Thinking Of You

My posts are usually scheduled earlier in the week, as was this morning's post.  I wanted to take a moment to let all of you out there hurting from yesterday's tragedy I am thinking and praying for you.  

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping." -The Mister Rogers Parenting Book via The Huffington Post

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so a lot is going on at our casa....we have officially sold our house and are in the process of building.  the kicker is our new house will take 6 months....we get to stay in our home until june, then we will be homeless....i've got a lot to figure out in the next month!!

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I Cannot Have a Nice Car

Constant transportation of items that could potentially give you Tetanus (although it would be worth it).

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The Dandelion- Beauty, Love & Health

{Botanical.com}

With Spring here, one of my favorite weeds starts going wild, the dandelion.  The pleasure I get from this...

...far outweighs my annoyance with the yellow flowers trying to take over my lawn. 

Yesterday afternoon, I got the sweetest knock on my office door.  I looked outside to see Christian (5) with a bouquet for me.

Like so many weeds & wildflowers, the smell of dandelions instantly brings me back to my childhood.  It makes me so happy to watch my boys enjoying the nature around them and having fun with plants & flowers & yes, of course, weeds.  Even the baby has fun with them...

{Louie, 11 months}

Christian made him a pile to play with and he loved throwing them around on the patio last night.

Justin (3) below, hanging out in my flip flops with a dandelion:

I'm not sure there's much that makes me happier than getting "flowers" from my little guys.  

Dandelions also have medicinal properties and can be eaten. 

Here's some info I found on the LeafLady about it:

"Suppose your doctor tells you, on your next visit, that he has just discovered a miracle drug which, when eaten as a part of   your daily diet or taken as a beverage, could, depending on the peculiarities of your body chemistry: prevent or cure liver diseases, such as hepatitis or jaundice; act as a tonic and gentle diuretic to purify your blood, cleanse your system, dissolve kidney stones, and otherwise improve gastro-intestinal health; assist in weight reduction; cleanse your skin and eliminate acne; improve your bowel function, working equally well to relieve both constipation and diarrhea; prevent or lower high blood pressure; prevent or cure anemia; lower your serum cholesterol by as much as half; eliminate or drastically reduce acid indigestion and gas buildup by cutting the heaviness of fatty foods; prevent or cure various forms of cancer; prevent or control diabetes mellitus; and, at the same time, have no negative side effects and selectively act on only what ails you. If he gave you a prescription for this miracle medicine, would you use it religiously at first to solve whatever the problem is and then consistently for preventative body maintenance?

All the above curative functions, and more, have been attributed to one plant known to everyone, Taraxacum officinale, which means the "Official Remedy for Disorders." We call it the common dandelion. It is so well respected, in fact, that it appears in the U.S. National Formulatory, and in the Pharmacopeias of Hungary, Poland, Switzerland, and the Soviet Union. It is one of the top 6 herbs in the Chinese herbal medicine chest.

According to the USDA Bulletin #8, "Composition of Foods" (Haytowitz and Matthews 1984), dandelions rank in the top 4 green vegetables in overall nutritional value." 

It can be drunk as a tea but at home, we eat the leaves in salads, which are really bitter and take some getting used to.  I can't explain it, but it's the type of food that you can really feel is having an impact on your digestion.  (Like mint tea or tomatoes.)  When I eat dandelion salad, I almost feel hungrier afterwards & feel like it's kicking my metabolism into gear.  (This is where my family usually rolls their eyes at me with the "That's just Lauren" crazy look, but I can honestly feel that it's good for my body.)  While the claims made on the LeafLady are pretty amazing and I'm sure it wouldn't work to that extreme for most people, I do strongly believe in dandelion's health benefits.

The first time I made it at dinner, my husband literally said "This is disgusting."  (...After all of the training of trying to get our kids to say, "I'm not really a fan of this" when they try a food they don't like.  Go daddy!! ;) 

But, I'm more of the "You'll get used to it" type of person, so I kept making it.  Now, he honestly loves it and it's almost weird.  It's definitely an acquired taste, so if you do try it, be ready to try it more than once.

Because it's so bitter, I HAVE to have our Maestranzi Oil & Vinegar dressing:

Fillipo Berio Olive Oil (a pretty good amount)

Balsamic Vinegar (only a little)

Salt & Pepper- more than you think... The mixture should taste salty

Onions- Sliced very thin so they get all sogged up with the dressing

Toss the dressing with the onions & let sit for at least 5 mins.  Then, toss in your dandelion greens and FOR REAL- let them sit for at least 30 mins, if not more, so that they really absorb the salty-oniony oil.  This takes out a lot of the bitterness.

If it doesn't sit a while, the salad will pretty much just be bad.

Then I add in any extras I'm in the mood for- shredded parmesan - ALWAYS

and then things like scallions or walnuts or tomatoes... or whatever else floats your boat.

{Image from Tammy's Kitchen with a recipe for dandelion salad -i haven't tried it- here}

...So, with all of this about picking & eating and loving dandelions, I'm off to work on a new textile design.  Wish me luck!!

Hope you have a great day and are enjoying Spring!!  Let me know if you have any good recipes for dandelion salad!!  (I tried one at a restaurant once with LEMON!! OMGoodness!!!!!)

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The Next Gilver?

Gilver seems to continue to be all the rage- a mix of gold and silver.  I love it, such a happy medium.  However, there is another mix of colors I have been loving too but I am not sure what the name would be.  The color is the perfect blend of Gray/Brown or Grey/Brown for purposes of new name.  A color chameleon that could go either way depending what it is paired with.  What do you think the word is?

Grown? No. Grewn, Grawn, Bray, Brey....Nothing seems to be as catchy as Gilver.  Do we just stick with Taupe?  Seems so boring.  

(Chair makeover moving along)

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To Market I Go...

The last time I went to High Point Market I was five months pregnant, about to move into my office and the year was 2011.  I was also escorted by Camila, a fellow blogger who I am so honored to call a close friend.  We had a great time and I could not have asked for a better trip. 

Tomorrow I leave to return to High Point.  Even though it has only been two years it feels like so much has changed since then.  Henry is now running around like a Wile E. Coyote instead of kicking my ribs, the office feels like it has been my home forever and sadly, Camila can't make it this time around (although we shall reunited soon)!

 My escort this time around will be my Mom and I am happy she is coming.  She usually comes to the Atlanta Market with me so she has an idea of what is ahead, albeit on a much smaller scale.  Hopefully while I am there I can catch up with some "internet friends", such a shallow term for something much deeper.   Above and below are pictures from last time- Lauren up top and Traci below.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  If you are going to Market let me know!!!!

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