"Let them eat cake!"

For Three's wedding, we're thinking golden cakes (perhaps several small-ish ones) might be the way to go. Here are some of my favorites. What do you think? Any ideas???

Doctor P, M.D.

Ever since I got engaged a couple of weeks ago, I keep having moments where I need to stop to catch my breath and think "wow, this is really happening." I've had them while shopping for bridal saris, while packing up our room, and while it might be generous to call a whole day a "moment" I definitely had one while watching Dr. P graduate from medical school. I've mentioned before that we started dating during his first couple of weeks at Georgetown, which means that this is the only Dr. P I've really known.The dedicated student, studying until the early morning only to wake up a couple of hours later to get to the hospital in time to prepare for morning rounds. For us, years still seem to run with the academic cycle, and months seemed irrelevant when compared to the 6-week "rotations" of specialty-based study.  We knew what the immediate--and even mid-term--future had to bring, and longer-term goals where more than slightly out of our control. 

But now, that "longer-term" and its minions "the changes" have arrived. We found out in March that we'll remain in D.C. for one year before moving to Denver next June. But we still have to move, and the boxes don't pack themselves, and suddenly the house that's driven me crazy for the last two years doesn't look so bad. And the dear friends that we've made over the past four years have already started to disperse. And each new goodbye feels more permanent than the last. And I stop.And catch my breath.

So on it goes, and the changes keep piling up. In many ways I am more terrified than I've ever been in my life, but then I catch that breath, and a deep peace follows. And I know that the future, and these changes, are going to be awesome.






I love this so hard.

Behold! The glowing driveway...
via
my breath = 0

evidently it's made using these. I wonder what else you could use them in? I might go for a glowing swimming pool...

Observe, the versatile chocolate cup

Trader Joe's sells 4.4 pound blocks of 72% chocolate for about five dollars.  One of my favorite ways to use them is to temper the cocolate, pour it into cupcake jackets (as I cal them) using a spoon to cover the inside of the paper.  Put it in the freezer for 15 or twenty minutes.  Store them there for a future potluck or dinner party or use them to serve ice cream, fruit, parfaits, mousse or any number of things.  


This is one of my favorites.  Macerated strawberries topped with fresh ricotta mixed with the rind of a lemon, vanilla and about a tablespoon sugar. Divine!



Dark Chocolate Cups with Macerated Strawberries and Sweet Home Made Ricotta
In other news, my appetite is back!

Do As I Say, Not As I Eat

Swimsuit season is here.  Temperatures are rising, roses are blooming and summer treats are beckoning from the freezer isles of the grocery store.   Perhaps it is because I used to spend my summer's swimming endless laps for our local swim team or perhaps it was because I didn't particularly enjoy parading my cute, albeit chubby, thighs around the neighborhood each day starting at 7am.  Then again, my tendency to get horrible sunburns didn't help and then there were the trips to the Balaton and those topless women that left me permanently scarred.  Needless to say, I always resented swimsuit season.

BUT... If you're looking forward to it, I have found some tasty treats that, eaten one serving at a time as opposed to eating box, jar, bag or batch at a time ...  Mr. Two, stop laughing.  I was really hungry...  can be a delicious addition to the goal of being swimsuit ready.

I have also found some delicious treats that will be very unhelpful in this pursuit, unless becoming swimsuit ready involves some serious extra poundage. Here are my finds...



First row: Dark chocolate cups with mascerated strawberries and  fresh ricotta; fresh ricotta; the perfect spinach; Second Row: White Corn Tortilla Chips; Pear, Gouda and Spinach Calzone; Pizza with ricotta, olives, tomatoes and basil; Trader Joe's Frozen Mango Creams.Third row: Paninni with roasted veggies, goat cheese and pesto dressing; Dangerously Delivious Cherry Pie; Dark chocolate cups with blackbetty cream Caramel Waffle Cookies, Triscuits and Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies


A Birthday Haiku for One

Your years, all've been good.
Filled with grand accomplishments.
Happy 30ishth


Awkward Self-Portraiture


So. I got a pair of free (+$10 shipping) glasses on Thursday. I thought you might want a pair too, before the promotion is over at the end of this month.
Here's the link:


Remember to use the code FBFREE at checkout.
and here's a superfluous moving picture of me nuzzling a dog:


If you end up ordering a pair, I'd love to know which ones you chose!

