Monthly Medley: January 2017

Writing
With the exception of maintaining the blog, I wrote absolutely nothing but Variety Show line-ups and stage crew notes throughout the entire month of January. (More on the Variety Show in Friday's post!) Now that the curtain has fallen on the 2017 Variety Show, I can spend the month of February settling in at my computer once again. I have a new and exciting project coming up, and I have two pitches to work on as well!

Reading
Is anyone else in a reading rut? A stack of books sits gathering dust on my nightstand, and while I have found each one interesting in one way or another, I have yet to make it past page 40 in any of them.

Watching
We crammed a heck of a lot of movie watching into the first week in January, which was also the last week of winter break.

• The kids and I loved the sweet storyline, relatable characters (they could connect all of the animals with a specific human with similar characteristics, likes, dislikes, and/or talents in their lives), and catchy music in Sing. 
• After introducing Will to the original Ghostbusters in December, we watched the new Ghostbusters with both kids. I'd heard mixed reviews of the film, and while I acknowledge that no remake could ever replace its original, we all enjoyed this version and I appreciated being able to show Hallie a film in which women save the day.
• Tom and I both like heist movies, and we've recently realized that Will shares this interest with us. I suggested we try Now You See Me and Now You See Me 2 (my third or fourth time watching both) and Will absolutely loved them; like a good heist movie, both left him asking questions and eagerly looking forward to a second viewing.
• Tom and I saw Passengers - in our movie theater's brand new luxury seats, none the less - on our anniversary night out. I have long supported any and all Jennifer Lawrence movies, and I felt like both she and Chris Pratt excelled at the difficult job of carrying a movie with few cast members. Most importantly, the writers/directors/producers "tied up" what could have been an open-ended ending; I can't stand it when I leave the movie theater with unknowns hanging over my head.
• More than a year ago I bought an inexpensive copy of Troop Beverly Hills, one of my all-time favorite movies as a tween. I knew Hallie and I would one day watch it together and she would come to adore it as much as I do...that day came and it was as glorious as I had hoped.

Listening To
A few years back I began following a blog called Young House Love. I checked in to read about the husband and wife writing team's adventures in home remodeling, decorating, and design almost every day, so when they decided to take a break from blogging - seemingly out of the blue - I legitimately missed them. But at the beginning of January I discovered they'd returned to blogging...and introduced a podcast to their platform. I have listened to about 12 of their podcasts thus far, and I enjoy their advice, interviews, and banter as much as I enjoyed their blog.

Trying/Using
While working at my desk I often need to check the date and/or day of the week. I could of course pull up the calendar on my computer or phone, but I decided it would be more fun to display a small monthly calendar. Since the New Year had already come and gone I knew I could find one on sale, but everything online - while lovely - still cost more than I was willing to spend. So when I stumbled upon this set of monthly calendar cards at Target...for $1...they went into my cart immediately. I had the black stand already ($5.99 at Hobby Lobby), and when partnered with the cards they make a lovely and functional addition to my desk.

I'm not using it just yet, but I hope to soon use this fabulous wreath. Wouldn't it look beautiful on my bright yellow front door?

We tried out our area's new trampoline park a couple of weeks ago, and while playing and jumping cost an arm and a leg, the kids had a blast and can't wait to return. I didn't partake in the fun this time around (I repeat, it costs an arm and a leg to play and jump), but those trampolines were calling my name and it's only a matter of time before I give in and join the kids.

Wearing
My mom bought these fabulous rain boots 30+ years ago and rarely wore them, so she gifted them to me during our visit to Wisconsin. I can't wait to once again splash around in puddles with the kids!

Eating/Drinking
I tend to do more in the kitchen during the winter months, as the cold(er) weather makes me want to serve hot and hearty comfort foods like soups, stews, casseroles, stroganoffs, chili, and of course, rich, indulgent desserts. Only one of the five new dinner entrees made the cut (the other four were "fine", but not worth saving for the future), but all three new desserts have been bookmarked!

