Small Dreams.

I'm Out

I'm breaking up with this blog.

It's been fun, but I can think of so many other things to spend $14.99 on each month including:

• A new toy or two for Willow
• A polish change
• A new album on itunes
• Tofu pad thai (extra crispy) from Murder Thai (don't ask)

It's not just the money that's caused this change of heart, really.

I love to blog, but I'm putting too much pressure on myself, and making up excuses. "It takes too much time", "uploading pics is a pain", "I've got nothing to write about". This was supposed to be fun, not a chore.

So, I've decided to leave TypePad and move on over to the new, user-friendly and oh-so hip Tumblr. I'll be creating shorter and more light-hearted posts, sometimes I'll post just pics or songs, but I will do it everyday. And if only 7 people read, that's ok with me because it's something I enjoy.

Check out Small Dreams here: http://foxwatts.tumblr.com/

It's been a good first-go.

 

 

 

"Fun"Out

One of my New Years resolutions was to find a workout that I love, and stick with it. Well, it’s March 7th and I need to get my ass in gear.

 My workouts for the past 8 weeks have been walking or running with Willow, maybe every weekend. Bathing suit season is right around the corner, or already here if you live in Tampa (I’m heading to the beach this weekend).

I’ve never been a gym rat. I am not one to pick up a 5 mile run like it’s no big deal.  In fact, I’m not exactly the athletic type, and it’s just not my thing. Let’s be honest-I hate to workout.

I do think a majority of the reason why the task is so daunting, is because I haven’t found anything I love to do yet.  My sister-in-law, Terri does trapeze as her workout. She swings around on bars in the air and does routines, and burns calories at the same time. How awesome! A co-worker of mine is a huge fan of kickboxing. She get’s all her energy out by punching a bag. I’m quite sure she pretends the bag is a person who pissed her off that day. There has got to be something out there for me!

 So, in effort to actually find something I love to do, and stick with it, I’ve decided to try a new workout each month. My goal is that in 2012, I’ll have 1 or 2 activities that I’m passionate about and can call a hobby, not a chore.  Here is my “running” list…

• Spinning
• Yoga
• Body Pump
• Biking
• Pilates
• Walking (hiking)
• Kickboxing
• Running

Since the weather is beautiful right now, this month I’ll focus on running outside this month. I bought a Living Social deal for $50 of unlimited hot yoga. Once it gets hot outside, I’ll sweat inside! Wish me luck on attempting to find something active that I also love. And, don’t judge me if I end up being a professional rollerblader come 2012.

Romanesco

We picked up this gem at the farm last week.

It’s called a romanesco, and it looks like a hybrid between a broccoli and a cauliflower, or something that Gobo would enjoy on Fraggle Rock. (Gen Y kids, you know what I am talking about). The veggie has been sitting in our refrigerator for a few days, because I haven’t had time to research how exactly to prepare it. So, it’s Friday afternoon and I am feeling adventurous right before the weekend, so I decide to turn to Google for an exotic recipe for this exotic veggie. Oh the possibilities…or, not.

Turns out, a broccoli and cauliflower hybrid is exactly what it is- This is the definition from Wikipedia – “Romanesco is an edible flower of the species Brassica oleracea and a variant form of cauliflower. Romanesco broccoli was first documented in Italy (as broccolo romanesco) in the sixteenth century. It is sometimes called broccoflower, but that name is also applied to green-curded cauliflower cultivars. It is also known as coral broccoli. It is rich in vitamin C, fiber, and carotenoids.” So much for my unconventional dinner idea!

I ended up roasting this baby though, and it was delicious.  Here is the recipe…. Combine Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper, Garlic and romanesco in a bowl and then transfer to a cookie sheet. Bake at 400 and top with parmesean cheese. SO GOOD! We served with cous cous and red beans, for a healthy vegan meal. The romanesco experience just goes to show that you can’t judge a veggie by its peel.

Gifted Art

Some of my favorite gifts (both given and received) have been framed art. Whether it’s a canvas or simple framed print, wall art is such a great item to give that can be super personal and unique.

Here are some of our favorite pieces.

This canvas by Leanne Laine. We bought it as a wedding gift to ourselves.

A plaqued Ben Harper concert poster-given to my by Brian a few Christmas’ ago.

Our favorite California winery, Wilson given to us by Brian's parents, Zo and Karen.

Recently, I’ve found a way to gift art in a much cheaper fashion. I got the idea from my favorite blog, Young House Love when Sherry framed a simple map of the US for her husband John. She found the map for cheap on Ebay, and pinpointed places they had been together.

