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Last weekend I took a very last minute trip and by last minute, I mean I told Chris I wanted to see my Aunt and an hour later I was out the door. By.Myself.Yeah! to Boise, ID. It was one of the things I really wanted to do during our stay here and since we aren't going to be here much longer, I seized the moment. I've been to Idaho once before when I was a teenager and on our way home from that trip, we were in a nasty car accident (read: the car rolled 3x off the road and down a hill.) I'd kind of forgotten about it until I was driving up there on Sunday. At this point, I'm sure you are wondering what guacamole & car accidents have to do with each other. Just wait for it (they have nothing to do with eachother.) So I made it to my Aunt & Uncles house about 5 1/2 hours later. We stayed up till 3 a.m. looking at all the "nailed it" cooking disaters and cried from laughing so hard. Anyway, the next night she made tacos for dinner. In our 14 years of marriage, I think I've made tacos once and I'm pretty sure they were fish tacos. There have been no tacos since. Here's the deal- everyone makes tacos for dinner- I have friends who make tacos once a week. Why have I not jumped on the taco train? Am I a deep-down taco hater (no). I have nothing against tacos. They are so easy and even easier to make kid friendly. What's my prob? Did living in Los Angeles for 7 years teach me nothing? My point is, I came home on Tuesday and have made chicken taco's twice. I know, right? Apparently someone has jumped on the taco train and it has left the station! Anyway, I was also making a second batch of guacamole tonight, doubling the recipe this time because there just wasn't nearly enough last time. If you like guac, you should try this. It's pretty delicious and this makes a good amount.

Guacamole 

4 ripe avocados, roughly chopped

1/2 large onion, diced

1/2 large tomato (I love beefsteak), diced

1/2 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped 

Juice from 1-2 limes (we use 2 but that might be too limey for you) 

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp salt

dash of pepper 

Directions

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, mashing up the avocados while you stir. Get into your belly immediately.  

p.s Someone just learned how to insert text onto a photo via iPhoto. Only took me 6 years.

We've been catching up with a lot of old friends on this visit to Utah and have been bringing them mason jars filled with homemade magic shell.  It only takes about 2 minutes to make, it doesn't require refrigeration (which is a good thing because it has been so blasted hot here!) and hey- it's magic shell! Who doesn't love magic shell? A quick pop into the market for some vanilla bean ice cream makes this a great gift for family and friends. I use between 1 1/4-1 1/2 C of semi-sweet chocolate chips and about 1/2 C Coconut Oil. Combine & melt in microwave (or on stovetop) for about 1 minute. Stir until smooth & pour into jars. If you are feeling fancy, you can also add 1 tsp of vanilla or peppermint extract and  you can try dark or milk choco chips to see which you like best. I'm not really ever feeling fancy, so I omit it- but hey, by all means, if you are up for the challenge… This can be stored in your pantry or in the fridge. If you keep it in the refridgerator, you'll need to warm it up before you serve it again because it will solidify. To re-heat, place it back into the microwave for anywhere between 30 seconds-1 minute, give it a good stir and you are good to go. 

Here's to ice-cream days & magic shell!

p.s. We are leaving Utah next week so if you are thinking about ordering vintage quilt squares, you have until Friday. You can order them here. I'll put them back up in the shop in the Fall. 

XOXO

Kate was the only one I could convince to get up with me at 5:45 a.m. this morning (after a 1:00 a.m bedtime- darn you, Downton Abbey- still no love confession BTW) to go and see the hot air balloons take off. It's been at least 15 years since I've been and was so glad that we just happened to be in UT over the 4th so we could see them again. They were amazing, even if I did have to bribe the little darling in my life: 

Happy 4th!

XOXO

We started this whole series when we got to Utah. Chris & I had never seen it before. And now, we go to bed every night/morning at 2 a.m. trying to cram in as many episodes as humanly possible (yawn). When oh WHEN will Mary tell Matthew of her undying love?? How many more episodes do I have to watch??

(Currently on season 2; starting episode 4 right.this.second)

1) Giving the children a proper introduction to  "tigers blood" snow cones

2) Sun-burned Charlie loves it

3) Kate rides the pony at Thanksgiving Point

4) A cow (no introduction needed)

5) Haircuts (fixes) by my sister, Annika, at her salon

6) Charlie getting blingy poolside

7) Kate offers to save us, if we need her help

8) Dinner with old Boston friends the Rowans (homemade bread & ricotta- to.die.for)

9) This evening. Gorgeous. Feeling like I can finally breathe

I'm cleaning house & offering up some vintage sheet quilt blocks again so you can make your own vintage quilt!This time around I've got 19 different sheets available: 16 that have patterns & 3 that are solids.  Sheets are going to be sold in 12" blocks, and you'll receive an assortment of 48 blocks.  Trust me when I tell you that these are so soft and would make the perfect quilt to take along to the park, beach or pool. You could also divide the squares to make a couple of baby quilts.  Quilt kits can be purchased in my shop here. 

Hope you are enjoying your Summer!

XOXO

Leg 1 of the 2012 Moore Cross Country Extravaganza has been completed. 685 miles clocked yesterday.
All I can think about when I look at this picture is that the Williams Sonoma outlet is in the background and how we didn't stop because Charlie had just puked 3 times. I had to forego WS and just press on. I'm still sad about it. 
We drove through AZ for about 35 seconds
and arrived in Utah late last night. Charlie had a 9:30 am apt with the dentist to get 4 crowns. Kate was disappointed he didn't have actual 'crowns' on his teeth. I cut the other side of Charlie's hair in the dentist chair while we were waiting for the anesthesia to wear off. He was pretty loopy all day but recovered and is doing just fine. We are all exhausted and can't wait for Pops to drive up and join us this weekend. We all miss him already. We are really looking forward to staying here for a few weeks. Summer has officially begun. Hooray!!

The last day of school isn't technically until tomorrow, but today was Henry's last day. I decided very last minute to make a teacher quilt for Ms. S. I originally was going to give this quilt to her for her birthday in May but then I decided that it might be nice to have drawings from the children on the back (similar to what we did last year for his Kindergarten teacher). 
Because I was quilting it from the other side and following a completley different pattern, it made for some wonky lines on the back but… I have to say, I almost kept the quilt for myself. I really, really wanted to. All the patterned fabric is made from vintage sheets and it made for the softest quilt. I got emotional giving it to her. It's sad to leave a teacher we love so much. I told her I felt like we were breaking up.  I even offered up going to couples therapy. I didn't have enough of any of the sheets left to do the binding in the same fabric, so I alternated them between 3 different ones which I ended up really liking. I want to make another one of these quilts for myself. It will have to wait until Fall because we are moving. Tomorrow. Adios California. 

**Vintage Sheet Quilt Squares can be purchased here.

Father's Day card from Henry, 7. 

"My dads name is Chris. I call him Pops. I call him dad too. He has brown eyes. He has white skin. He also has brown hair. He cooks for me. He plays video games. He also has plays with me too."I love you" he says to me. He says "You are the best". He says "You are special." What makes my dad happy is when I hug him. I kiss him. He kisses me too. He makes me feel happy. He makes me feel good and nice."

Happy Father's Day to all the Papa's out there!

XO

I decided to cut Charlie's hair while he was sleeping. On his right ear. It was a last resort. It was the only way. Chris said he looks like a long lost member of Arcade Fire.