Weekending

It was rainy this weekend, so we went for pho on Friday night, snuggled this lady on Saturday morning,

{Rainy day snugglin'}

and made this roast on Sunday.

{Photo not great but roast delicious}

We also went to see 56 Up! at the Ken Cinema. One of my former students and her husband joined us, which was fun! The Up Series follows 14 English schoolchildren since 1964 when they were seven years old. The director checks in on their lives every seven years and with each new episode, we watch them graduate, marry, divorce, lose jobs, have affairs, lose their way, find their way, etc. The director's premise is simple: "Give me a child until he is seven and I will give you the man." Each episode is beautiful, fascinating and sometimes heartbreaking. As my mom says, "It's a sociologist's dream film." In fact, Roger Ebert called the series, "Brilliant. On my list of the 10 greatest films of all time." I am so invested in these people and 56 Up! did not disappoint. I highly recommend this series (on Netflix streaming.)

All in all, a quiet but nice weekend.

Pomka Mules

I like a post-work cocktail every once in a while. Okay, I like it more than once in a while, and I like to mix up new drinks. This last Christmas we infused and packaged up some pomegranate vodka to give to friends and family. We included a pomegranate vodka (pomka) drink recipe card on the bottles for a drink we named Santa's Little Helper. I had one too many Santa's Little Helpers this holiday season and can hardly think about them at this point, so we've been thinking about a less-boozy way to mix up our leftover pomka. We came up with this little treat..

{Sunset pomka mules on our porch}

POMKA MULE

• Lime
• Pomegranate Vodka
• Ginger beer (this one is awesome)
• Sprigs of mint

Squeeze lime into glass and drop in half the lime. Add a few large ice cubes, then pour in the pomka (I just count to two slowly -- which is about 2 oz.) and fill the rest of the glass with cold ginger beer. Garnish with a mint sprig and enjoy!

BTW, infusing liquor is a fun, easy, and cheap gift. We decided to make this an annual holiday tradition. Next Christmas: jalapeño tequila!

Here's our recipe for Santa's Little Helper (documented so I can remember it next year when the memories of the hangovers will have faded). It's a sparkly take on the pomtini and could be enjoyed year-round:

SANTA'S LITTLE HELPER

{Our home-infused Pomka gifts}

Pour the following in a cocktail shaker:

• Pomegranate-infused vodka
• Pomegranate juice
• Squeeze of fresh lime juice

Shake and pour into glass.
Top drink with your favorite champagne.
Garnish with pom seeds and a twist of lime.

WARNING: Goes down easy. Too many will haunt you in the morning.

Blah Blah Blogging

Every year I make a New Year's list. Not resolutions, really - but things I want to do.
Here is this year's roundup.

In 2013 I want to...

(1) Write regularly. Since finishing grad school in 2011, I feel like I haven't written anything. Not that I'm some prolific, serious writer, but I do like journaling and notice that when I document my life, I start paying more attention. Hence, this blog. A place to record the treasures/musings of my everyday world and start paying more attention.

(2) Bake more. It's therapeutic and I love it. I want to make time for it. 

(3) Exercise at least three times a week. It feels sooo good to work out. Why do I always stop, then start again?!! MAYBE go to CrossFit with my husband.. Eeps! Intimidated. More on that soon..

(4) Write more letters. Send more cards. Call more than text.

I know they sorta look like resolutions (especially the last two) but for me, they are more a way to keep me on track to making 2013 a good one. I'm excited about documenting my year in sunny San Diego, and hope you'll come along for the ride.

Have a good one!
xoxo

{This French apple cake is the best thing I've made all year! :) Délicieux. Recipe here.}