dream big

these words come from one of my favorite songs dream big by Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband. As I took the time to doodle them out, I began to think about the words more specifically. Obviously I love how encouraging they are, reassuring that one can get through the hard times and that dreams can still come true. One thing I realized though about the chosen words, is if one can go through life with a smile on their face, with laughter and joy, being proud of who they are, and sharing that in prayer with the Lord, I'd say they really are living out a dream.

crosnes

Also known as Japanese artichokes, Chinese artichokes, knotroot and Chorogi, CROSNES are an heirloom member of the mint family. But there's no familial resemblance. First cultivated in France outside Paris, near Crosne, these unusually shaped edible tubers were very popular in Europe from their introduction in the 1880s until the 1920s. CROSNES are still cultivated in Europe but we now have California-grown Crosnes!

CROSNES are eaten raw (their flavor when raw is somewhere between a potato and jicama with a distinct nuttiness), in salads, or stir fried, boiled, in or on soups, gratineed, as a side dish or garnish.


just another new find at the farmer's market. luckily the interested that Laura and I had in these little treats was enough for the vender to give a free handful to sample as he was certain we'd return for more once we cooked with them... let me just say, he was right.

life on the farm

Oh how I love my chats with my dad in the mornings... it's so convenient to be able to call him during my drive into work. This week his story just happened to be about the night the cows got out. My dad awoke around 1 o'clock a.m. to our dog barking ridiculously more so than usual, figuring something must have been wrong he went outside to check things out to find the cows wondering aimlessly all over the place. My mom and my sister got up to help, Michael and Angela were called over, all with flashlights in hands as they spread out to gather the cows. Joseph (who was still up town at the bar) could see a bunch of scattered white eyes throughout the field as he drove home down the gravel road. They herded them through the chute to be counted and recounted. 101... still short one. The neighbors were even there to help and the lone staggler was spotted on a four wheeler run to the edge of the fields. Along the edge of the barn, the pens are all double gated except for this one spot on the end. Of course, that just so happened to be the gate that they happed to get open.

My favorite part of the story... no one managed to wake up my little brother Jacob and let's just say he was a little upset when he found out that he slept through it all. I guess it doesn't make me feel so bad that I wasn't the only one who missed out on such a family affair.

girlfriends

I’ve said this before and I know I’ll say it again and again, but I have been blessed with the most amazing girlfriends. Dispite the distance that exists between us all, there’s a bond that manages to keep us close.
Friday night I was able to catch up with Bo, we chatted for about 90 minutes. I feel it was one of those nights where Bo wasn’t able to sleep, which works out so conviniently that there’s a two hour time difference. I spent another hour on the phone today, this time with Lynn, who keeps herself very busy on the tropical island, but we always share amazing conversations to bring things back up to speed. In the mail today I also recieved a heart warming letter from Gina and a little note form Andrea, who I often exchange quick little e-mails through out the work week and touch base regularily over the phone. Then this weekend, Janelle is coming to LA to visit and I’m excited for a full weekend of quality girl time. To top it all off, I get to spend time each week with Laura in person, as she’s right here in LA with me.
It’s not typical to talk with each of my girls in one weekend, but I wouldn’t say it’s uncommon as we all understand and appreciate eachother so that despite the distance and ever changing lifestyles we each lead, we all keep in touch, allowing the friendships to continue to grow.

lost

I had my first tyring experience of being lost amongst the traffic of L.A. It was friday night and I has a package slip from UPS–it was my gift from Janelle and Jaimi–with nothing much else to do I decided I’d call and pick it up. The UPS station gave me directions, it was just east of downtown, get on the freeway, take the Broadway exit and turn on to N Main Street. All seemed fairly easy, so out I went. Well, the freeway was easy and so was the exit, but once the streets started to curve and merge into eachother coming to intersections with four other streets, I no longer could figure it out. While I usually pride myself in my sense of directions, I found out that sometimes one just needs to bite the bullet and get directions, which I did—once from the cop that pulled me over and then again at a gas station. Yes, while I was completely unsure as to where I was and which way to go next, I had the flashing blue and red lights behind me. Luckily I was able to make my plea of being from Iowa and clueless as to where I was, so he let me go, and quite frankly, I don’t even know why he pulled me over. But regardless, that’s when I knew I couldn’t figure it out myself and since the UPS store would have by this time been closed, I got directions and headed back to the familiar streets of Santa Monica and N Gardner.

cherimoya [chehr-uh-MOY-ah]

Also called custard apple , this large tropical fruit tastes like a delicate combination of pineapple, papaya and banana. Irregularly oval in shape, the cherimoya has a leathery green skin that has a scaly pattern not unlike large, overlapping thumbprint indentations. The flesh, peppered with large, shiny black seeds, is cream-colored and the texture of firm custard. Now grown in California, cherimoyas are available from November through May. Purchase fruit that’s firm, heavy for its size and without skin blemishes; avoid those with brown splotches. Store at room temperature until ripe (they will give slightly with soft pressure), then refrigerate, well wrapped, up to 4 days. Serve cherimoyas well chilled. Simply halve, remove the seeds and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Cherimoyas contain a fair amount of niacin, iron and vitamin C.

one of my new finds as I begin to explore the various farmer's markets in LA. the odd shape intrigued me at first and once I got home and opened it up for the taste, I was sold on it's amazing flavor.

