Oh come on, it was on a double-word score.

"Caption that picture" contest?  Anyone? My submission: "Sometimes you have to work with what you're given."

Also, my blog and I got a grown-up URL today! Although the old link of course still works, you can now find us at loveandpaella.com

Send your friends, we aren't bashful about visitors.

In Which I Impress You With My Suave Transitions

Excuse the out-of-focusness please.  My camera La Rebel was on an Alaskan cruise, the diva.  The iPhone had to pinch hit.

My friend Leanne is a total Francophile.  She speaks fluent French, goes to France all the time - she even married a French man, which, let's be honest, is a pretty big statement.

Anyway, she went to Paris recently and I had been pleading with her to bring me back a croissant.  She brought me back the above.  A ring.  So I can wear it on my  finger. Sadly, it isn't edible.  I've tried.

Anyway, in a roundabout way this is leading me up to Spanish food.  I can't really think of a good transition here so I am just going to go for it. (Gosh I am so SMOOTH, baby!)

Spanish food I can't wait to eat:

• Paella (duh).  Name of this blog.  Pictured above right on header. Pronounced pie- AY-yuh.  Is pure deliciousness.

• Gazpacho. Chilled vegetable soup with some sort of magical creaminess.  Faint.
• Sangria (it's the Mediterranean, I can include wine as a food group if I want to)

Spanish food of the "whaaat?" variety that I am determined to try:

• Pulpo:  Octopus.
• Any of the jazillion varieties of fish.  Not a fish lover, I'll admit.  I saw the Little Mermaid, I know they're really all jolly, reggae-singing cuties who it's a crime to eat. 

Don't worry, I will report back.  And there will be (non-fuzzy) pictures.

15 days until launch

Things of sentimental value

My dad gave me these pearls when I graduated college, and if someone ever stole them I would probably cry.

We are moving to Spain in 20ish days. The home stretch, which, in our case (leaving home) is aptly worded.

Our to-do list is as long as my arm and got longer this week when The Mister has his bag stolen while he was playing basketball.

Keys gone.
Wallet gone.
iPhone (brand new! argh) gone.

and, the kicker:

Wedding ring. Gone.

He always takes it off to play basketball because it's just a tad too big.  We are very lucky in that we have renter's insurance that is replacing everything for us (after a slightly painful deductible, but still).  But the wedding ring rankles.

Neither of us are hugely attached to material items in general, which is good considering The Mister's propensity for moving and the fact that we seem to get rid of all of our earthly belongings about every three years.  But still, there is something a bit sentimental about it being the ring I put on his finger on our wedding day. 

It doesn't matter, and it will get replaced, but it sorta still matters anyway.

Thieving little punk kid.

My Mom reads my blog

  
My mom isn't really a blog reader. She paints masterpieces and coaches figure skating and mentors younger women and mothers her three grown girls and generally has other pressing matters to attend to than the pithy ramblings of her middle child.

So she doesn't stop in too much. Which is okay in my book. Like I said, she's savin' the world, man.

But the other day, I stopped by her house, and she took my hand and gently led me to the refrigerator.

"I have something for you" she beamed, opening the door to reveal a lovely ice-cold bottle of raspberry lemonade, waiting for me.

"I know it's your favorite" she confessed, "because I read it on your blog!"

And it was the best raspberry lemonade in the world.

It tasted like a mother's love.

So, in short, I welcome my new reader and I add the age-old greeting:
"Hi Mom!"

   

You do me and I'll do you, only not in a dirty way

My friend Tara is a pretty sweet photographer. She and her Adam hadn't had pictures taken sans children in a few years.  The Mister and I hadn't had photos since my friend Christie took some in January 2008.  So a little while ago, we made a deal that went like this: YOU take pictures of US and WE will take pictures of YOU. 

We went under the lens first and Tara gave us this:


and this




and a lot more right here.

So, obviously she brought her A-game, and needless to say the bar was set a little high.  Here's what we were up against:

 1. I don't have my camera right now - I lent it to my parents to take on their 20th anniversary cruise that they are on right now. Hi Mom!  So, used Tara's camera instead.  Canon, Nikon, Schmikon.  Right? Right. Sort of.

2. When did the days start getting shorter?  We were doing double-time trying to beat the sunset.  A few of our last pics from the shoot were taken at downright twilight.

3. That was pretty much it but I feel like a proper list should have at least three entries?

Anyway, with the combined shooting skills of The Mister and I and the editing skills of Tara, this is what we collectively came up with. (Adam just sat there and looked pretty):









and more here.

I love swapping.