• Chicken and Mushroom Stroganoff I used used 4 oz. rather than 8 oz. of cream cheese, added the spices found in dry onion soup mix individually (rather than using the packet of spices), and added dried parsley to the sauce rather than using fresh parsley as a garnish. Even Hallie ate a few bites!
• Strawberry Shortcake Bars These bars were easy to make - a perfect baking project to do with kids - and tasted like thumbprint cookies, a dessert I enjoy but struggle to make correctly. Per the recipe I used jelly, but next time I might try preserves or jam instead.
• Coconut Cupcakes This recipe for the Barefoot Contessa's coconut cake works just as beautifully as cupcakes. I knew Tom and I couldn't didn't need to eat an entire cake by ourselves, so I halved the recipe and baked cupcakes instead. I also cut the sugar from 2 c. to 1.5 c. and in no way missed the extra sweetness. 
• Almond Joy Cupcakes A friend of mine asked for Almond Joy cupcakes for her January birthday, and after reading through at least 15 different recipes, I decided on this one because I liked the way it seemed to layer the flavors. I made a few adjustments - I didn't use a cake mix with pudding, I used butter instead of shortening in the frosting, I toasted the coconut used as a garnish, and I didn't stick Almond Joy candy bars on top of the cupcakes - and I think they turned out remarkably well. If/when I make them again I might cut the coffee to 1/4 c., but other than that detail these cupcakes were divine!

Enjoy!

What's new, good, and/or interesting in your life this month? Please share!

Rate Your Restaurants: Round 2 (6-10)

Between June 2016 and June 2017 the four Ferri plan to dine at each of Spoons University's "45 Places to Eat in College Station Before You Die". Which meal we eat will depend on each restaurant's specialties, meaning we won't visit a steakhouse for breakfast or a donut shop for dinner. We (Tom, Will, and I) have committed to choosing menu items on which the restaurant earned its reputation, meaning we won't order a hamburger at a seafood restaurant or chicken fingers at an Italian restaurant. 

We plan to individually rate each of the restaurants on food, service, and atmosphere. We have no experience as food or restaurant critics, but we'll do our best and hopefully give BCS readers a little insight into where they can get great food but also enjoy a meal with the family in tow.

If you missed the "Meet the Reviewers" post, check it out here before reading the reviews below - they'll make a lot more sense with a bit of background information!

A quick update:

As soon as school started last fall it became apparent we wouldn't make it to all 45 restaurants as a foursome. We don't eat out often enough, and as creatures of habit, we have a few favorite restaurants from which we "have" to order food at least once every three weeks. Additionally, a few of the restaurants on the list cost too much for us to justify purchasing food for Picky McPickerson. As a result, the primary scores below are the average of the scores given by those who dined on that day, which wasn't necessarily all four Ferri. When the only diner was me (I decided not to ask everyone who eats out with me to rate their experience), the average is the same as my score.

And now, on to our second group of five restaurants!

6. Cafe Capri
"Holy Cannoli! If you’re on the quest to find a good cannoli in the BCS area, all arrows point to Caffe Capri. This cute little Italian restaurant also has the classics you crave, such as lasagna and chicken parmesan, to new favorites like their Cajun tortellini."

Food: 6 (Erin 6, Tom 6)
Service: 6 (Erin 5, Tom 6)
Atmosphere: 5 (Erin 5, Tom 5)

Cafe Capri was my biggest disappointment thus far. Tom and I visited the restaurant for a friend's birthday, and knowing we had a large group, we called ahead of time. Cafe Capri doesn't take reservations, so we simply shared with the hostess our anticipated arrival time and group size. When friends started arriving, despite the fact that a large table in the center of the restaurant sat vacant and unreserved, the wait staff refused to seat us until our entire party (16 or so people) had arrived. As we stood in the front entry, waiting for a couple of stragglers (the POURING rain and difficulty finding parking delayed a few people), the hostess asked - no, told - us repeatedly to get out of her way, but we had no where to go since she wouldn't let us sit down...

While my food tasted fine, it didn't live up to my expectations given this specialty restaurant's popularity. And with regard to the atmosphere, the noise level - created from just normal restaurant conversation and dining - reached a volume so high I could barely converse with the person sitting right next to me. I can honestly say that I won't return unless for a special event like a birthday or work party.

7. Shish Kabob
"This quaint little family run restaurant is serving up some bomb Eastern Mediterranean food. Kabobs, falafel, and the most luxurious hummus, there is seriously nothing bad on their menu."

Food: 7.75 (Erin 8, Tom 6, Will 9, Hallie 8)
Service: 5.75 (Erin 6, Tom 6, Will 6, Hallie 5)
Atmosphere: 6.75 (Erin 6, Tom 5, Will 8, Hallie 8)

Shish Kabob surprised me. I had low expectations when we arrived, and while I found the service and the atmosphere underwhelming (I would describe the counter staff as unfriendly and the atmosphere as drab), the large portions of simple but tasty hummus, falafel, chicken, and beef went over well with three of the four of us. Tom pointed out that while he's glad a Mediterranean restaurant has taken hold in College Station, the flavor of its food pales in comparison to what he enjoyed at the Mediterranean restaurants in our last "hometown". He appreciates spice - and lots of it - in everything he consumes, and Shish Kabob's food might be considered bland my some...which is probably why it went over so well with both Will and Hallie.

