The mallows are haunting me.

If you came for an intelligent, enlightening blog post... well what on Earth are you doing on my blog anyway?

We're talking about marshmallows people, marshmallows. I have to say its not one of those foods that I have to have. However, they seem to be haunting me lately. First I was on Elle's blog and she was using them in a craft project. Her lovely Bug was eating them.

Then I saw this on Vimeo. Its really adorable how they torture these children. Is it wrong to say that?

Oh, The Temptation from Steve V on Vimeo.

Then I was cleaning (making a bigger mess of) our closets and I found this case.



My sister-in-law gave B & I and my sister and her boyfriend each one a few Christmases ago.



Its a marshmallow gun of course! I'm not trying to promote fire arms or anything but these things are genius. It kept us entertained for hours. Mom was finding pertrified mallows for months.



You just load the marshmallows here. It fits one large one (which packs some punch) or you fit lots of little ones in there and its like an explosion of mallows. Its similar to a supersoaker in that you pump it. Remember those?

Anyway, all this can only mean one thing.

I believe its a clear sign that I need to do some marshmallow baking. I was thinking about making these Cookies and Cream Rice Krispie Treats. I briefly considered making marshmallows from scratch and then decided that I just don't love them enought for that. I also thought about s'mores but I don't have a fire pit or fireplace or even gas burners and using the creme brulee torch just isn't the same.

What is your favorite marshmallow using recipe?

The Collector

I wrote this a few months ago and thought I would share it with you.

A while back B was showing me one of his collections. I could start a whole blog on his collections alone but we'll go there later.

As I was listening intently to the background of these precious artifacts I saw a beat up sandwich bag in the corner of the box. I pulled it out and just guess what was in it? You’ll never guess… but try anyway...it was...



my hair!

Now this is not nearly as creepy as it sounds, it’s actually rather sweet.

It was from The Day We Shaved My Head. (This was a momentous day and deserves to be capitalized) We’ve been through a lot in our 5 years. But more than the diagnosis, the surgery or the chemo sessions, the shaving of my head was the single most defining moment of my having cancer. I’m not sure what it is about it. Is it the fact that everyone who sees you from then on knows you have The Big C? Is it because it doesn’t allow anyone who loves you to deny the situation is real? Is it because you look like a cancer patient even if you don’t feel like one?

In the week prior I had started to lose my hair and B seemed nonchalant. But shaving my head was different. For B the idea of me having cancer didn't really sink in until he turned on those clippers and took off that first chunk of hair. Shaving my head was definitely at the top of his list of things he never thought he would do.

I remember seeing my hair hit the white tile floor and wondering when I was going to freak out. I said something and he snapped at me. I locked eyes with him in the mirror. My temper flared and I glared at him. He glared back. We were both frustrated. I asked him why he couldn't be more sensitive to my situation and he responded that it was hard for him too.

I feel badly saying this but B is so mellow it never even occurred to me that this might be a bit traumatic for him. We hadn't really discussed our feelings about it before. Neither one of us expected to get upset over it. I got up and went to the bathroom and shut the door. I stared at my head with its missing patch of hair. He asked me rather loudly if I was OK. I made a dramatic face at myself in the mirror, turned around and opened the door.

He hugged me and said he was right there with me and we both said out loud we could handle whatever came our way. We talked about the emotions we could put a name to and we laughed about how funny we looked. Here we are with my partially shaved head and B standing with the clippers in his hand. The tension melted away. I didn’t know until later the range of emotions running through him. I definitely didn’t know until now that he had picked up a lock of hair, tucked it into a plastic bag and kept it in his dresser drawer as a momento.



That night changed the way we looked at our relationship, the things we could handle and who we were as a couple.

I’m so glad he saved a piece of it.

Words of Wisdom

A few weeks ago I met B at the Laguna Hills Civic Center (which is beautiful by the way- and had no lines- all you OC'ers I'll never go back to the Santa Ana Civic Center and neither should you).


The sky was blue, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping and I got a rush of excitement. We were there to get our marriage license!