We need your help!

For the last three years, Four and Five have been working tirelessly to make being an organ donor a more obvious choice.  
Right now we're working on a new project--and we need your help! 
We're gathering 1,000 videos from people about organ donation and would love to get one from you.
 You can tell whatever story you'd like, but please end the video by saying: 
"My name is _____. I'm an organ donor, and I think you should be one, too."  
Here's our friend Scott's video. He made it when he came to visit me in the hospital.


It doesn't need to be flashy. You can use the camera on your computer or phone.  
Once you do it, please email it to us at: Imanorgandonor@gmail.com 
We'll post all the videos to our youtube page and link to them here, on twitter and on facebook.
Together we can solve this problem.

Bees and Spiders and Snakes, Oh, My!

Special Guest Post by Mr. One

I understand that it's a little odd to actually like most spiders and insects.  It's a personal trait that One reminds me is strange every time one of the wee beasties drops into our living space for a visit.  She screams and reaches for the nearest newspaper to roll up while I dash to rescue the critter from her wrath and to scoop it up so the little ones can hold and admire it before we set it free to live with its outdoor friends.

I can't help my feelings.  I truly find the little monsters fascinating.  Maybe reading "Charlotte's Web" in the 2nd grade was a turning point.  Or perhaps Sesame Street's "Ladybug's Picnic" just had a deeper effect on me than most.  I'm sure it helped that when I lived on the edge of an insect-infected nature preserve on my mission, my trainer explained to me that we had reason to be grateful for the enormous Huntsman spiders that frequented our kitchen--they ate the really dangerous bugs.  (Getting bitten by a particularly venomous Green-head ant--my finger was swollen for a week!--led me to make extra sure Hunstman spiders were made especially welcome in our abode.)

Whatever the reasons, my fondness for the arachnid and insect world has grown over time.  And now that I have little ones of my own, I want to pass on that warm and fuzzy feeling, rather than perpetuating the irrational fear of them that seems to be second-nature to so many.  I want my kids to grow up thinking of spiders and insect as just another variety of cute, amazing little gifts from a loving God for us to admire and enjoy.  Perhaps not even so different from puppies or ponies!

Of course, since insects and spiders are more foreign, I recommend starting by introducing some of God's furrier little monsters, first:

Oh bird. You so sessy.

Three, Four, Z, and myself had a late night with National Geographic Youtube videos.
We were all quite taken with this smooth little dancer.


What can I say? He'd get my number.

Hombre Nails


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tutorial for plain old ombre nails after the jump

How to make your kids love books

Before Princess H and Tiny left for the Mile High City, The Princess and I visited Capitol Hill Books.  We explored, climbed up those wheely book ladders, read a bit and finally, picked out a stupendous pop up book about trains.





I miss her already.

Super Moms, In The Flesh



su·permom/ˈsoo-pər mäm or moh-moh/ noun


1.   A female parent who goes above and beyond what any reasonable person would to for the care and keeping of a child. 
2. A female parent who seems to possess super-human mothering skills


The Art of Collage

   I got some calendars in the mail the other day

-                        from a horse rescue
   and the ASPCA. bb                          bb



The thing is. . .         lllll


   I only need one calendar.



Vegetable Garden Love

There are few places dreamier than Mount Vernon. Between the bucolic hills, frolicking sheep, and perfect colonial abode, it's almost impossible not to fall in love with the place. We visited earlier this week and I'm happy to report that it's prettier than ever. 
After feasting on some hearty colonial fare, we stalked some sheep (they don't really seem to mind people, but only a select few one would allow us to actually touch them it), and explored the various structures.
You wanna know what I loved most? 
The Vegetable Garden.
(It deserves those capital letters.)
It. was. exquisite.
Enchanting.
Really, superlatively lovely.
It made me want to forget about everything else and devote my life to the soil.
(Especially if I could live in that little gardener's house.)
Rows and rows of pristine cabbages, tomatoes, and onions surrounded by a glorious explosion of vines and blossoms.
Just spectacular.
Never before has dirt looked so appealing.
The pictures don't quite do it justice, so you'll just have to trust me.
Or, better yet, visit in person!