Also worth noting, Will and Hallie's gave Shish Kabob high atmosphere scores because there's a fountain inside and I gave them each a penny to make a wish.

8. Messina Hof
"Forget traveling to Napa, our own little wine country is right here at Messina Hof! Treat yourself to brunch or dinner at their Village House restaurant, or snack on a cheese board while drinking a glass of your favorite wine (or bottle, we won’t judge)."

Food: 8 (Erin 8)
Service: 8 (Erin 8)
Atmosphere: 9 (Erin 9)

Having wined and dined at Messina Hof a handful of times, I feel confident in my rankings as a true assessment - rather than a one-time shot in the dark - of the venue's food, service, and atmosphere. The appetizers and main dishes have all pleased my palate, the service has always impressed me, and the atmosphere, from the private tasting room to the bar to the dining room, feels consistently warm and inviting. And it certainly doesn't hurt when Paul Bonarrigo stops by your table to say hello.

9. The Village Cafe
"This hip cafe offers locally sourced cuisine right from the area. They offer healthy and fun breakfast options as well as tons of unique sandwiches. Enjoy the local art that they promote on the walls as well as the live music on the weekends."

Food: 7 (Erin 7)
Service: 7 (Erin 7)
Atmosphere: 7 (Erin 7)

After many recommendations, I visited The Village for brunch with a couple of friends. We arrived too early in the day to order a pitcher of their famous mimosas (at least at first - we purposely hung around long enough to try them) so I started off on a disappointed note. My food - a slice of quiche, roasted potatoes, and a cinnamon roll - tasted as they should, but didn't knock my socks off as I'd hoped they might. The strawberry mimosas, however, made the entire brunch worth it and almost made up for the employee sweeping right next to our table as we ate.

10. Harvey Washbangers
"This is college- you have an overflowing pile of dirty laundry and no food in your refrigerator. Don’t panic, get it all done at Harvey Washbangers. Part launderette, part damn good food and craft beer. Try their porkaholic cheese fries- pulled pork, cheese, jalapenos, BBQ sauce, and bacon. Yum!"

Food: 8 (Erin 8)
Service: 7 (Erin 7)
Atmosphere: 7 (Erin 7)

Though my crowd may have had 10-15 years on the majority of Harvey Washbangers' college student drinkers, diners, and laundry washers, we enjoyed our drinks and LOVED Harvey's porkaholic cheese fries and chips and queso. I may not visit this establishment for its laundry services, but would return for another round of appetizers and to try some of the delicious sounding burgers!

There you have it - 10 restaurants down, 35 left to go!  

High Five for Friday (1.27.17)

1. Last Thursday I attended an informational meeting about and went on a tour of the classrooms associated with our high schools' Career and Technology Education Departments. I generally feel pretty good about the school district our children attend, but holy cow, folks - the opportunities and facilities available to our kids with regard to middle and high school electives blew my mind. I feel so grateful that our teachers and administrators devote such tremendous time, energy, and money to making sure our students graduate not just with a grasp on reading, writing, and arithmetic, but with the skills needed to succeed in a career or in higher education.

2. Speaking of school, last Thursday night I attended the meeting for (HOW DID WE GET HERE?!) parents of students graduating from elementary and moving on to intermediate school. The meeting went more smoothly and there were fewer decisions to make with regard to electives than I expected, so my mom friends and I shared high fives on the way out...and glasses of wine shortly thereafter.

3. On Saturday night I visited my favorite painting studio for a friend's birthday celebration. For the first time we painted on wood rather than canvas, and the finished product is my favorite painting creation thus far!

4. Speaking of painting (stay with me - I'll get there), about a month ago we misplaced our favorite green umbrella. Hallie and I looked EVERYWHERE - house, yard, cars, school, soccer fields, dance studios, library - but had no luck. Then on Saturday night I walked into the painting studio and...TA DA...there it stood, all by its lonesome in the corner near the purse storage shelf. Turns out Hallie took it with her to a friend's painting birthday party midway through December and left it there. I was ridiculously happy to have this accessory back at home...just in time for weeks on end of sunny days.

