Psalm 103

¹ Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

² Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

³ who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

⁶ The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

⁸ The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

⁹ He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;

¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

jewelry

I am not a jewelry kinda girl. But I saw this and think that A) I love it, B) I need it, and C) It's a quirky, yet sophisticated idea. Since becoming a stay-at-home mom, I honestly feel like I have weeks where I am constantly asking, "What day is it today??!" I've had to reschedule my work appointments so many times, and think this bracelet could be the solution to my "daily" confusion!(Click on the picture to see the Etsy store)

Books

It's been a while since a good old fashioned book review. I had not read a whole lot, and was finally able to get back into the swing of things. I find that if I don't have my next book ready and waiting, I will go months without reading.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Story of a young girl in WWII Nazi Germany. Story told by the omniscient narrator, "Death."

Initially, I was hesitant to read this book club selection. It's on the 9th grade reading list, for heaven's sake! It is shelved in the Juvenile Fiction section of the library. Yet as I delved in, I was pleasantly surprised. The author's writing style was unique, and the plot was more than the typical WWII drama. You will fall in love with Liesel, the book thief, as she grows and changes. You will laugh at her misadventures; hold your breath as she stares Death in the eyes; cry at her losses; and perhaps even feel your heart breaking for her. Warning: I sobbed through the last two chapters of the book.

Another Thing to Fall by Laura Lippman. Suspense thriller about a private investigator. One of the books in the Tess Monaghan series.

Laura Lippman used to write for the Baltimore Sun, and I was told that all of her books are set in Baltimore. That was the initial draw. It certainly didn't stop there! I couldn't put this thriller down. The writing was excellent, and at times, dictionary worthy. The characters were believable, and the plot was intense. I loved that I could picture Tess walking through town to eat at Burke's. Or the film crew cruising along Locust Point. I will certainly be grabbing the next book in the series. Warning: there is a bit of foul language in the book, though no more than a PG-13 movie would contain.

Sneak Peek

On Saturday, we had a family photo shoot with Megan Russell. Check out her website for a sneak peek of the pictures she took. Isabel's silly faces make me laugh. I can't wait to get a few developed, framed, and hung.

summer

As a kid, I spent many long hours at the Harford Square Pool. There were play dates, and swim lessons with Mr. Norm, and push-pops from the snack bar, and yearly swim tests, and cannonballs off the diving board. I was never a great swimmer, nor did I learn to touch the bottom of the pool. I didn't have a ton of neighborhood friends, and was only allowed one snack. But I don't remember those things so much. They weren't important at the time, and aren't now. I can still hear the carefree laughter, feel the warmth of the sun, and see the smiles, even after twenty years.

As I splashed in the pool yesterday, I had this overwhelming desire to ensure that Isabel grow up with those very same experiences. Perhaps it won't be Mr. Norm teaching her to swim. And perhaps she will prefer strawberry shortcake Good Humor bars. It really doesn't matter. I want my daughter to have vivid memories of her childhood, giggling and splashing away the summer hours.

What memories do you have of your childhood summers?

ohboy

I think we're in trouble. This girl LOVES her food. Flaps her arms and legs when she sees it. Whines if it doesn't come fast enough. Cries when it's finished. On top of all of that, she is a Barowski, which means she is destined to think ice cream is a major food group. AND, we've become "those" parents that give their children sugar before their first birthday. *sigh* it was a lost cause, why did I even pretend?!

Quinoa

Zucchini with Quinoa Stuffing
Serves 4

• 1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 4 medium zucchini
• 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed
  
• 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1/2 cup almonds, chopped (about 2 ounces)
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan (3 ounces)
• 4 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

• Heat oven to 400° F. In a large saucepan, combine the quinoa and 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and the water is absorbed, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut the zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Arrange in a large baking dish, cut-side up.
• Fluff the quinoa and fold in the beans, tomatoes, almonds, garlic, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, and 3 tablespoons of the oil.
• Spoon the mixture into the zucchini. Top with the remaining tablespoon of oil and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake until the zucchini is tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.

I have been into quinoa for a while now, thanks to Hope. Generally, I've used the pure protein as a substitute for pasta or rice. Last month's Real Simple had the above recipe, and since I had all of the ingredients, I tried it. At the very end, we drizzled balsamic vinegar over it, to add a little flavor. It is a great, filling side dish for chicken, steak, or even fish.