car seat adaptor works with my stroller and it was EASY! YAY! I'm working on a brownie post - so stay tuned for my favorites (of those recipes that I've tried so far).

Happy Almost Weekend!

Misc Projects

I had the most wonderful coconut pancakes at brunch today, and a nice visit with one of my friends who is expecting a baby in September. I'm glad to know some other mums, and am glad that Baby Icing will have some friends!

Yesterday I did basically nothing - other than see "I Love You Man" which was really funny. I may take myself to see "Duplicity" next week for a matinee, or go with N next weekend - we're trying to see all the movies we can now. I think I redeemed myself today - I finally got out the work baby shower thank yous, and am doing laundry - all of Baby Icing's little snapsuits and onesies will be nice and clean for her! I wanted to share a couple pictures of the things that I've gotten done (and look for a later post with corn chowder - depending on how it turns out)!

This little bubble is so sweet - it's one of mine and I think it looks good for being 30 years old! I can't wait to dress Baby Icing up - it's going to be a hot summer here, so I want to make sure she stays cool and comfy. Bubbles are nice and light, but they are still a little bit dressier than snapsuits.


Here's the crib with the bedding - TA DA! I'm thrilled with the quality and with how it all looks together...we just need a baby in there (hopefully one who sleeps!)

Here's the stroller that I built- and per MMM's review over on her blog, she has really liked it so far, so I'm thinking that we made the right choice. It has certainly been fun to practice driving it around the condo! (Much to the consternation of my cats).

Speaking of cats, there is fortunately nothing terribly wrong with my little girl cat - she has to go in for some further tests, but it sounds like she may just need to switch diets to avoid getting another bladder problem! Thank goodness. We've been spoiling her with lamb baby food (which is DISGUSTING, but she loves).

Spring is Here?

Monday is over. I found this lovely image of a sunny day on this adorable website - http://www.pugslife.org/ which showcases adorable little pugs.

It was a perfect early spring day here - very windy, but clear and right around 70 degrees. I'm a total slug at work mentally, so I was happy to leave early to go meet with a pediatrician. Hope I don't get in trouble, but I told everyone where I was going - and I feel like at almost 36 weeks I should get kudos for still thinking and showing up in the morning! She was great. Not only is the office walking distance from our place, but they have really nice hours and a great on call policy. The only downer is that she doesn't have privileges at the hospital I'm delivering at, so Baby Icing will be making an early trip out of the house for a visit!

That's one thing down off the list of prenatal projects - hopefully I can get cracking on the remaining ones this week. I can't believe how close we are getting to anticipated arrival - and I surely do hope that Baby Icing is prompt! We have our final ultrasound and 36 week appointment this Friday, and I'm hoping everything looks good.

I'm starting to plan some fun projects/activities for my time off - it starts next week! The first day I'm having lunch with a friend and then going to a lecture about anesthesia (that won't be so fun, but I think it will make me feel better to learn more about pain relief). Then, I've got to get a haircut and color, and maybe a facial - I probably won't have time to do any spa days for the next 18 years! But, I want to make sure that there's lots of time for puttering around the house and general relaxation. What would you do if you had three weeks at home relaxing? Any projects? Any books/DVDs that you would finally watch?

Sweets to the Sweet

What do you bake when you want something really delicious that can be whipped up easily, is portable, and is loved by all? The answer would be blondies/chocolate chip pan cookies/congo bars (which is what my family calls them).

We had dinner at my brother in law's last night, and his girlfriend made delicious short ribs in the slow cooker. (I'm totally buying one, and will practice on it when I'm on leave waiting for Baby Icing). She asked me to bring dessert, and I wanted to share this recipe - not only does it make really pretty toffee colored cookies, but it couldn't be simpler!
It is from the back of the Guittard brand of chocolate chips (but I think it would work well with any brand).

Congo Bars

2/1/4 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 c. butter (I like to use unsalted butter, but I think you could use salted as well - maybe then no added salt?)
3/4 c. granulated sugar
3/4 c. dark brown sugar (packed firmly)
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups (one bag) chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts - I generally leave these out because I never keep them around.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together butter and sugars until light. Add in vanilla and eggs.
2. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture into the butter mixture.
3. Add the chocolate chips. Spread into pre greased 9" x 13" pan (the original recipe calls for a 10" x 15", but I don't have one and this worked out well)
4. Bake for 25 minutes (again, 20-25 if you're using the larger pan). You may need to give these a couple of extra minutes, but they do continue cooking as they sit on the cooling rack.

