On Grieving My Mom While Being a Mom

 I'm not sure if I'm ready to write about my mom yet. 

I think about her all the time. At least once a day I think "I really should call mom," because a part of me that isn't even thinking recognizes that I haven't spoken with her for too long. Then, just as quickly, I'll remember the reason why I haven't called her – she's not there any more. 

I hadn't seen my mom since January when she passed. I am so, so thankful that I spent last New Year's Eve, 2019 going into 2020, with her. Usually when I visit Maine for the holidays I go back to LA before the new year, but last year I stayed longer because my niece begged me too, and it just made sense. I didn't realize what a blessing it would be to have that memory: staying up until midnight chatting with my mom; mom, Izzy and I counting down to the New Year and toasting with sparkling cider and non-alcoholic champagne when the clock struck midnight. I wish we had taken pictures. 

Grandmom's Christmas Spriz Cookies

Can you tell that moms have been on my mind lately? With the passing of my mom, and now that I'm a mother myself, I've just been thinking so much about what motherhood and parenthood in general means. Especially around the holidays! My mom made Christmas feel totally magical every year, and I hope to pass down many of her Christmas traditions to my own baby. 

Every family has their own holiday traditions, and one of the first holiday memories I have of spending Christmas with my now-husband's family is of eating his Grandmom's Christmas cookies. 

Phyllis Yetter's Christmas Pumpkin Cookies

This Christmas season has been weird. First of all, we're stuck in a pandemic. We live in Los Angeles, which currently has the highest rate of Covid cases in, uh, THE ENTIRE WORLD, so we've been staying at home with the exception of taking Forest on walks and hikes. I've been working out my boredom and trying to cultivate a cheery Christmas atmosphere by baking dozens and dozens of cookies, from classic soft sugar cookies to Christmas pumpkin cookies and back again. 

Blog Reset and Personal Updates, 2020 Style!

Well, it's obviously been a long time since I posted an update here, and a lot has changed. Like, a LOT a lot. 

Me and my baby!

Firstly, I have still been writing. You can catch my articles over at SheKnows, where I write about food, home decor, and other topics related to cooking and the home. 

Secondly, in May the best thing ever happened. My husband Nate and I welcomed our baby boy Forest into the world! He is truly the light of my life, especially this year when so much horrible stuff has been happening in the world at large, and personally. 

Blood Orange and Meyer Lemon Salad with Sherry Vinegar

Winter in California means one thing to me: citrus season. Well, okay, two things: a respite from the blazing heat of the valley, and citrus season.

But really, the two go hand in hand. For so much of my life I associated citrus with hot weather. Sweet and tangy, refreshing lemons, limes and oranges make their way into so many summer beverages and ice pops. But I was shocked my first winter in Los Angeles, when the farmer's market began to overflow with dozens of types of citrus near the end of January and into February. I literally had no idea that there were so many types of tangerines, or oranges, and even grapefruit, in existence.

Vegan Peanut Butter Cups, because my New Year's resolution is "more chocolate," apparently

When I was little I was in a bowling league. I was terrible, yet it was still probably the peak of my athleticism (I apparently did not take after my Papa, a pro bowler who you can see throwing an epic strike here).

The best part of practice was getting a snack from the vending machine (see above review of my athletic career, ahem). My parents weren't the type to feed us candy for any old reason, so getting 50 cents from my dad and running to the vending machine with my sister to pick out anything we wanted was like hitting the kid lottery.

Thai Kale Salad and a 2016 life update

My in-laws (yes, in-laws! Officially!) are in town this week, and though we've been busy running around town with them, I finally have some down time this morning. With the new year here I thought it would be a good time to make a blog update, and to share a recipe that's healthy and yummy enough to be worthy of my first blog post of 2016.

As you may have noticed (in-laws, people!), I am now married! We had a ceremony in Maine in early October, and our little hometown couldn't have been a better location. The leaves were changing, the air was crisp, and our friends and families really made the experience a dream for us.