Sometimes, I wish "auntie" was my full time job.

Magyarország? Kér 5.

Q: In May, my wife will be in Budapest for a week of meetings.  After the end of the meetings she will have one full day to tour the beautiful city. So my question to the Magyar Five is this: If you had one day to spend in Budapest, what would be the best things to see and do?



As:
One (Profi): Find Jutka. Do whatever she's doing. Seriously.

If that doesn't work out, my Absolute Faves include:
  • Strolling on Castle Hill (var)
  • Buying embroidered tablecloths, paprika and five pound bags of poppy seeds at the big market (nagy vasar csarnok)
  • Window shopping on Vaci Utca, with a quick stop for fagyi (Hungarian gelato) at the Szamos Marcipán shop
  • Getting a haircut from Tamás Zsidro (I honestly miss him every (bad hair) day.)
  • Saying howdy to the statues at Hero's Square (hosok tere)
  • Eating cold sour cherry soup (hideg meggy leves)
  • Taking in the evening vistas from Battany Ter and the Duna Corszo
  • Getting a nightcap at the Gresham Palace Four Seasons

Two (Expert): Oh, the pain of this question.  There are SO many options!  I suppose this is what I would say: Start off with breakfast at The Palacsinta Place.  They make some of the best (and some of the cheapest) Hungarian style pancakes in the city. Continue towards the Halasz Basztya (Fisherman's Bastion) and walk up the marble steps there.  Once atop the steps, you will see Mattyas Templom (St. Matthew's Church), a superb example of Hungarian architecture.  Continue through the castle district til you get to the castle.  You don't really need to go inside but DO take pictures! Oh, and try the Kremes at Ruszwurm. Take the Siklo (funicular) down the hill.  You'll end up right by the Lanc Hid (Chain Bridge), admire the tongueless Lions guarding the bridge.  Once you walk to the other side, you will see The Four Seasons Hotel in front of you.  The hotel rooms aren't that exciting, but the lobby is and it's worth walking inside.  Continue to Voros Marti Square.  Pick up a pastry, hot chocolate or jeges kave at Gerbaud Cukrazda.  Walk down Voros Marti Utca  til you reach the Nagy Csarnok (Big Market).  This is without a doubt, one of the most fantastic markets in all of Europe.  Don't be afraid to bargain.  The sellers like to extort as much as possible off unsuspecting tourists.  But you will find the best Hungarian sausages, paprika and embroidery for the best prices.  Take the tram across the river.  It will deposit you near The Gellert Bath House.  It's a little expensive, but they are without a doubt, some of the most exquisite baths in the world.  I will let my sisters suggest some of the other sites, but if I had one day to bum around the city, I think this would be what I would do! 

Three (The last one to write her post): If you are looking for advice on things to do, and places to go, don't read this part. I simply offer advice on how to approach your day. 

Go with all things open. Mind. Heart. And most importantly, Belly. You might think langos (fried dough) covered with garlic oil, sour cream and cheese is too heavy for a mid-afternoon snack. You would be wrong. Also, you probably wouldn't consider fried mushrooms and cauliflower a suitable side vegetable for your meal-- especially if the main dish consists of deep-fried cheese and blueberry jam--but again, you would be wrong. Pogacsa (Biscuits) speckled with goose-fat definitely don't SOUND vegetarian, but in Hungary, schmaltz is considered a fruit.And a madar tej (chilled bird's milk soup) that's basically eggnog with marshmallows is the real breakfast of champions. 

You have one day in this city that is magical, so don't put things off. You'll be full. You'll gain weight. But will it be worth it? YES. And I can say this with authority, as one who gained 15 pounds over two short weeks in the country in 2003. 


Four (Excited): Oh! To be in Budapest. Now that Spring is here. There are few things more delightful. Really. I'm envious. But, despite my envyjealousy, I'll tell you how I would spend my time if I only had ONE day in one of my most favorite places. Ever.  

