little gi

52 week project {week 10}

*sigh* was one of those weeks last week & after trying to take a photo a few times it just wasn't clicking...

but then this morning as i was going thru the pics trying to figure out what to post for 52 week project, i came across this one & kept going back to it, it just seemed to typify my week. i'm half in it, a bit in the shadow and barely in focus...just like me last week, half hobbled by a foot injury, overwhelmed & out of focus, struggling & frustrated....

but then i looked at the photo again....there is that light...

that light that is pushing at my back, coming on strong, pushing me forward...it's even kinda peeking over my shoulder...

*deep breath*...hmmm...it is Lent, ya know. time to rejoice in God's Love, be humbled and thankful for Christ's Sacrifice, count my blessings, smile & press on....

happy week 11 everyone!

xoxo

gigi

adventures in breadmaking...

the other day on pinterest i stumbled onto a cinnamon swirl bread recipe from babble's contributor: jamie mormann.  it just looked so easy....achievable even. 

& our family loves cinnamon swirl bread so much, i just had to give it a try.  & omgosh....SOOOO good!  i snuck a piece when i turned it out on the cutting board while it was still super warm.  SOOOOOO good!  more than good....my knees even buckled a tiny bit...seriously soooo good....

& *huge surprise* it was actually fun to make.  i had caught the bread baking bug.

and then yesterday i came across this blog post from jamie .  TOTALLY agree with the whole quality v. quanity approach to food. 

so i armed myself with this whole wheat flour & set to making some bread.

this time was a bit different.  i couldn't mix it in the kitchen aid for the whole 10 minutes because it started to do this whole "THUMP THUMP THUMP" thing and started bouncing around like crazy.  so i made an executive decision that it was "dough" & did the quick kneading thing next before popping it back in the oiled mixing bowl.

well....then it didn't quite rise very well.  so i set it on the counter for the night & went to bed thinking "rising thoughts" & feeling very pioneer woman-ish. 

then this morning, still feeling very "i am a bread making woman, hear me roar", i came downstairs & looked into the bowl.

hmmm....still not really risen that much.  another executive decision & i decided to forge ahead.  what's the worst that could happen?

did the whole "proofing" in the oven w/ the boiling water.  baked it (omgosh....smelled SO good), still didn't rise like i had expected, but i soldiered on and buttered the top.  then i turned on it's side and set it on the rack to cool (thought that was sort of interesting, i've never heard of that before...)

and waited....

finally slicing time came & i freaked a bit when the crust crumbled a little....seemed a tad dry and super dense.  but i was dying to try it...

so I toasted up a slice & slathered it with some peanut butter & then topped with bananas. 

maybe not artisan quality, but still...i'm so proud!

i think next time i'll try a different whole wheat flour or maybe use a cup of the whole wheat flour & the rest white flour.  going to toy with it a bit...

and then on to annie's eats sourdough :)

yep...the bread baking bug has definitely bitten 'round here....

happy monday!

xoxo

gi

52 week project {week 9}

still thoroughly enjoying the 52 week project 'round here and last week i chose to capture a bit of my new adventure:  running.

i've not really ran for quite some time.  i think the last time was after kate was born & i was on steroids and bursting with excess energy...back then i was getting up at 6 am to run on the treadmill for about an hour before the kids woke up.  i had worked myself up into quite a routine, it felt awesome. but then i fell "off the wagon" because of an injury & hadn't really been back running since. 

but then a friend suggested registering for an upcoming 5K at the Bronx Zoo and i found myself excited to get back into that running routine.  maybe, i could be a "runner" once again....that inner athlete was once again begging to get out...

so i downloaded a training program app onto my phone....a playlist that makes me feel like i can fly...and i nailed down a schedule that i can stick to....that i WANT to stick to.  and guess what...

i'm LOVING it!

and what is making the whole thing even more fun is a little "running squad" i've found on twitter among a bunch of sweet crafty friends.  they have been fantastic in keeping me motivated, inspired and on track.  it's just been so much fun cheering each other on...it's a great group & everyone has been super supportive.

can't wait to get out there again!  hoping to squeeze in a run tonight after mike gets home :)

happy monday! 

xoxo

gi

 

well hello there march!

we celebrated a very special birthday last night.  love this photo.  love love love.  but it kinda struck me how VERY different it is from that last big milestone birthday we celebrated for mike back in brooklyn...before kids...before lots of stuff, really...10 years ago seems like a lifetime away now

back then we had a HUGE surprise party with a ton of people (my parents even came up from philly)..we had a HUGE cannoli cake from my favorite Italian bakery in Little Italy that served 100...a HUGE, wildly expensive gift (a kyack)...it was a HUGE deal...

but this milestone birthday was quiet...just him & me & kelly, ryan & kate...a little homemade cake, a special homemade birthday dinner...the birthday song was punctuated with "cha...cha....cha!"...and a very special little homemade gift from Kelly (that i'm positive is worth about 40,000 kyacks to him)

funny how 10 years go by in the blink of an eye, but so much is so changes...

but geez....when i look at that picture up there...wow...life IS so good...how did i get so blessed?

happy friday!

xoxo

gi