For our 2-year anniversary, I decided to do something similar for Brian. He kept talking about how he saw a map of the Trappist breweries when we traveled to Belgium a few years ago. For those of you non-beer geeks, Trappist beer is beer that is brewed by monks-and there are only 7 of them left in the world.  Anyway-every birthday and anniversary, I searched high and low for this so-called Trappist map he kept swooning over, but had no luck finding it.

 I thought, “Hell, I’ll just take a stab at making one”. I did as Sherry from YHL.com had done, and "ebayed" Belgium maps. I found a 1927 print that looked like it had been torn out of an atlas.  I printed the logos of each trappist brewery, using a high resolution printer. I bought a frame and matte at Michaels for $11, tied a bow around it, and hung it in a perfect spot in our living room. Brian loved it!

I can't wait for the next occasion when I can give (or receive) another unique piece of art.

 

Kitchen Clean Out

I don’t know about anyone else, but our pantry can easily be overflowed with food we never get around to eating. For us, its always half full boxes of pasta and cereal, rice we never eat, and the six different kinds of mixed nuts that get neglected on a weekly basis.  I love to cook, so I usually buy one ingredient, use a cup or two, and the remaining sits untouched for a few months.

In hopes to save more money and overall mitigate clutter, we’re not letting a single item go to waste. So we started the kitchen clean out game.  Here is how it works: As soon as we find ourselves forgoing the brown minute rice for a new box of cous cous, and our kitchen starts to accumulate food, the game begins. We then proceed to eat every item out of the pantry and fridge before going to the grocery store. That means creative combinations.  Cereal for dinner, peanut butter saltines for lunch, and a blend of bow tie and spaghetti noodles as a legitimate pasta dish. 

We usually write down the combinations of food items so we don’t lose track and give in to a trip to Publix. At the end of the game, we have more money in our wallets and kitchen clutter free.

2011 ResoLIST

We had a wonderful holiday. Spent Christmas Eve and Day at Mom’s house, Falcons game on Monday, Watts family Christmas on Tuesday, fun with friends Wednesday, then headed home Thursday for a quiet New Years. The best part-we had a white Christmas!   Roswell looked beautiful on Christmas night, covered with white powder. The dogs had a blast, and we attempted to build a snowman, but the boys were much more interested in having a snowball fight. (I’m used to this, being the only girl).

Like most, I always get bummed when Christmas is over.  We have to wait a whole year to enjoy the peppermint lattes, seasonal décor, packed malls, and cheerful holiday music.  But then part of me is excited. Another year over, and another one to look forward to.

With the New Year, comes New Years Resolutions. I have to admit, I love to set resolutions, as a way to start the year off right, with some key goals in mind. My biggest problem is following through with the resolution.

I’m a complete left brained Libra, which makes me the queen of list making and goal setting. I make a list everyday at work to keep me on task, and a list on the weekends for all the errands I run. I make a list when I pack, so as to make sure I don’t leave something out of my suitcase, and if I leave my grocery list at the house, I’ll drive all the way back from the store to retrieve it.

 This year, in hopes to keep my resolutions, I am calling them ResoLists. Some will be simple such as “cut coupons”, others will be not so easy like “learn the sewing machine”. Here are a few items on my Resolist.

1)    Save Money. Brian likes this one the best because I have a slight shopping addiction

2)    Read and Write More:

Less trash TV, more books.

Less trash TV, more blogging

3)    DIY. I love projects and I want to get better at them.  Some of these include learning the sewing machine and creating our wedding album-yes, 2 years later. 

4)    Make the most out of Tampa: Disney, Busch Gardens, fishing, kayaking, beach, and SO MUCH MORE (cue the cheesy travel commercial music here)

5)    Find something active I love doing, and stick to it.

 I’ll try to keep everyone posted on the progress of checking items off my resolist, so stay tuned, and have a glorious New Year!

 

Life Tunes

My little brother, Jake, is tasked with writing 4 essays as part of the application process for UGA. The essay questions are intended to help Georgia learn more about the personality of individual applying-and look beyond a GPA and SAT score. I have always been more of writer than a math whiz-and this sort of thing would have helped me.

 Jake may have more difficulty crafting these essays.  He is pure analytical- math and science, brilliant. Smarter than all of us, and will surely be a doctor or CEO. You may be smarter than us, but no offense Jake, but the creative juices flowed towards the Fox’s.

There is one question about diversity-and how it has played a part in their lives. He’ll pass this with flying colors, as he spent many years training with kids on the football team, who bussed in from inner city Atlanta.

