Lunchtime favorites

One of the perks to living across the street from Didz's business school is that he gets to come home for lunch every day. With his crazy schedule, and the loads of work he has, it's nice that he gets to come home for a midday break and a healthy meal. Here's a taste of what's for lunch this week....

Other lunchtime favorites include: grilled cheese sandwiches (I could eat them every day), leftovers from last night's dinner, and going down to the cafe around the corner for soup... 

Do you have any lunchtime favorites I should try?

Bits of the Weekend

It's starting to feel like spring around here - which made for a very nice little weekend. Didz had some studying to do (as always), but we found time to take a walk, do some grocery shopping, eat pastries, meet a friend for a drink, bake cookies, read (I started The Paris Wife and am convinced I belong in 1920s Paris), and relax.

blue sky! yay! 

bizarre belgian mystery veggies 

quiche - fresh out of the oven

out for a stroll

cookie craving = satisfied

Last night, Didz reminded me that today marks 6 months of bliss as husband and wife... by far, the best 6 months of my life. Can't wait for the next 49.5* years together, darling. 

*at our wedding our priest, Tevas Saulaitis, told us we're allowed to call it quits after 50 years :)

Sweet Potato Patties

I've been on a bit of a sweet potato kick recently - which is odd since I've never been particularly fond of them (though, that said, I've been caught stealing sweet potato fries off Didz's plate once or twice). These sweet potato patties that I made the other night were delicious and filling! They'd make a great veggie burger substitute, but we ate them bun-less with a side of brussel sprouts. Next time, I think I'd make them much smaller, like little medallions, instead of burger sized.

Sweet Potato Patties:

3 medium sized sweet potatoes
1 can white beans, rinsed and drained
2 tbsp honey
1/4 cup flour
salt
pepper
I added a few dashes of cayenne, too
bread crumbs

Wash, peel and quarter sweet potatoes - sprinkle with salt, pepper and olive oil and roast for about 40 minutes. Remove from oven and place in medium sized mixing bowl, add beans and mash together until smooth (it may or may not resemble baby diarrhea at this point... yuck! sorry!). Add honey, flour, salt pepper and cayenne and mash until combined. Form into patties, generously cover in bread crumbs and pan fry until golden brown.

Enjoy! And have a wonderful weekend!

Afternoon Tea

It's always a pleasure when Anna comes to visit from Cologne. While our boys are working hard at school we meet up for a glass of wine, or a coffee, and spend hours chatting away. Yesterday I took her to one of my favorite little cafes. Tucked away off the main street, I like to pretend it's my hidden little secret (despite the fact that it's always bustling and busy).

It's quirky and colorful and it's the perfect spot to sit with a friend for hours, undisturbed, talking about life, future plans, goals, dreams, restaurants, tv shows..... anything and everything, while sipping a hot cup of tea or coffee (or beer, like the group of adorable old men at the table next to us).

It was such a delightful afternoon... See you in a few weeks, Anna!


(....and a super wonderful happy birthday to my darling girls mia and mollie.... love you so much... i'm celebrating with you in spirit today! xoxoxo)

Sunday Stroll

Sometimes, when life gets a little overwhelming, a quiet walk to the bakery on a Sunday morning is all you need...

... and then with a clear mind, and a belly full of pastries, you can take on the day. 

Postcard Love

postcards at each table

postcard collection box

At our wedding, we didn't have a guestbook. Instead, we asked our guests to write their well-wishes to us on postcards collected by close friends from the cities we love (LA, SF, TO, NYC...). Some of them have wise advice for a successful marriage written on them, some have heartfelt congratulations, and some of them are drunken nonsense... but all of them are awesome and make me smile.

A sampling of them hangs above our couch as a constant reminder of home, and all the people we love. It makes us feel connected even though we're so far away.

Happy Valentine's Day!

What are you doing for Valentine's Day? Do you have plans with your sweetheart? Having drinks with your girlfriends? Binging on chocolate and watching sappy romance movies? We don't make too much of a fuss for Valentine's Day (although Didz did surprise me with a bouquet of red roses at lunch). Tonight we'll make dinner and curl up and watch a movie.... and maybe have a glass of wine and eat some chocolate.

my beautiful roses from Didz

Hope your day is filled with love and sweet treats! xoxo

(and a very, very, very Happy Birthday to Sigita!! myliu myliu!)