I'm making them again tonight, because I want to bring them to my office as a thank you for the really adorable shower they threw me today! I got tiny and cute outfits for Baby Icing, and a gift card to Babies R Us that I'm sure is going to come in handy for those last minute necessities!

In other news, we had an absolutely lovely, but tiring weekend. I managed to drag myself out for exercise both days, but my three mile walks are starting to seem like 10 miles. I'm taking it easy, and carry water and a cell phone with me, but I have a really hard time sleeping if I don't get any exercise during the day.

Saturday night, we had dinner at Mastro's - if you go - get the warm spinach salad and the lobster mashed potatoes. We had a lovely time celebrating our friend's birthday, and are so excited to hear that his wife will be having a baby in late September! Honestly, being pregnant has been a bit lonely, because I really only have one friend who has a baby! I'm thrilled, and can't wait to meet their little one, who I am sure will be a very good friend to Baby Icing.

I also managed to make some red lentil soup and some more blueberry muffins for the freezer. Tonight I made another batch of regular lentil soup - I'll post this recipe soon. I'm working on having a decent amount of soups and nutritious meals frozen so that we don't have to eat takeout all the time.

We have friends from college stopping by on Wednesday night which should be fun, and I'm hoping that work stays calm this week because I'm about wiped out by 3:00 p.m. every day! I'm still mulling over potential baby announcements. Only 5 weeks to go starting tomorrow!

Delicious Weekend

This was a wonderful weekend! It really felt like spring here, perfect for my slow "exercise" walks around the neighborhood. I had a lovely brunch at Comme Ca with my dear friend R, and a fabulous pedicure yesterday. Today we completed "Prepared Birth" (Lord help us), and saw Ben Affleck at the drugstore! I cleared out more extra stuff from Baby Icing's room, and now we're enjoying Flight of the Conchords waiting for bolognese sauce to heat up.

Spring weather puts me in the mood for tea and scones. I know most people like scones in the winter, but there's something about sunny, cool spring days that has me thinking of afternoon tea with hot scones, jam and butter. Here is my favorite afternoon tea - delicious!


And, here are my mother's scones. This is the easiest recipe ever, and you can do so many variations. They are tossed together in 15 minutes, baked in 20 - so if you ever visit my mum and give an hour's notice, you will most likely get some of these!

Teatime Scones (I think these were originally published in the Boston Globe)

1 cup buttermilk (or 1/2 cup plain yogurt and 1/2 cup milk)

1 egg

3 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/1 cup melted butter (I don't think it will work as well with margarine)

2 TBS sugar (this is optional, but I like it)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2. Beat together buttermilk, egg, and sugar. Sift the flour and baking powder, soda and salt together in a bowl.

3. Mix 2/3 of the flour mixture into the buttermilk and stir well. Gradually add melted butter to the mix, then add the rest of the flour.

4. Knead dough ( or just use the dough hook on the Kitchen Aide) by hand for about 5 minutes (I think it's about 2 minutes in the Kitchen Aide). Divide into 3 equal parts (4" to 5" in diameter). Pat these parts into circles, and score the top of each circle with a cross (see picture above).

5. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the top is lightly browned.

(These are really delicious hot out of the oven, but they also freeze and reheat well). With jam and butter, they are so good - and easy.

Fail

Today was one of those days. I'm getting the negative all out here -

Somehow the stroller place sent me another identical stroller - now I have to send it back!

In its infinite wisdom, the IRS has contacted me with questions about our 2006 taxes. For the love of God - that is a long time ago!

A woman turned to me in the elevator and said "My goodness, you must be due very soon!" She was a complete and utter stranger. I smiled and said "Yes."

Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday!

Things Pregnant People Like - Warm Weather Edition

This weekend I had a brief taste of being quite pregnant when it is warm out. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan. It was only about 75 here on the west side, but that's warm enough for me - when I am carrying around what looks like a watermelon!

I did manage to get out and go for a walk yesterday - and am pleased to report back on a super high powered sunscreen for us vampires who are paranoid about sun damage. I know that hats are the best protection, but sometimes you don't feel like one, and this Neutrogena sunscreen goes on with a dry touch, and gives great protection. I highly recommend. I'll need to throw some in the car for this summer!
I had brunch with two very dear friends here - Literati at the corner of Wilshire and Bundy. May I suggest the chocolate chip pancakes? They are enormous and delicious. I was healthy and chose the oatmeal - also because I didn't have Tums with me, but when I go back next time...chocolate chip pancakes all the way! They also make a mean breakfast burrito - again, when the heartburn goes away, I can't wait to go back. It's also a short walk from my house - so good eats!

