Lists

Things I Am Doing This Weekend:
1. Exercising (too many office lunches this week)
2. Drinking a cocktail or two (to balance out the exercising)
3. Celebrating two wonderful mothers in my life (where would we be without them?)
4. Celebrating my father-in-law's birthday (i adore him)
5. Thinking, over-thinking, and thinking some more about my (our) next steps in life (lately it seems like all i do)
6. Planning something fun (a camping trip, a summer party, a themed dinner...anything!)
7. Snuggling (with my main squeeze.  literally.  i squeeze him so hard that i occasionally hear a pop.)
8. Drinking my favorite coffee (waking up san diego since 1968)
9. Soaking up the sunshine (or any fresh air for that matter)
10. Giving the apartment a scrub-down (love me some clean sheets, sparkly floors and toothpaste-gooey-free-countertops)

Things I Am Not Doing This Weekend:
1. Working (enough said)

Trying to Make Sense of the Non-Sensical

Call me naive, but in our country's jubilant reactions to the announcement of Osama Bin Laden's death, are we not made more and more evil like the hatred we've fought so hard to eliminate?  I believe in justice, and I believe that this atrocious leader was brought to justice.  But parties, riots and dancing in the streets?  This isn't the end of terror and it most certainly isn't the end of bigotry in our world.  Let's focus our energy on the servicemen and women who responded to the call of duty, and recall this timeless and most appropriate commentary for Martin Luther King, Jr:

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate, adding deeper darkness to a night that is already void of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. -MLK



Passover on Piedmont

A few weeks ago as I stood over a pot of chopped parsley and Carciofi at a Passover cooking class, a crazy little idea popped in to my mind. "I can do this," I thought. "I can totally do this."  I ran over to my mom and begged for her help to make it happen.  I texted my mother-in-law to tell her the news.
Fast forward three weeks and here we are hosting the very first annual Double T Degnan Passover Seder! Yes, I just crowned it that. I hope that doesn't commit us to a lifelong tradition of hosting seders, but I think I could do it again as long as there are no more oven fires, no more lost potatoes in the bottom of the oven and no more burnt macaroons!

It was a night to remember and a fun first milestone for us and our itty bitty kitchen:

Adding charoset to the seder plate...

Our awesome table!

When your family lives 10 bajillion miles away, you celebrate Passover together via Skype...

Where the magic happens

Happy in-laws!

KFP birthday cake for Amy

Elijah's Cup

Our friends and family spoiled us with beautiful flowers everywhere!

Brand New Day



sunrise from my london apartment, 2004

some kind of magic

happens late at night
when the moon smiles down on me
and bathes me in its light 

i fell asleep beneath you
in the tall blades of grass
when i woke the world was new
i never had to ask

it's a brand new day
the sun is shining... -joshua radin



I believe.

Today, I believe in this:

I truly believe that love is what makes the world go 'round.  Love for your family, love for your friends, love for your hobbies, love for your past and love for your future.  I believe in destiny, but it doesn't mean you should cease control of your own path.  I believe in children and cheesy motivational quotes, because both have the power to inspire change.  I do believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls, and in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong.  I believe that homemade is better than store-bought anything.  I believe in being kind to strangers (for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle...)  I believe that life is big.  Scratch that.  Life is huge, and we are so, so small.  I believe that bad things happen to good people for reasons we will never know.  I believe in the power of prayer, if for nothing else than to clear our minds and focus our energies on what truly matters.  I believe that blogging has changed our whole world by connecting people who would have never found each other otherwise.  I believe that if you love someone, you should hurry up and show it (A six year old said that.)  I believe that the best place on earth can be anywhere at any time.  In a tent, in a stadium, in Rome, or in the arms of your other half.  I believe that we should fill each day with all the joy our hearts can muster.  I believe in celebrating the simplest of things.  I believe in soy lattes, spontaneous dance parties in the kitchen, and the five love languages.   

I believe in so. many. things.  What do you believe in? 

I Haz Bro-in-Law

me:  raaar
i'm staring at a blog that needs updating
i'm in a write-sy mood
whattttttttt should i write about
Jamie:  probably me
and how awesome i am
write about this weekend, going to do the 5k
and hang with the people
i'm thinking pool party saturday afternoon! yea?
write about that until 1942, we would say the pledge of allegiance while pointing at the flag nazi style
(they stole it from us)
but we totally borrowed the idea from the Romans

Today

honeymooning in capri

Today.
Be the kind of person you want to be around.
Protect the names of others in the same way you would hope that they would protect your own.
Choose only to participate in conversation that uplifts, edifies and makes the world a better place.
Consciously turn down the volume on negative influences in your life. STOP WILLINGLY GIVING THEM POWER OVER YOU.
Focus on ways you can contribute to the wold in lasting and meaningful ways.
Concentrate on your unique gifts and talents and how you can use them to make real waves for good.
Forgive with your whole heart, even as you would seek forgiveness for your own mistakes. You need never be poisoned by the feelings of hate and revenge that come from an unforgiving heart and mind.
Love. Love yourself. Love others. Completely and without ulterior motive, fear or judgment.
Today.
-Natalie Norton