5. I babysat this sweet little boy - who I have had the privilege of knowing since his birth - last Monday. He wouldn't nap in his crib, so I settled down with him on the couch and he fell fast asleep for more than an hour. When his mom returned home he woke up, climbed down, and snuggled with her for a couple of minutes, but then he returned to my lap for another round of hugs. What a great way to kick off a week!

Linking up with High Five for Friday here:

 

Crazy Cat Lady

Perhaps you've heard this story before:

Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,

“You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

I have always loved this story and the message it conveys, which is why my sister sent me a card on which a new version had been written.

"...and where there is only one set of footprints?"

The Lord replied, " That's when you were talking about your cat."

Best laugh I've had in ages.

Rise Up

On Friday afternoon, as I scrolled through my Facebook feed looking for a specific article I wanted to reference for a future post, a video passed quickly from the bottom of my screen to the top. Nearly a full minute later, something made me reverse direction until the video came into focus on my screen.

I rarely watch videos on Facebook. I read the titles and occasionally add my own "like" or "wow" (dangerous, I know, given my lack of knowledge about the videos' content), but then I move on. I can't say for certain why I decided on this one - it wasn't the title, that I know for certain. Perhaps it was the fact that I had had an "Alexander"* kind of day and thought the video might lift my spirits. Perhaps it was that the speaker looked around Will's age, or that behind the young man sat an interesting collection of adults (an elderly black woman dressed in her Sunday best, a younger black woman in a suit, a middle-aged white priest, and Bernie Sanders). Whatever the case, I clicked, I watched, and two minutes later I began crying slow, dolloping tears onto my computer keyboard.

My tears rose from a complicated place. A place where churning uncertainty, anxiety, and sorrow clashed with overwhelming hope for our country's future, and from which this cacophony of emotion erupted. As I sat back and let myself work through this cacophony of emotion, I came to one conclusion: though the responsibility should not fall on their shoulders, I have faith in our children's ability - guided by young people such as the speaker in this video - to make this world a better place.

But...I have to do my part as well. I must carry the torch as far as possible, so that when their turn comes, my children will know I made every effort to make less daunting and treacherous their journey carrying that same torch.

So today, instead of what I had originally planned and as a follow up to last Monday's MLK Jr. Day post, I am sharing a link to this video. (Feel free to start at 1:30 in if you find yourself pressed for time, but then make sure you watch all the way until the end.) This act is a small one, but is hopefully a step in the right direction.

*Remember Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? I channeled young Alexander last Friday.

High Five for Friday (1.20.17)

1. Last Thursday (too late to be included in last week's High Five for Friday post), Will participated in the Texas University Interscholastic League's Chess Puzzles competition. This competition, which marked the end of nearly four months of training, pitted (in a friendly, encouraging way) the top three fourth grade qualifiers from each of the district's nine elementary schools against each other to determine the who would wear the Chess Puzzles crown.

Will took this competition incredibly seriously, training diligently with his two teammates and their coach. And on Thursday evening, these three hard-working kiddos learned that their hard work had paid off: they earned the third, second, AND first place ribbons. And my boy...he won. I wish I had captured in a photo the look on Will's face when they announced his name, but I am also thrilled to have seen his shock turn to jubilation in "real life" and not through the lens of my phone's camera. I will never forget his face in that moment.

Will's victory made the evening an incredible one for all of us, but the icing on the cake was watching our elementary school's kids support one another. They cheered, high-fived, hugged, and offered encouraging words to each other, even when the results weren't what they had hoped for. I wore my Rock Prairie 'Wrangler "badge" proudly that evening.

2. On Saturday we finished our back patio makeover by building/making a hanging station for our towels. No, it wasn't rocket science, but it did involve a trip to Lowe's, sanding, staining, attaching hooks, and drilling into brick and mortar, which was something we'd never done before. I am beyond excited to finally have a place - other than the patio furniture - on which Tom and the kids can hang their swimsuits and towels. I guess it looks like the hot tub is here to stay...

3. Also on Saturday afternoon, Hallie crushed her first "job" as a hat model. I doubt she has a future in modeling (fine by me), but she sure enjoyed sporting this awesome ponytail/messy bun hat by The Stitch & Hook. Check them out here!

4. I hesitate to publicly celebrate this, given the state in which we live and our friends' fandom, but last Sunday my Green Bay Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys (in what was the most intense and exciting NFL game I've seen all season) to move on to the NFC Championship Game! Next up, the Atlanta Falcons!

