the working poor

I have been wanting to read this book for a few months and finally have borrowed it from my brother. It is definitely worth reading for insight on what it's like to be poor in the U.S. today. I'm not even halfway through but one interesting common theme throughout all the stories is that none of the workers portrayed in the book have time/energy to cook their own food. I never really thought about how the ability to cook our meals at home is a luxury - we are used to thinking the opposite. It is far more economical and nutritious than eating out (at most restaurants).

baked ziti

[photo courtesy www.allrecipes.com.] I made this recipe for baked ziti last night. It is hard to mess up, which is why I like it so much. Other pros: you can make it meatless, it freezes and thaws well, you can put it in two 8x8 pans instead of a 9x13 and freeze one, and it's less time consuming than a lasagna.

bonnie

This is my dear and lovely friend Bonnie. We have been friends since freshman year at Miami University (so...13 years??), when we would share clothes, eat in the dining hall together at almost every meal, and listen to Rusted Root. :) She just moved to Savannah after living in NYC, Baltimore, and Colorado. She has her MFA in poetry and is going to be teaching at Armstrong Atlantic State University. I am so excited to have her in the southeast!!

laundry room reorg

I have never been a good housekeeper. But I always feel better when I muster up the motivation to organize a part of the house. This, I'm sorry to say, is what my laundry room looked like until about a month ago:
And after a few trips to Lowe's I have a still-unglamorous but much more efficient room. Ahh...feels much better.

first steps

Meg took her first steps last night (multiple times)! She was walking between us on the floor chasing after her very favorite toy, the spare house key. She is such a sweet baby. I kiss her about 100 times a day and will continue to do so until it's no longer appropriate.

lake ella

On Wednesday afternoons I like to go to Lake Ella with Meg. There is a farmers' market and I'm pretty sure all the produce is organically grown. After the farmers' market, I take Meg around the lake a few times in the stroller. I love that all types of people (and animals too, for that matter) congregate there. [photo courtesy http://farm1.static.flickr.com.]

asian chicken salad

This recipe for asian chicken salad is a dinner staple at my SIL Katheryne's house and is quickly spreading through the extended family and becoming a staple in our houses, too. It is SO good and you can put your own spin on it by adding or omitting toppings. I'm having people over for dinner this weekend and I will make this since the weather is so hot.