2006

Another year has come and gone. Sometimes you just really have to wonder where time goes.... but then again, it’s one of the few things in life that’s completely constant.

I remember last year sitting with Janelle in our apartment no.8 reviewing the past year. I recall the realization of all the amazing stepping-stones that I took in 2005; it included my senior year of college, with porfolio reviews and final parties, an eye-opening trip to El Salvador in March and graduation in May. I started my first job with Better Homes and Gardens met my new roommate and moved into the Lexington, it was a year of new transitions as I saw many of my friends take on big adventures and celebrated with others at their weddings.

After a year like that, I never imagined another year could compare, and though it was slow to take off, 2006 was yet again another year full of stepping stones that I never imagined would come my way.

To keep me occupied during those long winter months, I formed a broomball team. I never new I had such a calling to be on the ice.

It was during this time too that I went through a stretch of intense cake baking... the one for Bo’s birthday was probably the best, even though the one for Andrea was probably the best decorated. I hosted a fondue party for my birthday for all my closest friends and prepared Easter brunch for my family, as I finally was able to convince them to visit. I began to realize I had a passion to entertain with food and bake in my kitchen.

By this time I was completely emerged into the BHG work load and things were starting to get crazy, I was going on photo shoots to art direct the food stories and those art plans for Karol’s ESPS were never ending, oh the pressure to get a green check. Then she got fired and I was informed of an opening at Country Home. There was talk of redesign and a realization of the workload that lay ahead, I interviewed with Country Home and debated whether it would postpone my desires to explore a new city.

To continue to keep myself occupied outside of work, I decided to train for a marathon with Team In Training, which included fundraising and a full summer of early Saturday mornings (which also meant sacrificing my Friday nights). I also played softball and volleyball, which ended up being more of a drag as we never won and no one was that excited to be there.

To get away from the all the chaos and life changing decisions, I was able to spend a vacation with my family up at my grandma’s cabin for the fourth of July and an ever so amazing and relaxing week on the Virgin Islands visiting my friend Lynn.

I ended up turning down the job with Country Home as Shelley’s words rang in my mind and I wanted to prove that I could leave the comforts of Meredith and like many of my good girlfriends have already done, take on the adventures of a new city and the challenges that it may bring. So I started the job hunt and came across the opening at Bon Appetit with the first search I clicked.

This is when the rollercoaster picked up speed and I often felt I was spinning. From late nights at work to realizing I’d have to leave the Lexington regardless of whether I’d stay or leave the city.

Through all the craziness as I like to describe it, there’s the one thing that happened that I honestly believe kept me from stressing too much and becoming depressed. I met Greg. For the first time in my life, I connected with someone in away I can’t quite describe. He made me smile (which I know I often do) but I felt all giddy inside and so comfortable when he was there.

I was contacted by Bon Appetit, I sent in my portfolio and was flown out for an interview. Things were getting even worse at BHG as two more staff members had decided to leave. Within two days of the interview I was offered a job that was really too good to resist. I put in my two weeks and started to say my good-byes.

I ran my marathon in San Francisco and finished with an impressive time of 4:08:08. I spent a few extra days to explore the city that I immediately fell in love with. Of course, I had plenty to think about during my time away and as I was able to prepare my emotions for what was to come.

After packing up and spending a few days at home and one more afternoon with Andrea, I hit the road and enjoyed an amazing road trip across the country along the ol’ Route 66 with none other than Bo.

I was welcomed to LA with Laura’s open arms and a small little studio that I find to be cute and cozy. The job has been wonderful as I enjoy the lax hours, the freedom to design, and opportunity to taste all the amazing recipes that are prepared.

It’s been almost two months and after a most wonderful trip home to see friends in Des Moines and share Christmas with my family, I realized that I honestly don’t think I can be gone for that long.

So as I look toward the year 2007, I have a list in mind of all that I want to see and do and take in and learn from my adventures of living in LA. As far as what else the year will bring, I can only imagine, and that I will, as I often like to dream... and when I do, I dream big (as big as the ocean blue).