$3 standing-mixer

I confess. I spent last Saturday morning raiding shelves at local thrift stores and found this vintage (?) green standing-mixer for only three dollars. Three dollars, what a find! Wanting to be a smart consumer, I plugged it in and to my guilty pleasure, witnessed it working. I brought it home and cleaned it to the best of my ability. It works, it's green and it was three dollars. Cool.

Although it didn't come with a bowl, I found that any bowl will compliment my mixer. Here it is assisting me with a side-dish of mixed yams and balsamic-goat cheese. I know. This dish is extremely bright, but never lacking in fresh flavor or ease...thanks to the green mixer.

For those wondering...this mixer does not replace the power and ability of the pink kitchen aid. Sorry, little green mixer.

blue shoes

Am I allowed to post my favorite shoes...hmm...just did. I wear these all the time. Maybe too much.

she does the hula

Madge, my mother-in-law, hulas...and does it well. Here she is at our wedding leading us in a Hawaiian act of art. Another activity Madge can be seen mastering: scuba-diving!

farmer's market deal

Here is a recent book I have enjoyed...mostly for the stories and pics. Actually, that's all the book is--stories and pictures...of the stories. Well, not of the actual text, but in visual support of the text. Glad to get that out the way. There could have been confusion. If interested, click on the link and notice the snag it is.

follow-ups

I thought you would enjoy these updates concerning former posts:

• robots
• peaches
• triathletic friend
• he likes animals

More follow-ups to come!

smoking tip

I don't smoke. I never have, actually. When I was little my mom told me she would give me one hundred dollars, if by the time I turned eighteen, I had never smoked. I would brag to my friends that I was getting one hundred dollars one day. It's funny what motivated me for that while. Need I be told the health effects of smoking or be influenced by media to not even try a cigarette...not even in a back ally of a run down shopping center? No...it was the money.
I recently tried smoking...salmon, silly. If you happen to enjoy the Martha Stewart cookbook found here, and have your hopes up to smoke salmon...be warned. While I am a huge fan of the book's layout and seasonal categorizing, this idea was a flop. It was suggested to layer a pan with uncooked rice and herbs and allow a skewered piece of salmon to be smoked through the rice. I take full responsibility for the mess I made and for the pan that has yet to function as it did before this unfortunate attempt. Great book; however. I recommend it.

mikayla

Our niece is just precious. Mikayla's parents have a beautiful little girl!

mike and jillian

This is Mike and Jillian, good friends from school. Isn't it a great shot of them? Good looking people, too. Jillian sent this photo to me and I wanted to share it with others. I met Jillian during my first week of college and have enjoyed her friendship since.

photos

I have been trying to learn how to use my camera. Please feel free to offer advice as I know nothing about photography but would like to. I also post many pictures on my Flickr account seen to the right. Thank you for looking at my blog and all it's randomness. I can't beleive I blog.

treadmill love

Who doesn't enjoy a good run? I suppose many come to mind when I stop to think about it. However, I have found running a great way to explore town, get fresh air and use up the energy I acquire from blogging...sitting down (how do you blog?). I especially enjoy to run while it's light outside and have had to creatively work it into the day as the sun is rising a little later each morning and setting earlier each night. Since I prefer pavement to hamster traps, treadmills are usually a last resort...think heavy rain and hail...no one enjoys that. This short video, called Here it Goes Again , may restore my love for the treadmill...and maybe your's.

mediterranean stew

Mediterranean dishes are usually easy to prepare and just happen to taste really good. Today it is overcast and cold, we even saw some rain. It's the perfect day to enjoy a warm pot of soup...or this...a Mediterranean stew. I know, it screams Summer and I have waited to try new Fall dishes, but this only takes twenty minutes to make and I had all the ingredients in my kitchen. Soon I will run out of hot-weather produce and feature the new season's tastes, but for now I'm glad for this.

Mediterranean Stew
By Sarah Ikegami

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1 Brown Onion

3 Cloves Garlic

1 Red Pepper

1 Small Eggplant

1 Summer Squash

2 Cups Crushed Tomatoes

2 Cups Garbanzo Beans

1/3 Cup Kalamata Olives

1 Tablespoon Capers

Parsley

Rosemary

Salt

Pepper

In a large soup pot (I used my new red pot, featured in my Flickr pics), heat olive oil with onion and garlic for five minutes. Chop all the vegetables. Feel freedom to substitute any vegetables and herbs but keep in mind the featured ingredients give this stew its Mediterranean flair. Add the remaining vegetables and cook at a medium-low heat, covered, for 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, beans and rosemary and cook, covered for five minutes. Stir in parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. This stew is delicious on its own or can be served with crusty bread...any variety, although I recommend an olive bread or rosemary polenta bread.

9-11

9-11 impacts many people. I can't even imagine what it would be like to have lost a spouse, parent, child or friend in this memorable tragedy. I am reminded my hope is never from this world...the good or bad that we encounter, but in Christ and Christ alone. I am thankful for America, but my soul rests in a living God and my allegiance is to Him.

book collecting

The Iliad, in North Hollywood, is a book collector's dream. Used books line the entire shop's walls...and much of the floor. I camped in this section of the store and browsed through old cookbooks...some coming straight from Mrs. Cleaver's shelves...others more modern. Rob searched curiously in the WWII, Disney and Beatles sections. I lost him a few times amidst the impressive assortment of books, but we found each other in the zoo-animal aisle. We could spend alot of time in this shop. If you have the time and are able to make the drive, I recommend it...cat allergy people beware of the wandering feline.

rob's saturday fave

Rob's favorite Saturday at-home breakfast. I can offer countless suggestions and variations...or even a different mug to shake things up, but he remains pretty consistent.

quick bread

Polenta Quick Bread with Lemon & Thyme

surroundings

I genuinely enjoy hanging out with groups of varied people. Yesterday I sat down for awhile at the farmer's market to watch the crowds.

Don't get caught in thievery at the market. Note the anti-steal camera...or light, I really can't tell. Either way, don't steal.

What a pleasant surprise, running into this. Who would have thought?

Roosters are everywhere--officially.

robots

An occurring theme in my life is robots. Yes, robots. The following are my recent robot run-ins:

• An album frequently played via my iTunes is called Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.
• Moby wrote a book about his tea shop which has robots.
• My husband is named Rob...coincident? I think not.
• His blog has the word "robot" in it.
• This work of art, by Brian, features a...you guessed it, an enormous robot.

Ratatouille

Written and directed by Academy Award(r) winning Brad Bird ("The Incredibles"), RATATOUILLE is based on an original concept by co-director Jan Pinkava.

debut

Rob blogs! C heck him out here.

julie

5 things to know about Julie:

1. Julie is short for Juliet.
2. Do you like Van Gough? So does Julie. She paints just like him. I actaully get the two confused...that is, their art.
3. Medical research is one of Julie's hobbies.
4. Julie can cook. She wears a Starbucks apron with the logo cut out because she doesn't want to confuse anyone...which isn't confusing at all.
5. Julie is very funny.

BBQ your pizza

The next time you prepare homemade pizza, try cooking your dough on the BBQ. It only takes a few minutes per side and grill-line-lovers dig it. It's worth a go...it might be your new favorite.

peaches

What to do with these peaches...more to come.

he likes animals

Rob loves animals. He really does. He has a special interest in large, beastly creatures, like the elephant (African elephant, please) and gorilla. He proudly captured this shot from the San Diego Zoo. You can also find him in wonder at the Santa Barbara Zoo and his most recent visit, the LA Zoo. No joke, he frequents zoos. Sometimes I tag along. I like the monkeys (who doesn't) and the peacocks...again, for the feathers.