Have you ever been to Niagra Falls?

Check out this cool picture from 1911, when Niagra Falls had completely frozen over. How neat! I've never seen this wonder in real life, but would love to go during the hot New York summer.

(photo credit unknown, found via StumbleUpon)

Do you like poetry?

In the mood for some raw and real poetry? Check out my friend Micah's beautifully woven words that so clearly paint a picture of love and heartache, in a unique and very understandable way. I think his words are relate-able, although intense, because we've all felt this heartache, in some way, haven't we?

What do you think? Do you like poetry?

(photo via pinterest)

Where to eat Wednesdays: Fruit Stands

I would have to say one of my favorite parts of Los Angeles are all the guys on the corners selling delicious, fresh fruit with lime and chili poured all over it! My favorite is the watermelon and coconut. Especially the coconut, because not all the stands have this, so when I see that they do, I get extra excited and feel the need to buy it no matter what I'm doing.

Zac thinks I'm kinda nutty about it. He doesn't like it because he says I ruin the fruit with all of the chili, but you know what I say to that!? Get your own fruit!

Have you tried the fruit stands? Any other good street vendor recommendations in other cities?

Whichbook

Check out this cool website with an innovative way to help you explore new reads you might be interested in. Whichbook provides a range of categories (funny/serious, optimistic/ bleak, long/short are just a few), and asks you to specify your interest in order for the website to provide suggestions based on your choices. Pretty cool, huh?

Which would you pick? I narrowed my choices down to optimistic, non violent, down to earth, and fairly safe/ not disturbing.. I think this was all in response to my current, rather violent and not so down-to-earth read, The Hunger Games.

Something Beautiful

How beautiful are these flowers?

Today was the prettiest day in LA. Sunny, with breeze. It was perfect. My friend and I went for a nice long walk, and I've got the red skin to prove it! And Zac and I ate lunch outside (in the welcomed breezy shade). So I'm proud to say that today I got to enjoy nature's beauty and the lovely day with good people. What did you see that was beautiful today?

(flowers via all things girly and beautiful)

I can't tell if...

I really like this dress, or I really like it on this model.



What do you think? It does come in 4 lovely colors. And all I want to wear this summer are dresses..

(via Anthropologie)

Do you like to curse?

Do people even say "curse" anymore? I always think it sounds like I'm in 8th grade if I say "cuss". Anyway, I was never much of a curser, but I think in my old age, my mouth can get occasionally dirty. And let's be honest, sometimes it's just fitting. But, when I do let it slip, I think I always feel a little ashamed of myself, and in the most old-fashioned way, as if I'm not being a 'lady'.

What do you think? Do you curse? Does it make you feel better? Did your parents influence on you in this regard? I think my mom is the one who always made me conscious of the words I choose.

(photo via pinterest)

PS- what's your favorite curse word?

Where to eat Wednesday

This week, in honor of me and Zac's effort to do some more home cookin', let's eat in this Wednesday. And if you're willing to try out a new recipe, check out this mushroom lasagna that I recently tried. It seemed a little adventurous since it calls for a béchamel sauce rather than marinara or loads of ricotta, but it was delicious. While traditional lasagna is nothing to scoff at, this is a welcome and refreshing twist.

Do you have a favorite recipe? I'm not the best chef, so I would opt for something easy to remember, but would love to hear suggestions to expand my repertoire!

Mangia, Mangia!

(recipe via Smitten Kitchen)

Baby Names

So I realize I haven't posted about baby names yet. And since people always ask about names, I thought this would be a good topic.

One of the big issues was if the baby was going to be a girl, Zac and I would have a terrible time deciding on a girl's name. But, give us a boy, and that's easy, name him after dad.

Luckily, my dad had a pretty bad-ass name. Strong, easy to pronounce, and when I tell people what it is, they say it sounds "royal". I can take that! So get ready world, because Baby James can't wait to change it forever!

The baby's full name will be James Richard, and I think it's pretty cool because my dad always went by Richard, so in a way, the little guy can kind of make a name for himself in some way too. It's like the best of both worlds.

So here's to baby James, and what the heck, boys everywhere!

Life is Good

Today, I ate dessert before dinner. 'nuff said.

(picture from Just A Taste, and although I didn't have these pecan bars for dessert, I kind of wish I had!)

Baby Daddy Style

How adorable and hot at the same time?

(photo found via pinterest)

What are you reading?

Do you like to read? If so, what do you read? Blogs, books, US magazines? One of my co-workers and I joke about how he loves to read PEOPLE and US, and he's not kidding! I think it's cute because it's true, sometimes you just need to do some mindless reading, boys included!

I'm currently reading the Hunger Games series and am totally into it. I remember when I was just out of college, all I wanted to read were classics, like Anna Karenina, because I couldn't believe I had gotten through all of this schooling without ever reading such classic novels. Needless to say, I never finished Karenina. And now, all I care about reading is something that's not study material for an exam.

So, what do you read? Any recommendations?

(image from Catching Fire, the 2nd in the Hunger Games series, which I just finished and highly recommend!)

I was right

Just to clarify.. last week, I mentioned the embarrassing fact that Zac and I couldn't agree on what week I am. He has an application on his phone that said I was a week later than I thought I was. Let's just say I was mortified- the idea that I didn't even know THIS about my pregnancy (considering I go to the doctor at LEAST once a month) was not okay with me.