Another is to tell about a funny story about himself. Being 6+ years younger than his three siblings-I’m sure he’ll find something amusing about his childhood. 

 The other makes me ponder a bit more…. because its right up my creative alley, not so much Jake’s.

 "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent."  Victor   Hugo  If someone were to look at your music collection right now, they would probably know a great deal about who you are. Individuals are drawn to music, and each song conveys something about that person. Select a musical piece to be your theme song.

 Isn’t it funny how certain songs remind us of specific memories in our lives? And every time that song comes on, you smile, or laugh or cry because you think about that moment.

Here are some of the songs I pay tribute to over the past couple of years-

 Artist, Blind Pilot-“One Red Thread” Download 03 One Red Thread (Live)

Moving to Tampa. I remember driving on the way to work on Day 1, along the water, one part of me was hoping I didn’t get lost, the other was thinking ”hell yeah, this is new, and awesome because I have nothing but Brian and Willow and me, living at the beach, and making the first of our many family memories.”

 Artist, Iron and Wine Download Sea And The Rhythm

Brian and I were engaged. Mom and I grew really close that year.  We talked every day, planning every single detail of the wedding. Who RSVP’d, what we checked off the to do list, brainstorming crazy crafty ideas, mostly on our drives home from work with Iron and Wine playing in my background.

 Artist, Chili Peppers-“Hey, Oh”Download 02 Snow (Hey Oh)

Senior Year in College and my best friends and I cruising through Athens, and spending time at “the rock” on cool fall afternoons after Georgia football games. We knew all the freedom of college life would end eventually, and we sang at the top of our lungs to celebrate what fun times we were having.

 That’s just a few. As I write this post, I’ve thought about a dozen more songs that have shaped my soundtrack. As I continue to move through life, meaningful songs will come and go, and the tunes I live by, will be ever-evolving. 

 So Jake, I hope that helps get your creative juices flowing-because I know you have them. Remember-what is meaningful now, may not mean a damn thing 5 years from now. Focus on building upon your soundtrack now, and don’t forget about the tunes that have shaped you as of today.

Thankful

This post is a little late, as I am writing it while sitting next to our lit Christmas tree, and watching the Glee Christmas episode.  I feel like Thanksgiving came and went so quickly. Guess time flies when you are having fun-and are super busy!

Anyway-What a great Thanksgiving weekend we had! I’ll have to say, when we decided to invite the entire Watts family down to Tampa for the 2nd year in a row; we suddenly had a panicked, “what did we do?” moment.  9 members of the Watts clan made the trek down to Tampa for turkey day. The group in attendance included, Al and Karen, Brian’s parents, Dustin and Emily, Brian’s brother and sister, and their spouses, Terri and Josh. The biggest trooper of all was Nana, who observed all of the debauchery with patience and lots of smiles.

The group brought with them 3 dogs, 1 blowup mattress pump (the blow up mattress was left behind in Athens), one organic 20-pound turkey, and at least 2 cases of Terrapin. We would not have had it any other way!

Couple of Highlights-

The fam showed up late Tuesday night, and had quite the party until 4 am.  The brothers hobbled into bed at 6am. When I went to work an hour later, the house looked like  a college frat party-people sleeping everywhere, and lots of beer bottles. So much for hiring that cleaning service!

Wednesday was spent nursing hangovers and relaxing outside. The weather was awesome! Highs in mid-80s, lows in 60s. That night we went to Cigar City Brewing Company, and ate dinner at Taco Bus-the best Mexican restaurant in Tampa. The night ended with a serious dance party, starring Emily.

Thanksgiving morning Terri and Dustin headed out early to run the Clearwater Turkey Trot 10K, while the rest of us slept in. We had our walks/runs on Bayshore later in the day.

On the Thanksgiving Menu:

• Karen and Al’s Organic Farm raised turkey, brought all the way from Georgia
• Paula Deans Squash Casserole-the favorite
• Green beans with garlic and pine nuts
• Stuffing and Gravy from Williams Sonoma
• Mashed Potatoes
• Pear and Blue Cheese salad
• Pumpkin Maple Pie (a Real Simple recipe)

Everything was delicious, and I could not have done it without the girls. It was definitely a group effort-complete with frilly aprons.

Friday was the infamous beer dinner. That night deserves a separate blog post but here is a preview.

Saturday, the girls did some shopping, while the guys watched football and played Xbox. (pretty typical) Saturday night we got all dolled up and ate dinner at the famous Berns Steakhouse.   It was a great way to end the trip!

