1 + 1 = 3?

Part of the reason for starting this blog now is my husband - henceforth to be known as 'the Boy' - and I (that's us in the pic, by the way, enjoying the sea air in Brighton, one of our favourite places) have just made the decision that we'd like to start a family. We've been together for four years and have loved our time just us two, but now the time feels right to try and extend our little unit from two to three.

I'm hoping to share my emotional experiences of trying for a baby and (hopefully...) pregnancy in this space, and ponder about pregnancy-related issues. It feels a really exciting time for me and the Boy. We've not told family and friends so for now it's our secret - something just for the two of us (and the worldwide interweb!) and there's something very lovely about its privateness for us.

I'm a bit nervous about how it will go. I'm 33 which I know isn't old, but I feel a bit of an irrational concern about whether things will go to plan. I've not lived the life of a saint at all, and my poor body has been subjected to most of life's excesses during my student days. During my twenties I spent quite a lot of time crashing around Shoreditch propping up various bars and keeping most landlords in business... and not a tremendous amount has changed over the last 10 years. And I met my match in that respect in the Boy! 

At the moment I have butterflies and I find myself looking at parents and their young children in the street. When I hear about friends and colleagues falling pregnant and having children I am pleased for them, but also a bit jealous too. I hope we'll be able to fulfil our dream of having a baby naturally - but I guess time will tell.

Beanstalks

For years I've procrastinated about writing a blog. It's something I've long wanted to do, but I've always put off as I wondered what I would write about and who would want to read my humble musings on love, life and the universe.

But buoyed with confidence from successfully completing my first 2011 new year's resolution, a dry January, I thought I'd strike while the iron is luke-warm and tackle the second. Finally, this frustrated writer sometime known as Elly Beans has put pen to paper, and so - drum roll please - Beanstalks (Beans Talks, see what I did there? Er, this will get better I promise...) is born.

Be grateful for any feedback - be modest with your praise and be gentle with your criticism and we'll get along just fine!

Save As Draft

Available Now!

  My friend Cavanaugh Lee, has a new book coming out on February 1st.  I did a pre-order on Amazon and got a shipping notice on Friday - just can't wait to read it!   Cavanaugh was a former actress, turned lawyer (which is how I met her), turned author.  She's now got a new book coming out and I'm so excited about it.  My book club will be reading Save As Draft in March, and Cavanaugh will be calling in to join the discussion!   If you are interested in a similar arrangement, please let me know and I'll see if the author can join your book club too!   Meanwhile I hope you'll read the book and support my good friend in her writing debut! 

Pink Coat

I love Pink Saturdays but I've never linked up.  Generally I just visit blogs, enjoying all the pink.  Today I woke up thinking about a pale pink coat I saw on The Sartorialist (love this blog) and just can't stop thinking about it for a couple of reasons.  It reminds me that when I've visited Paris, I've been so impressed with the older women and their polished look.  My observation is that the Parisian older woman doesn't try to hide her age, she has taken very good care of herself (my sister kept trying to tell me to get more facials and use a good throat cream), is well put together, generally in a classic style and is out walking.  This picture that was featured in October was a perfect example. 

Photo from The Sartorialist

On this gorgeous WARM day, I'm heading to Viking Cooking School for a class in basic French cooking techniques.  Happy Pink Saturday!!! A bientot.

Book Winner!

Congratulations Sarah at Hyacinths For the Soul!!!   The Random Number Generator picked number 4 and you were number 4 linking up.  

I'll be emailing you offline to get your address so I can pre-order the book and get it shipped.  Meanwhile, THANK YOU to all the pie baking, partying participants!!!   I hope everyone had time to sit down with a good cup of coffee and a great piece  of pie. 

It's a Pie Party!

It's time for the all-American treat....PIE!

Link up and join the party!

My husband's birthday is Monday so we decided on a Banana Cream Pie for his special day.   The recipe is pieced together from two different recipes - parts can be credited to Emeril and other parts are from Ron Silver's Bubby's Homemade Pies.

Here's the recipe with pictures.  Enjoy and Pie-Party On!!!

Nut Pastry Dough:

1/2 cup finely chopped, raw, unsalted walnuts

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1½ tablespoons cold unsalted butter, diced

1 large egg, lightly beaten

Make dough and bake ahead.  It will need to cool down before adding bananas, cream filling, whipped cream and chocolate sauce. 

Vanilla Pudding

2 cups heavy cream

1 1/2 cups whole milk

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise and seeds scraped

3 large egg yolks

2 large eggs

1/2 cup cornstarch

Combine 2 cups of the cream, the milk, 1/2 cup of the sugar, the vanilla bean, and the vanilla seeds in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle boil, whisking to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat. Combine the egg yolks, eggs, cornstarch, and 1 cup of the sugar in a medium bowl, and whisk pale yellow in color. Set aside.Whisk 1 cup of the hot cream mixture into the egg yolks. Gradually add the egg mixture to the hot cream, whisking constantly. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly with a large wooden spoon to cook out the cornstarch and the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. (The mixture may separate slightly. If so, remove from the heat and beat with an electric mixer until thick and smooth.) Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down against the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Chill in the refrigerator for about 4 hours.