So, we checked with the doc and I was right. Of course Zac had a moment of denial that his electronic device could be wrong- checking his app. and saying "ya, that's what I said!" This was proceeded by a conversation of "what do you trust more, your wife or your app?- in which Zac replied that he basically trusts the app. more.

THEN- about a second later, Zac saw how the app. failed him, which was sweet justice for me, and I took a moment to rub it in. But even better, now it's publicly documented.

It's not that I have to be right all the time- it's just that, I don't make a point about something if I'm not sure; so in that case, I do love to be right...
but don't we all :)

(image via thebump)

P.S. I am 24 weeks and not only is baby as heavy as a cantaloupe, but as long as an ear of corn!

Are You Superstitious?

Guess how Zac started his day the other day? A pigeon pooped on him while walking our dog! I told him that's good luck, have you heard that superstition? But it's pretty funny right? I don't know if I'd be laughing if it happened to me, but Zac is a really good sport.

So I wanted to take a moment to point out his awesome attitude. It's all about how you look at things right? You can either take a bird pooping on your head in the morning as a catalyst for complaint during your then very long day, or, laugh at it, accept it, and keep it in your pocket as a funny story. Or, as some people do, interpret it as good luck, and really be an eternal optimist! I tend to admire the latter, because life is always better with a little optimism in it.

(image credit: istockphoto)

Where to eat Wednesday: Gottsui

A few weeks ago, Zac and I acted more spontaneously than we usually do, and we tried out an awesome new Japanese restaurant on the west side. Japanese food is my all time favorite, with sushi, udon, curry, yakiniku, ramen, it's all so good!

So for a fun advenuture this week, I recommend going to check out Gottsui. They specialize in okonomiyaki and teppanyaki. And my only critique is that the okonomiyaki was really salty, but I think that's how it's supposed to be. The atmosphere was fun and the service was great! The server recommended a drink for me called Yuzu honey water and after noticing I wasn't that into it, promptly got me another, much better drink called Calpico water, it was fun and delicious.

The cool part is when I was in Japan a few years ago visiting my bubby, Amanda, we tried okonomiyaki while in Kyoto. So I could tell this is the real thing!



(top image from Gottsui, bottom image of our okonomiyaki in Japan. They're like Japanese crepes, with bacon!)

Dream Interpretation

So last night, I had a dream that I was auditioning for a movie with the one and only George Clooney. It was vivid, he was there, I was nervous. My feelings of anxiety were clearly representative of my anxiety leading up to the exam I took today, the first part in my pursuit to get my license as a clinical social worker. I have to say though, in my real conscious life, I think I handled my anxiety pretty well. It helped that Zac was there being awesome cooking me dinners and doing the dishes, and all of my lovely friends and family provided very sweet support and encouragement. Of course, in my dream, I never found out how I did, I never even made it into the actual audition. But in real life, I made it to the test, and....

I did it!

My strategy worked! I told myself, "You can do this, you've studied enough, and you're smart, gosh darnit!" I had to really work to not let the nerves get to me. It didn't hurt that I'm a little superstitious either, and I happened to schedule the test on what would be my mom and dad's 40TH wedding anniversary. I guess you can say I felt like I had dad in my corner for this one, and I had baby in my belly as a good luck charm too :)

So that's it. I passed my test! I still have one more test to go, but now I've got a little confidence under my belt, and have heard that the 2nd one isn't as bed. PHEW. So it's time to celebrate!

What will you take time to celebrate today?

Michelle

Please excuse my recent delay in posts, this has been a hectic week! But I'm happy to say things will be back in full effect tomorrow! In the mean time, happy Sunday~

(PS, isn't Michelle Williams so gorgeous in this picture? via Pinterest)

Best get out of school free note ever

Wouldn't you just be the coolest kid at school if you brought this note to the teacher?!

(note from President Obama:)

Confession

So, I think it's kind of funny, but also kind of embarrassing, that Zac and I are debating on exactly how far along I am with this whole pregnancy thing. I mean, this is a bad indicator if we don't even know this much, right!? I'm not too worried about it, but, I say I'm just starting my 23rd week, and Zac's iphone app (yes, iphone app), says I'm starting my 24th week according to my due date. Luckily, we're seeing the doctor on Friday and can straighten this mystery out!

Assuming I'm correct, our little guy is as large as a grapefruit! And here are some fun facts about baby at this stage:

- he's already forming little nipples! (see, I'm embarrassing him already)
- his cute little face is fully formed- he's just waiting on a little extra baby fat to fill it out
- and he can hear what's going on out here! Not only my voice, but Brewster's bark (and Zac's singing:)

(sassy picture of me in San Jose in my 22nd week and facts via thebump.com)

Celebrate love

What are your plans this weekend? Zac and I are going to a wedding in Aptos, CA, and I'm excited because apparently it's near Santa Cruz, and I've never been. The occasion is reminding me of something our rabbi said at our wedding, along the lines of: weddings are great because it brings people together to celebrate love- and then we go home inspired to duplicate that feeling/ celebration. He was much more eloquent, but you get the gist.

I hope you get to celebrate some love this weekend, even if it's just taking a moment to be in awe of the night sky, or your puppy, or your baby! Here's to love!

(photo via cupcake plans)