New Favorite Floss

Kind of random but I love our new dental floss!  I feel like I can use less than the regular ol' waxed floss and I feel like it's not as tough on my gums.  Who knew I would have a floss preference?  Ok, just thought I'd share.

R.I.P. Curly

One of of our black skirt tetras, Curly, was found unresponsive on Tuesday night under his favorite plastic fake plant after he did not come up to the top of the tank to eat his flakes.  He could not be revived.  His brothers Moe and Larry, and his tankmate Bud, a zebra danio, were questioned.  His sudden and untimely death remain a mystery but no foul play is suspected.

A brief service was performed last night and his tank has been decommissioned.  Moe, Larry, and Bud have been transferred into Mary Kate and Ashley's tank (also zebra danios).  All parties seem to be getting along and the move has helped the boys cope with the loss.



R.I.P. Curly... we'll miss you... at least for a little bit.

And just because we're doing pet updates, Skeletor is doing quite well and is happy that he just got his tank cleaned!

The Last Harvest

It's a beautiful day with gorgeous autumn weather and the last "harvest" of our balcony garden.

Goodbye garden... see you next spring!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Here's my new favorite feel-good book.  It's a simple and super quick read, but one of those books that you hate to finish up because you fall in love with the characters.

I have to thank Aunt Mary Ann for recommending this book.  I didn't even know where Guernsey was a month ago and now I want to vacation in the Channel Islands!

This book takes place in the late 1940s and is a compilation of letters surrounding a 30-something journalist who is doing research for a book about the German occupation on Guernsey after WWII.  Sounds heavy, huh?  It's quite the opposite.

It's sweet, clever, funny and thoroughly enjoyable read with a perfect ending.  I'm giving it an 8 out of 10 and I'm sure you're going to love it.

Red Pepper Hummus

Here's Michael's famous red pepper hummus that we served at Victoria's shower.  It's so easy and delicious, we pretty much serve it at all our buffet-style get-togethers (wedding showers, cookie swap, New Year's parties, etc.).  I think Michael used a recipe from epicurious but of course he roasts his own red peppers (he is quite the purist)!

INGREDIENTS
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans (chick-peas), drained
1/3 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 roasted red pepper, chopped (or 1/2 cup chopped drained roasted red peppers from jar)

DIRECTIONS
With processor running, drop garlic through feed tube and mince. Scrape down sides of work bowl. Add chick-peas, tahini and lemon juice; process until mixture is smooth. Add roasted peppers; process until peppers are finely chopped. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer hummus to small bowl. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before serving.)

Garnish with paprika, olive oil and parsley.

Serve with veggies and/or pita chips.