How cute are these dresses for Mum and baby? They are Lilly (natch)! Since I'm very superstitious, my big shower by my friends will be held after she arrives (safely, God willing). I don't know if I'll be in shape to wear something like this, but Baby could certainly pull off the little number, don't you agree? Also, how cute would these be for a mum/grandmum/baby photo shoot on the beach this summer? I'm still looking for a good LA baby photog - suggestions greatly appreciated.

I want to pass along the recipe below. It's for red lentil soup with lemon from the New York Times. It is beyond fantastic and incredibly easy. Please give it a shot- nutritious, easy and delicious!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/dining/091arex.html

In baby news, our prenatal class took a tour of the labor and delivery ward, as well as the postpartum recovery and the nursery. It really eases your mind just knowing where to go...not to mention we got to see some cute little ones in the nursery (they look like little burritos when they are all bundled up!)

Look for a post on potential shower hostess gifts coming soon - I've got to start working on those!

Persnickety

I heart Amy Adams. I think she's an incredibly talented actress, and I loved her outfit. Some might say a big necklace is too much, but I thought she looked marvelous!

I also loved Natalie Portman - that color is lovely. There were other looks that I liked, but these two were some of my favorites. I cannot stand Angelina Jolie, but she did look lovely, so I won't comment on her - let's just leave it that I am on team Aniston.

Oh, and the stroller is ordered. Dark grey Bugaboo Chameleon with pink canvas. I'll be sure to post pictures of it and write a review in terms of how hard it is to put together.

In other news, my office is throwing me a little shower. I'm sort of superstitious, but it is such a sweet gesture! I've got right around 6 weeks left of work, and I can't believe the time has flown so quickly. In California, you are considered disabled from 36 weeks through your delivery (and a little afterwards), so your short term disability insurance covers you. I have my 32 week checkup on Friday, but I'm not sure if this is one where anything exciting happens, or if it's just a normal one.

And the Oscar Goes to....Nutella Brownies

What a weekend! We had a lovely dinner at Madeo with friends on Friday night - and it was star studded. We arrived at the same time as Helena Christiansen, ate across from Brooke Burke and her husband, and saw McSteamy. Not to mention, their pizza covered with proscuitto and rigatoni with eggplant and mozzarella were divine. So was the chocolate mousse. We'll be back!

Yesterday was nice and lazy. I had my Junior League project in the morning, then had lunch with Mr. Icing and watched Definitely Maybe (watch it - you'll like it - it's a little bittersweet but very cute. After yoga, we ordered Chinese for dinner, and watched Pineapple Express. (I should clarify, I do yoga- Mr. Icing plays basketball and is not really a yoga sort of person). :)

Today was more fun at Prepared Childbirth. Next week is the good week where we take the nursery tour and learn about the epidural. This week was a very non-gory video (really, it was 10 minutes and not graphic at all - thank God), and learning about positions that can be comfortable. (Emphasis on "can")! After fighting the pre-Oscar hordes at the grocery store, we're home with a roasting chicken, sleeping kitties and good t.v.

But, I did make Nutella brownies yesterday. And, I want to share them with you, because if you like Nutella, you will LOVE these brownies. Unlike the spread, you can make these and freeze individual portions - to ensure that you ALWAYS have some. (I'm fanatical about always having some sort of brownie frozen for easy desserts at the last minute). Plus, that way, I don't eat as many of them!

So, promise me you'll consider making these? They are so easy and delicious!

Gianduia Brownies (from Gourmet Magazine)

1/1/4 c. hazelnuts toasted, skinned and ground (I toast by putting in oven safe pan in 350 degree oven until they smell toasty and delicious. To skin, I put them in a clean tea towel and rub them - the skins mostly come off in the towel - then pulse a couple times in the food processor).
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate
3 oz. semi sweet chocolate (I think you can use chocolate bits)
1 stick butter (the recipe suggested unsalted, but I used salted)
1/4 c. Nutella
1/2 c. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. sugar
2 large eggs

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter/flour 9" square pan.
2. Toast and skin hazelnuts then pulse in processor or chop with knife until coarsley ground.
3. Melt chocolate, Nutella and butter in double boiler or microwave until smooth. You may need to stir this a little bit.
4. While melting chocolate, sift together flour and baking powder (if you used unsalted butter, I would think a pinch of salt would be good here too).
5. Whisk sugar into chocolate/Nutella mixture until combined well. Add eggs, whisking again till mixture is smooth. Stir in flour and hazelnuts until just combined.
6. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in the middle of the oven. Gourmet says 35-45 minutes, but I baked mine for 30 and actually checked them at 25 - I really prefer brownies that aren't too dried out. I think 45 minutes would be too much, but it might depend on your oven. Let the brownies cool in the pan.