7:30am: Wake up.
8:00am: Walk to the Halasz Basztya (Fisherman's Bastion). 
8:30am: Look around. Explore the rest of the Var. Including the Royal Palace with its museums and views, Ruszworm, a tiny little pastry shop with famous Kremes (pronounced Kraymesh), The Matyas Templom and maybe the Hilton Hotel which was built inside an old monastery or nunnery.  Take some pictures. 
9:00am: Eat some kremes (also known as the breakfast of champions). 
9:30: Meander over to the siklo and ride it down to the circle in front of the Lanc Hid (chain bridge).
10:00am: Walk over the bridge. Take some pictures.
10:30am: Continue walking straight into the Bazilika. Climb to the top. (Note: you can only do this after 10am, but that's cool because it's already 10:30am! See how I planned everything so beautifully? Eh? Areen't you glad you have friends who look out for you? OK. Moving on -).
10:45am: Look around. Swoon. Take some pictures.
11:00am: Stop by Gelartorosa for some flower ice cream (I like the dark chocolate, pistachio and lavender, but I don't think you can go wrong there. Everything tastes good).
11:20am: Grab a cab and head over to the Hungarian market or "Nagy Csarnok".
11:45: Once inside, buy some felted pillow cases and wallets, paprika, pogacsa, eros pista, secret boxes, beigli, and maybe even an embroidered tablecloth or two (they're the most beautiful tablecloths you've ever seen. For the realz)!
1:30pm: Cab over to the Bagolyvár (Owl's Castle) for lunch. 
1:45pm: Order cold cherry soup and fried cheese (with blueberry jelly) AND madártej. (Ok. These don't actually all have to be consumed at the same place or time, but they must all be consumed. Trust me.) 
2:45pm: Ask someone to point you towards Heroes' Square.
2:50pm: Admire the statues. Take pictures.
3:15pm: Go to the Szecsenyi Baths which are nearby or the Gellert Baths which are on the Pest side of the Duna (Danube).
3:30pm: Go inside. You don't even need to swim (bathe?), but it's definitely worth taking a peek!
4:30pm: Go back across the river and walk down Vaci Utca. Admire some mad Hungarian flower arranging skills, shops, and--at times--questionable male fashion. Become generally distracted by everything around you. Drink some fresh lemonade. Go to a grocery store; stock up on chocolate.
***THIS WOULD ALSO BE A REALLY GOOD TIME TO BUY A LOT OF TURO RUDI***
6:00pm: Eat dinner at Cyrano, Remiz, or the Gundel
8:00pm: Walk down the Danube. Digest. Take pictures.
9:00pm: Stop by Gerbeaud for some hot cocoa. 
11:00pm: Collapse--exhausted, but ridiculously happy. 

Yeh.

That's what I would do.

Five (Full): Yah-eey ray-mesh (<-- sorry attempt to phonetically reproduce a common Hungarian exclamation)! So much to do in so little time! Well, I would wake up early -- something that I only suggest in the most desperate circumstances. Start your day at the Fisherman's Bastion, or Halászbástya. Wander around there for a little bit admiring the statues and architecture. Eventually, you should find a kürtős kalács (chimney cake) stand at which to get your breakfast. Once you have accomplished this, cross the Lánchíd into downtown Pest, mozy past Szent István-bazilika (duck inside if you want to see St. Stephen's shriveled hand. It's pretty neat.) to get some flower fagyi,  which is delicious. Head over to Vaci Utca -- the main shopping street -- for some people watching, flower purchasing, and lunch at Cyrano (I'd suggest their lentils). Also, at some point, take a picture with this dude, because everyone takes a picture with that dude. Then, follow Vaci Utca down to the Nagy Csarnok and haggle your way into some awesome Hungarian doodads, like matyo and paprika. Pick up a pogasca for the metro ride to Hero's Square, admire this seriously monumental monument and then wander over to the Vajda Hunyad Castle to appreciate the statue of Anonymous, the writer of much Hungarian history. Next go to dinner at the Bogolvar (Owl's Castle). At the Bogolvar, order körözött, fried cheese, and madártej. Then head back to your hotel (where I assume you'll be staying). Before tucking in for the night, stop at Gerbeaud and end your day with some first-rate ice cream and hot chocolate.

In short, I gain a lot of weight whenever I go to Hungary.*


*I remand myself of any responsibility should exponential weight gain and/or stomach rupturing occur as a result of following my advice. And anyway, if it does, it will have been worth it.