Tom grilled chicken wings, Tom and the kids took a dip in the hot tub, and
we all cozied up on the back patio to enjoy the cooler temperatures and stay
shielded from the light rain. Yes, we could have gone inside and watched the
game in our climate controlled living or family room and on a bigger TV
screen, but there was something special about our outdoor viewing area.  

Note: We regularly root for the Cowboys and the Texans, but when either team plays the Pack, all bets are off. 

5. A couple of months ago I caved and added a pic collage app to my phone. (I try to only download apps I want or need to use daily or, at a minimum, a few times a week. Pic collage, at least at first, hardly fit that description.) I started putting it to good use this week, and I feel a new flashback series coming on...

Happy Friday, Chasing Roots!

Linking up with High Five for Friday here:

 

The American (Girl) Dream

In keeping with this week's dream theme...

My sister and I grew up playing with American Girl dolls. Their creator - Pleasant Rowland - lived just outside of Madison, so the dolls debuted in our neck of the woods before they made their way across the rest of the United States. We had first edition Kirsten and Molly dolls, both of which have been discontinued, and back then we shopped for their furniture and accessories through a catalog and/or at the annual American Girl sale in the company's warehouse.

Though Rowland eventually sold her Pleasant Company to Mattel, the brand has continued to grow and is even more popular today than when my sister and I first fell in love with our dolls. When Hallie and Lily began asking for dolls of their own two years ago, Sara and I decided to simply (but secretly) gift them our dolls. This worked out well for two reasons: first, my doll looks a lot like Hallie and Sara's doll looks a lot like Lily, and second, anyone who has ever browsed the catalog or visited the website knows the dolls are PRICEY. Our girls are none the wiser...at least until they someday read the Chasing Roots archives.

More than five years ago I wrote a blog post about my plans to one day, perhaps at the ages of seven and five, take Hallie and Lily on a dream shopping trip to the flagship American Girl Place in Chicago. (Sara and I had - shockingly, given Madison's proximity to Chicago - never visited the store, primarily because it opened after we had begun to outgrow our dolls.) We wanted to experience the magic through Hallie and Lily's eyes, so over Christmas vacation we finally made it happen.

We had a bit of a rough start to our road trip and Lily threw up (poor girl "inherited" my motion sickness) as we drove around downtown Chicago in search of a parking spot, but once we stepped out into the bright morning sunlight and felt the brisk lakeside air on our cheeks, our day improved tremendously.

While we chose the best time of year to visit American Girl Place in terms of sales, we chose the worst time of year to visit American Girl Place in terms of crowds. Every little girl in a five state radius had chosen that morning - midway through winter break and just a few days after the holidays for which they had received an American Girl doll - to converge on Michigan Avenue.

Thankfully we already had lunch reservations, and because we arrived just as the store opened, and were were able to make hair appointments for the dolls in under 10 minutes. We spent the first hour browsing the store, oohing and aahing at the adorable outfits and accessories and trying out all of the interactive displays. We then took a break from the chaos to have lunch in the on-site restaurant. Every part of the dining experience - a beautifully and whimsically decorated space, delightful accommodations for little girls and their dolls, bubbly waiters and waitresses, and perfectly chosen and prepared food - exceeded my expectations. We received a plate of miniature cinnamon rolls immediately upon seating, and within two minutes a server arrived to take drink orders and drop off an appetizer platter of veggies, dip, hummus, bruschetta, and miniature pigs in blankets. After our entrees, the American Girl restaurant guaranteed our positive review by bringing out miniature candy cane sugar cookies and chocolate mousse served in miniature flower pots. Did you catch the miniature theme? Almost everything was little and adorable and made us say, "oh my goodness - that's so cute!"

The dolls'  hair and ear piercing appointments went smoothly - "they didn't cry at all!", reported our stylist when she brought the dolls back after getting their ears pierced - and then we made our final decisions. Thanks to Grandma Brenda, Hallie and Lily each brought home two accessory sets as well as ice skating and ballet outfits for their dolls. Both girls walked out of the store with wings on their feet and smiles on their faces.

I have no plans to visit American Girl Place - in Chicago or anywhere else - in the near future, as I think shopping at stores like these should be reserved for special occasions. But should Hallie and Lily love their dolls as much two years from now as they do now, I anticipate another road trip to Michigan Avenue for the girls...and another walk down memory lane for their moms.