We had filled out the forms online and made our appointment so we just walked right in with not a person in line. We checked and double checked the forms and signed our names.


We raised our right hands and said... I can't remember what we said... but it was all very official. We were in and out in less than 10 minutes. I stood outside in the sun just looking at the offical document.


It seems like each day there is a new reality that we are getting married. I have a sort of nervous excitement growing inside of me. When we got engaged it seemed like we had so much time and now here we are with the wedding around the corner. I cannot wait.



I'd asked Mrs. E to share with me some advice about having a long happy marriage and I love her responses. Now its your turn.

What are your words of wisdom in surviving a marriage? Did I say surviving? I meant thriving... a marriage that thrives.

China Town, SF

Can you believe I still have photos from San Francisco I haven't shown you?!

When we first arrived we realized that China town was right across the street from out hotel.

We ventured in on the first day and the last day and there are always new things to see and experience.



That first day there was a celebration and the streets were lined with vendors and packed with people.



We stepped into a little Chinese restaurant for lunch and you will NEVER believe what happened. We ate our lunch... and... and... this is so hard....and.... I didn't take any pictures.

I know, its shocking. But you'll have to belive it was fantastic.



After lunch we decided to wander thru the many, many stores.

These buddhas are so cute.



This little one was taking a picture of her daddy. Too cute.



I love the many lanterns you find in China town.



Isn't this painting amazing?! Only its not a painting. Its silk and thread.



Here is a closer look. I cannot even imagine the kind of patience that goes into something like this.



San Francisco is the ultimate city for people watching. This couple was in line at the liquor store.



The headress and beading was amazing. You really don't see that every day.



Oh China town, I miss you so...

I should have been a beagle

Ever have those days you just don't feel like doing anything?

You don't want to think about obligations, your never-ending to do list, errands that need to be run or bills that need to be paid.



Well, you should have been a beagle. Particularly a beagle named Gingerbread that resides at my parents house. Then you could just stare out the window while you lay in a pile of newly washed bedding.

When you get sleepy you could just get up and crawl under the covers and place your head on a soft pillow. You wouldn't think about all the things you have to do because... well... you don't have to do them.



If you felt like it you could simply snuggle down under the covers and drift off to sleep. After all, you're Gingerbread and that is your job, isn't it?



Ginger and I hope you have a restful weekend. I think we all know she will.

Ringbearer Pillows

As you know my wedding colors are shades of brown shall we say? Although some of it runs more on the metallic side but lets not make things any more complicated than we need to.



My colors are espresso, latte, mocha and taupe. And blue. Did I not mention the blue before? Well, it doesn't play a main role in the wedding. We were just going to add a touch of blue in the lighting to add to the wintery feel. I was going to wear some blue earrings and perhaps some pale blue peep toe pumps. I do love my peep toe pumps.

Anyway, we wanted to do something fun for the ringbearer pillows. I wasn't sure what I wanted. Then I went to my parents house after work one day and these were sitting on the counter. Mom just whipped them up. Have I told you how much I love polka dots? You may not really be able to tell in the pictures but the polka dots are a pale blue. I do realize you only see the pillows for like 1 min and 28 seconds. But they are seriously adorable. I'll find a home for them after the wedding.

A Fine Frenzy

I don't buy CDs quite as often as I used to. Ever since iTunes started carrying a larger selection its often cheaper to get an album there. I do buy the CD if B and I both want it or if its cheaper at Amoeba than iTunes.

What to do with the CD then? I'm really trying not to add to our already immense CD collection. So... I thought I might just pass them on to you!

I'll put up a few samples of songs featured on the CD I have and the first person who says that they want the CD can have it. I'll mail it to you... if you don't mind 2nd hand CDs. Actually, it'll be more than second hand because I'm buying them used.




A while back I posted a video of Priscilla Ahn singing Dream and Jana told me to check out A Fine Frenzy. Thank you Jana, I love discovering new music!




There is your little taste of A Fine Frenzy, its their first album called One Cell
In The Sea.

If you want it, let me know!