Perspective

Anyone who has a young child has probably seen the Pixar film Ratatouille at least once. (If you haven't, it's worth checking out.)

In the movie, there is this one scene where Anton Ego, any restaurateur's feared food critic, is seated in Gusteau's after the main (human) character learns he is the rightful heir to it and says,

"You know what I'm craving?

A little perspective.

That's it.

I'd like some fresh, clear, well seasoned perspective.

Can you suggest a good wine to go with that?"

Obviously, I'm taking this quote entirely out of context. I've been thinking back to this soundbite over and over as we come up and over the holidays this year. It's always rife with family drama and headaches. What holiday is complete without them? There will always be one family member unhappy with another for some reason or another. Whether you take sides, play Nordic or ignore it altogether is all part of the grand design of these drawn out, often painful and uncomfortable situations.

Here's what I think (just me - I don't speak for my better half):

WHAT is driven by WHY.

WHO is driven by WHAT.

WHERE is driven by WHO.

HOW is driven by WHY.

WHEN is driven WHO. 

WHY will always be a mystery.

That's two WHOs that don't give two hoots about
WHY WHAT is WHERE WHEN or HOW.

I'm not sure if what I just said makes any sense to you but it did at the time I was writing it. You get my bigger point here, right?

Life is not just black and white.

Let it go.

Crave perspective.

Your Resolutions

The start of a new year is drawing nearer each passing moment ...

tick tock, tick tock, tick tock ...

and what are the types of things we're so determined to stand firm on next year?

Are we convinced that this is the year we'll lose those pesky ten (maybe more like twenty) pounds gained over the holidays?

Is it decided that we'll make more time for ourselves, our children or our spouses?

Become a better friend, a more caring sibling or a considerate neighbor?

Whatever it is that you're hoping, wishing and dreaming about for 2010, there is little consolation that these things don't happen on their own. These things must take on a life of their own and more than just a slight modicum of effort on ourselves for it to materialize.

Thank you friends, family and e-samaritans for unfailing support, renewed energy and exemplifying the magnitude an act of simple human kindness can impress on a person.

Wishing everyone out there a safe and Happy New Year! See you in 2010!!

End of Year Musings

We're almost to the end of the year and there a lot of erratic emotions wildly flying through our hearts ... not quite sure where to settle down. The holidays are bittersweet and the bite of loss is sharp. To cope and make it through each day, it is and was important to remind myself of the things I am thankful for.

Everyone is doing their countdown of the "Best of 2009" so I adapted that to my own liking here.

NARIA and KEN'S BEST OF 2009

JANUARY

Enjoying the wedding planning and setting a date.

FEBRUARY

Deciding a wedding theme and searching venues in a few different states.

MARCH

Planning and booking our annual joint family vacation.

APRIL

Found a venue!!!
Thanks to a wonderful suggeston - much appreciation!

Many, many birthdays!!!

MAY

Bridal dresses, the Knot and my birthday :)

JUNE

We're pregnant!! Oh Happy Day!

JULY

We're sick and preparing for vacation.

AUGUST

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!
No laptop!
Enough said.

SEPTEMBER

We're married!

Finishing first trimester and seeing 3-D ultrasound photos.
We're in awe!

OCTOBER

Shy of our next exam, Nari is born and became our personal guardian angel.

Most beautiful little girl we ever saw!

NOVEMBER

Becoming a "Mrs." on plastic and fried turkey.

DECEMBER

Ending the year - we're so ready for twenty-ten.

I forgot how wonderful it is having a living Christmas tree.

I also keep forgetting that a real Christmas tree means it also needs watering ... oops!

Don't worry though! It's still alive ...

... and holding all of our ornaments ...

... complete with a trinket admirer.

From one family to yours, keep loved ones close and warm your hearts by the fire that creates.

We exist to enjoy the adventures that these connections spark.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Wonderful Kwanzaa everyone!!!

Thanksgiving Peace

Thanksgiving was a very calm affair this year. So calm, in fact, that I plum forgot to take any pictures of our cooking frenzy. Even though I didn't plan to cook much this year because of my scheduled surgery the day before Thanksgiving (yes, it was very bad timing), it turned out that I just couldn't stay out of my kitchen!

Have I shown you my kitchen?

This is newly renovated as of last Thanksgiving and it's by far my most favorite place in our house!

I custom ordered the butcher block top and my handy husband made the island from scratch.

Notice my pot filler above the stove?

This one thing alone made the months of take-out worthwhile!

We finished off the floor with bamboo hardwood, purchased all new stainless steel appliances and installed granite countertops (shown below).

On the wall, right of the breakfast bar, is where I used chalkboard paint and an open frame to good use ...

And what is the question on every woman's mind while cooking?

Amid these surroundings, our feast came together. Even though we didn't have our usual crowd this year, it was a blessing in disguise because what we needed most this time around was peace.

I wish I had taken pictures of the table settings, food prep and finished dishes but the most notable differences this year was our decision to deep fry our turkey, homemade cranberry sauce (instead of the Ocean Spray canned) and the "Turkey Derrick" (courtesy of The Food Network) Ken rigged to lower the turkey into the fryer.

Knowing that this may very well be our last Thanksgiving at this house before we officially move up north, we're making each moment here count.

We're picking up our tree a week late because we had already moved our decorations to the other house so once we pick those back up, we'll be picking out a tree at the lot to decorate.

Christmas is almost here and we're already running behind!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Watch out for Christmas decorations and crafts - It really is the most wonderful time of year!

Wishful Thinking ...

I think everybody has those moments where you take a snapshot of a moment in your life and wish it away. Those moments make you doubt the person you are and test what you're made of. Most have a love/hate relationship with those moments. I know I do.

I'm looking at the tall turntable of festive and LUSCIOUS cupcakes.  The heavenly aroma of freshly brewed specialty coffees hangs in the air. I've been sitting in a quirky coffeeshop plugged into my iTunes and hooked into their Wi-Fi just loving this moment.

In the time of year where the focus is what we are thankful for, it is very difficult for me to BE thankful although I know that there is much I AM thankful for. Focusing on the positive is unfailingly exhausting these days but I'm trying.

I'd like to share with you my list of things that I'm thankful for this year.

I'm thankful for ...

... the unseasonably warm days of November in New England.

... the turning of the seasons (I would surely miss it if I were ever to leave this area).

... my understanding, supportive and positive husband.

... my well-intentioned family (you all know what I'm talking about here).

... knowing pain to appreciate joy that much more.

... understanding loss to treasure the present.

... feeling grief to honor my past.

... experiencing birth, even in it's tragedy, to realize miracles happen.

Life doesn't always happen in the ways that you might expect and often times, we're left with the scars and gaping wounds that can only hope to heal in time. Yet, even through the times where you aren't sure why "bad things can happen to good people" or why "good things can happen to bad people", stay faithful to the first phrase.

What do I mean by that?

Remember that you are a good person. Bad is the balance of good and that the grass always seem greener on the other side.

Thanksgiving is about more than food, it's about family and appreciating the glue that keeps it together ... whatever that may be!

Wishing eveyone a Happy Thanksgiving!!

p.s. Send me updates on your Thanksgiving. I'll be posting pictures and possible personal recipes after the holiday.