Chocolate Sauce

3/4 cup half-and-half

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1/2 pound semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Scald the half-and-half and butter in a small, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Remove from the heat.

Place the chocolate and vanilla in a medium, heat-proof bowl. Add the hot half-and-half and let sit for 2 minutes, then whisk until smooth. 

 

To assemble the pie spoon some of the vanilla pudding into the pie crust. Add, 1 1/2 cups sliced bananas covering the pudding. Cover the bananas with remaining pudding.  Top with whipped cream and drizzle with chocolate sauce.  Use extra chocolate sauce to decorate each serving dish. 

 My husband is so excited about his birthday pie.  

Everyone participating in the pie party will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of the Country Living The Little Book of Pies & Tarts: 50 Easy Homemade Favorites to Bake & Share that will be released in April!!!

PIE PARTY IS COMING!!!

Keep watching for more info about a Pie Party as we celebrate National Pie Day, January 23.

HGTV and Blogs

 Over the past couple of years I've stopped watching HGTV though I used to love it.  Over time I would try to find some of my favorite shows or HGTV personalities but they weren't there.   I used to love watching Joan Steffend, Kitty Bartholomew, Erica Glasener,  Rebecca Kolls,  Susie Coelho and Paul James...where are all these great show hosts now?  

At night (when I win the channel changer) I flip through the channels and usually skip HGTV because whatever is on the air is a show about buying real estate, internationally.   While I wish I were hunting for a house in a sunny and warm international location, generally I skip such programming because unless I win the lottery or come into some kind of incredible inheritance that I'm not expecting, I'm cozied into my lovely little home in Georgia.  But mentioning this makes me wonder why house hunting is airing almost every night?  Last I heard, the housing market in the U.S. is near flat.  Wishful thinking maybe?

Chip Wade

Occasionally I flip and find Curb Appeal: The Block.  That's a show I really like and as a matter of fact, Chip Wade has been over to help me with some small details on the exterior of my house (read more about his visit here).  He's very helpful and very affordable!

Today, while home for snow day number 2, there was one show airing that was worth watching and I saw an ad for Candice Olson but over all it look liked the "G" (gardening) in the channel name may no longer be airing and sadly, a lot of great programming is no longer on the air.  Now I know why my tv viewing is limited to 2 or 3 channels.  

Have blogs replaced some of these terrific shows?   I have to admit that I enjoy many of the blogs I read and they are far more entertaining that shopping for real estate!  In fact, bloggers send you emails and are much more interactive than a tv show.   Do you still watch HGTV?  If so I'm just curious what are your favorite shows?   I would love to hear your comments.  

Waiting for the Snow but Fearing the Ice

It's snowing!!!!

Yes, a winter storm is headed to Georgia so yesterday everyone I know got out to buy groceries and other creature comforts. Down south we don't handle wintry weather too well. If there is a hint of snow, and especially ice, in our weather forecast, schools are apt to close and work places generally delay openings.  It's such a treat! We are really hoping the predicted ice doesn't leave us without power but just in case I've got a couple of new books by my side and I'm ready do a little unexpected relaxing tomorrow.  Maybe a pajama day?

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we wake up to a beautiful snowy day. 
UPDATE
It's been snowing for nearly 2 hours. We've got nearly 2 inches and look how light it is outside.

  

Do You Compete For the Remote?

I love old movies.  I mean I REALLY love old movies and my husband LOVES the news.   My husband and I both are generally easy going but when we sit down to watch tv you should see the passive aggressive behaviors we exhibit!  Both of us are trying to figure out how we can "take control" and of course I trying to see what's on TCM (Loretta Young movies were on tonight) or IFC (Portlandia starts on 1/21) and my husband flips right over to CNN.   Sometimes I wish I kept stats on how many nights we repeat the same behaviors.  It's comical really. 

Speaking of old movies, have you ever poked around on YouTube for old films?  Sometimes on Friday nights when I lose control of the remote, I watch movies on YouTube.   They are divided up into segments but it's still a great way to watch an old movie.  

 

And while I'm on the topic of old movies, let me just add that my good friend John (click on John's name to see some of his holdings) has loaned some of his Hollywood couture to an exhibition in London being put together by Hamish Bowles.  

 I'm thinking I'll be making a trip when this one opens! 

Resolutions, Positive Thoughts, Goals and Words

Today I've spent some time trying to decide how to approach this new year.  Should I make a single goal or resolve to change just one thing?  Perhaps I could work on a number of things in my life?  Maybe add a few positive thoughts to my calendar or do as I've seen others do, just select a few key words to help me navigate myself down a more positive path.  

Starting the new year gives me a blank calendar with plenty of days ahead to accomplish whatever goals I make for myself so I'd prefer to list a number of things I hope to achieve in the coming year.  So here are a few things I plan to do.  

 Drink more water ● enjoy more weekends ● go to the beach ●do more leisure reading ● visit with friends and family

● sit outside under a starry sky ● be more active ●

 ● make more memories ● travel ● de-clutter ● stay balanced ● set boundaries ● have more belly laughs ● find more opportunities to perform random acts of kindness ● learn new things ● have more adventures ●

  ● jump in a mud puddle ● cry tears of joy ● listen to more music, and lots, lots more.   I'm looking forward to doing everything on my list and more in 2011.