 Overall, we did a lot of eating, drinking, and some exercising.  Despite the ridiculousness of 9 people and 4 dogs in 1 house, it went off without a hitch. There are very little families who can spend 5 days together in one small house-and enjoy almost every minute. Brian and I are fortunate to have such wonderful families on both sides. I honestly can say that I have the best in-laws in the world and Bri feels the same way about my parents. While sharing holidays has been a major adjustment since becoming a Mrs., this family feels just like my own-except with sisters!  I could not be more grateful.

(And I'm pretty sure our children, I mean dogs, feel the same way!)

Excuses, Then Eye Candy

I have been a  horrible blogger these past couple of weeks. So, here I go with the excuses..

1) 3 work presentations due in 3 weeks

2) 9 people, 4 dogs, 2 blowup mattresses, 1 organic turkey all the way from Georgia (post coming soon)

Early New Years resolution-I promise not to let 7 days go by without a solid blog post

Now that that's out of the way, the veggie co-op started this month! This week we received a variety of yummy winter vegetables-squash, zucchini, kale, lettuce, tomatoes, arugula.  So, I thought I'd share tonight's farm fresh dinner I whipped up in 30 minutes.

I was so excited to score this acorn squash because it was beautiful, and I had never cooked one before. You prepare it like any variety of winter squash-roast it! Cut it in half, put it face down on a foil-lined cookie sheet, and roast at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. So easy-and so pretty! I added  butter and brown sugar to add more flavor. Don't forget to save the seeds because they make a delicious salty snack.

To compliment the sweet roasted acorn squash, we paired it with an arugula, goat cheese, and beet salad. If you haven't tried these 3 ingredients together-and like beets-do it. The combination of the 3 ingredients are so flavorful, you don't even need salad dressing, just olive oil.  (Shout out to Karen for introducing this deliciousness)

Lastly, we received rainbow chard-similar to swiss chard/spinach-from the co-op. I simply sauteed the chard in sliced garlic cloves and olive oil. I mixed in sliced almonds because I randomly found them in my pantry, and thought they'd add some crunch to the dish.

Of course we paired the meal with local Georgia wine, Tannant from Frogtown Cellars. YUMO!!
Not only was this meal cheap and simple to make, it actually was filling-even though no meat was involved.

To check out what we are looking forward to this CSA season, check out this link.

http://sweetwater-organic.org/veggies/

Better Together

Being big travelers, Brian and I find any excuse to take a trip.  So, it was only fitting that for our 2 year anniversary, we planned to spend the weekend in Boca Grande, a remote little island 2 hours south of Tampa. One of Brian's co-workers owns a cottage on the island, and we graciously took her up on her offer to stay there for a long weekend.

It was the coldest weekend yet in Tampa, with highs in the high 60s, lows in the low 40s. So, we knew that a relaxing beach weekend would probably turn into a relaxing weekend-spent mostly indoors. We took our chances anyway, and headed south. The island really is beautiful; it reminds me of Grayton Beach where I spent my summer vacations growing up (although Boca is more yuppie, less hippie than Grayton).  We got to our cottage, a cute little pink house on 3rd street, just off the main drag. The cottage was perfect-big backyard for Willow, front porch, 2 bedrooms/1 bath, and golf cart for cruising the island.

There was one problem with the cottage: I was allergic to it!  As soon as I walked in, I sneezed 10x and could hardly breathe. We don't know exactly what was causing the sudden allergies-there was no sign of cat hair-which usually does it for me. I felt a noticeable difference as soon as we left the place and took Willow to beach. She had a blast. We had the beach all to ourselves. The scene reminded us of our wedding 2 years ago; we were even there at 4:00, which was the same time as our ceremony. The sun was about to set, the tide was up, and there was a slight calmness in the air. We were just happy to be there.

After the beach, we hopped on the golf cart to cruise the town.  We spent some time shopping and bar hopping before the town shut down and everything closed (around 5 o’clock, to reopen Monday am).

We headed back to the cottage hoping that my allergies earlier were just a fluke. 10 More sneezes, 1 puff of my inhaler, and 2 benedryls later-allergies even worse! We decided to throw in the towel on the romantic and relaxing anniversary beach weekend.

On the way home, while still disappointed that our special trip was ruined by my allergies, we both reminded each other-"it doesn't matter what we do, as long as we're together".  Marriage is about spending time with each other-being perfectly happy even during the ordinary days. While trips are awesome, we are perfectly content sitting on the couch, eating grill cheeses, drinking wine and watching football. And its times like this that make us realize how we love being together-no matter what the situation.