What's Cookin'

Someone's in the kitchen...

I used up the last of the season’s basil making pecan pesto.  I’m not thrilled with the result.  It takes a little ‘grassy’ to me.  I’m bummed that I used all of it in the experiment.  I’m going to try to transplant 1 of the plants in a pot and keep it indoors and hopefully have basil throughout the winter. 

I also made pumpkin spice vodka. I have 3 recipes. The first one turned out really good but it was very sweet (using Torani Pumpkin Pie syrup). The second recipe using pumpkin puree is getting sassy in the fridge. Depending on the flavor of that one, I may try a 3rd recipe that uses real pumpkin. Every fall I try my hand at recipes I’ve never made before. I’d like to do a Greek smorgasbord (dolmas, spanakopita, falafel). I can’t think of anything I’ve never made but have always wanted to…suggestions?

Birthday Party Debrief

The girls’ birthday party was a huge success/absolute disaster! I closed my eyes Saturday night pondering the many lessons learned. The 1 day of the year that it rained – really rained (3.5 inches) – was the 1 day we had an outdoor party planned. The skies were gray all day but the kiddos got an hour of play time at Kiddie Acres before the downpour began. Unfortunately, it began as most of us were on the kiddie train – screaming ensued. Everyone made a mad dash for their cars with promises of “we’ll be at the BBQ, we just need to change into dry clothes”. We have truly committed friends because they all showed up dry and fresh and the 2nd portion of the party started. By the time we got everything underway though, it was 6:30 and after eating, cake, gifts it was after 8p (the girls’ bedtime) and they were slowly melting down. We rushed upstairs to put them to bed and our dear friends skedaddled.


Lessons learned: 2 locations, never again; starting at 4p or after, way too late.

Our party guests were very generous with their Princess gifts and the girls’ have loved every minute of playing with their new things. Thank you so much everyone!

Now, this week, we have 1st day of school and actual 3rd birthdays. Mommy & Daddy are taking the day off work tomorrow to take the girls’ to school. I will spend a few hours writing the girls’ birthday letters, crying, shopping for treats or prizes (whatever kiddos can take to school these days to celebrate birthdays), crying, lunching with B then picking the girls up early. What nonfood treats do you take to school for birthday celebrations these days?

I'm Back!

Hi, it's me!

It's been a year and a half since my last confession...I've been thinking about trying my hand at blogging again for no reason other than I enjoy writing and that blasted Facebook Status Box only accepts so many characters.  I tried to come up with a witty name for my new blog but Live, Laugh, Love was already taken and Eat, Drink and Be Married isn't really inclusive of family, so here you have it, the new & improved, Double Tower Trouble.  Double refers to the Twinks, Tower refers to the whole fam and Trouble refers to Monday-Sunday sun-up to sundown.

Here’s what’s on my mind today:


I am usually very organized and a major planner yet lately, I constantly feel like I am forgetting something. The Twincesses 3rd birthday is next week and we’re hosting their party on Saturday. We’re doing the Kiddie Acres party then back to the house for a BBQ.  Maybe it is the dual locations that are throwing me off.  I have made 4 lists and they each have something different on them.  One for what to take to the park, 1 for groceries, 1 for entertainment and 1 to list my lists. Seriously…must chill.

The family members and friends coming to the party(ies) do not care if I remember the hand sanitizer or wet wipes. They couldn’t care less if I have 4 flavors of soda or if the ground turkey is 85/15 or 93/7. They are coming to celebrate the glorious occasion of the Twinks’ 3rd birthdays and witness the first trike rides. They are just happy to be included.

April 30, 2010 - Too Busy to Blog

It has been so long since I blogged about the girls. I'm embarrassed. But, I have been journaling about their development and discoveries.

The twincesses are officially toddlers! It breaks my heart but, at 18 months, they aren't babies anymore. They have personalities, opinions and tantrums! They have their 18 month check up next week. I'm guessing they are around 25 lbs. Some 12 month clothing still fits, some 18 month clothing is still too big.

The bo peeps eat big people food and let me know when they want a "nack" (snack). What is it about Goldfish crackers? The like to carry their nacks in their denim purses they painted with Grammie. Neither girls are fans of cheese (are they really my children?) but love all fruits and veggies. Berries don't stand a change in our house - they go by pints at a time. Ari eats tomatoes like apples.

The twinadoes are very active. The love their Saturday morning "Birds" class at The Little Gym. They play with bells and balls, walk on the balance beam, hang on the parallel bars, do somersaults on the mats and play their drums to the bye-bye song. The class has really been great for both of them. Jensen is much more out going and freely goes to Miss Leah's to display the skill of the week to the rest of the class. Both are very independent and wander off to other sides of the gym to do their own thing. We've been going to the park weekly and they love the slide. Jensen has taken off on her own. Why do all kids want to climb back up the slide? We have been going to Waterloo for dinner on Friday nights because they have a playground outside - Bryan and I can have a cocktail and the girls can go crazy.

The dancing queens love to dance! It is adorable to watch them dance along with the Hot Dog Dance (Mickey's Playhouse) and Imagination Movers theme song. We have dance party Friday nights and mommy teaches them the only moves she knows (circa 1990s - live on running man!).

The chatterboxes are starting to talk. Ari says "pow pow" (powder) and "pop k" (popsickle); Jensen says "le-yow" (yellow) and "go dog go". They both say "star", "no no no" (while wagging their finger at Randall), bark, growl, meow and quack.

What can I say - we have a blast!

Year End Review - November 10, 2009

Now that Jensen and Ariana are a year old, I’m looking back on the first year of their lives and reflecting on our experiences. I very vividly remember the day we welcomed them into the world. I remember seeing a red fox cross our path on Brushy Creek Road on the way to the hospital. I remember a whammy of a contraction while sitting at the light on Parmer & 1431 and I remember the pain in my shoulder during my c-section.

The girls are both 20 lbs so I can barely remember how tiny they were when we brought them home. When I see newborns or even newborn clothing I think “we’re they ever that small?” The first 6 weeks were tough. We had no idea what we were doing! The next 6 were a little easier. The next 6 even easier. It is so amazing to watch them explore and discover the world around them. Both girls have mouths full of teeth, are good little eaters (they LOVE bagels and bananas!), have started walking with the help of their stroller, kiss each other and laugh, high five (or, what we call “wonder twin powers activate”).

Bryan and I have the great fortune of having my mom live less than 10 minutes away and she offers us date night occasionally. We admit we must get better at going on dates. We run out to dinner or go to a movie but are always home within a couple hours.

Being a mom is amazing and I couldn’t be happier. This year has been crazy fun! WHAT. A. RIDE.