Friday, April 22, 2011

Passover on Piedmont

A few weeks ago as I stood over a pot of chopped parsley and Carciofi at a Passover cooking class, a crazy little idea popped in to my mind. "I can do this," I thought. "I can totally do this."  I ran over to my mom and begged for her help to make it happen.  I texted my mother-in-law to tell her the news.
Fast forward three weeks and here we are hosting the very first annual Double T Degnan Passover Seder! Yes, I just crowned it that. I hope that doesn't commit us to a lifelong tradition of hosting seders, but I think I could do it again as long as there are no more oven fires, no more lost potatoes in the bottom of the oven and no more burnt macaroons!

It was a night to remember and a fun first milestone for us and our itty bitty kitchen:
Adding charoset to the seder plate...

Our awesome table!

When your family lives 10 bajillion miles away, you celebrate Passover together via Skype...

Where the magic happens

Happy in-laws!

KFP birthday cake for Amy

Elijah's Cup

Our friends and family spoiled us with beautiful flowers everywhere!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Brand New Day


sunrise from my london apartment, 2004

some kind of magic
happens late at night
when the moon smiles down on me
and bathes me in its light 
i fell asleep beneath you
in the tall blades of grass
when i woke the world was new
i never had to ask
it's a brand new day
the sun is shining... -joshua radin


Wednesday, April 6, 2011

I believe.

Today, I believe in this:

I truly believe that love is what makes the world go 'round.  Love for your family, love for your friends, love for your hobbies, love for your past and love for your future.  I believe in destiny, but it doesn't mean you should cease control of your own path.  I believe in children and cheesy motivational quotes, because both have the power to inspire change.  I do believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls, and in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong.  I believe that homemade is better than store-bought anything.  I believe in being kind to strangers (for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle...)  I believe that life is big.  Scratch that.  Life is huge, and we are so, so small.  I believe that bad things happen to good people for reasons we will never know.  I believe in the power of prayer, if for nothing else than to clear our minds and focus our energies on what truly matters.  I believe that blogging has changed our whole world by connecting people who would have never found each other otherwise.  I believe that if you love someone, you should hurry up and show it (A six year old said that.)  I believe that the best place on earth can be anywhere at any time.  In a tent, in a stadium, in Rome, or in the arms of your other half.  I believe that we should fill each day with all the joy our hearts can muster.  I believe in celebrating the simplest of things.  I believe in soy lattes, spontaneous dance parties in the kitchen, and the five love languages.   

I believe in so. many. things.  What do you believe in? 

Friday, April 1, 2011

I Haz Bro-in-Law

me:  raaar
i'm staring at a blog that needs updating
i'm in a write-sy mood
whattttttttt should i write about
Jamie:  probably me
and how awesome i am
write about this weekend, going to do the 5k
and hang with the people
i'm thinking pool party saturday afternoon! yea?
write about that until 1942, we would say the pledge of allegiance while pointing at the flag nazi style
(they stole it from us)
but we totally borrowed the idea from the Romans