Here's what the final product looked like - and I can't tell you how good they were! I enjoyed mine warm - but I had another bite today cold - and even frozen, these are really delicious.

I hope your weekends were lovely, and if you're watching the Oscars, whose dress do you like best so far? I'm taking a 30 minute break for "Flight of the Conchords," but will be back to the Oscars soon.

Weekend Wrap Up

This cold has settled in for the long haul. It's Sunday afternoon, and I still feel terrible. So, I didn't get a whole lot done this weekend. I have some files to review for work, and Mr. Icing has agreed to do the grocery shopping. I can hopefully pull it together to make dinner - a roasted chicken.

So, here are some pictures of what went on this weekend: THAI food. I can't recommend enough ordering some of this spicy coconut soup next time you have a a cold - it's called Tom Ka Kai, and it's sweet, spicy and delicious. It has chicken, ginger, scallions, and all sorts of delicious spices. MMMMM! I'm having it as lunch again today!

Pots and pots of hot tea! I don't know if it's curing me, but I am feeling a little better!

After a few hiccups, the first installment of furniture has arrived. I was a little peeved, because the delivery window provided was from 10-12 - so Mr. Icing skipped basketball, while I went to my Junior League project. I raced home early, so he could get out, only to get a call that the delivery would be running late and would be most likely around 4:00. ARRRGH! But, I was blown away by how nice and helpful the delivery people were. The installation was great - complete with a practice session for us on how to use the crib! (The rest of the room is a DISASTER.) Here is a good photo of big kitty meeting the new furniture. He doesn't know what sort of change is coming!

Last night was a wonderful Italian dinner at Locanda Veneta http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=4785 (conveniently right across the street from my doctor's office and the rest of the Cedars complex...I wonder if they do takeout to the labor and delivery ward at Cedars?). If I'm not sick, their fettuccine with black truffles is fantastic, but it's a little too creamy these days. I had a yellow tomato soup, followed by rigatoni alla nonna (tomatoes, eggplant and smoked mozzarella), and we shared dessert - a nutella crepe. It was fun to catch up with my brother in law and his girlfriend - I can't wait for Baby Icing to meet her uncle and aunt! (And we saw James Cromwell - always a plus - it's up there with my Tom Brokaw sighting for highlights of the year)!

All in all a good weekend...now I just need to get this cold away!

Weekend Wrap Up

First off, a big thank you to Mrs. Preppy and Jessica for emailing me recipes! I was a little tired on Sunday, so I ended up being lazy and just going with pizza and wings with cupcakes, but since I have the fixings, look for posts on artichoke spinach dip and blue cheese biscuits! The red velvet cupcakes were a big hit, and between 20 people, we ate 6 large pizzas and almost 100 wings!

My Junior League project went well, although we have a couple of really high energy kids this semester. Plus, I had forgotten how hard it is to start those woven "god's eye" projects...and I had to make a lot of them. I came home wiped out, but happy to discover that the guest bed had disappeared and the Salvation Army picked up an old TV and nightstand. I'll start taking nursery pictures soon...it's very much a work in progress, but we are getting the furniture delivered this Saturday.

We had great turnout on Sunday, and even though I was tired at the end of the night, it was well worth it! It may be our last before Baby Icing arrives, so I'm glad it went well!

Super Bowl - Super Fun

So, Mr. Icing is into technology. We own two ridiculously large televisions (one of which is hanging from our bedroom wall). So, that coupled with his love of football makes us a natural site for the Superbowl party. As you can imagine, it tends to be more popular among his friends than among mine!

This year, I'm particularly happy, because it's probably going to be our last party before Baby Icing arrives. And, it is an easy party to throw. We order lots of pizza and wings, I get together some veggies, dips, baked brie, etc. for the ladies and sodas/beer. Neither Mr. Icing nor I actually drink beer (obviously not now, but I just haven't liked it since college). This year, we are sending everyone home WITH beer :) Happiness all around.

But, my question for you all is - what sorts of dip? I like hummus and guacamole, but I'd love a good recipe for artichoke dip. Also, I've ordered red velvet cupcakes, but want an alternative. Which would you prefer - brownies or chocolate chip cookies? Decisions decisions. But, that's what happens when your team isn't playing...and I'm totally neutral between Pittsburgh and Arizona.

Happy Superbowl