a little pick-me-up

03.19.2014

image by chelsea scanlan

(i took waaaaaaaaay too long deciding which picture i should use with this post. but i decided on this one because it really shows how i've felt lately. and i want to remember. the end.)

somehow i always find myself in front of the computer on tuesday nights after dinner. tonight was no exception. jon was upstairs directing the kids in the cleaning up of dinner. and it was loud. but the good, happy, i-wouldn't-have-it-any-other-way-but-my-neighbors-might kind of loud. i realized it was tuesday night and i got really excited because i had the time to write a post. and here we are!

as i was listening to them all laughing and crying and working and running upstairs, i remembered how i constantly remind them to make something "mom clean" when they're doing a chore. my hope is that it motivates them to pay better attention because, really? who likes having to go back and re-do something that could have been done well to begin with? not me. 

my dad's way of doing that was to religiously share the same story of how his mom (ila's namesake who i've never met) would constantly tell her boys when they were making their beds in the morning, "if there's a job worth doing, it's a job worth doing well." funny the things you remember...

here's some good news! my actual, real life, grown-up website will launch soon. i know! it's been months since the whole process began and it's even more gratifying now to think of it being complete. so stay tuned...giveaways will abound. and on that note i'll leave you with some great little pick-me-ups for this week. hope it's a good one my friends!

ruby is across the hall in bed singing songs from "frozen" to the babies. made me think of this video. have you seen it yet? it's pretty spectacular.

sushi at home has always been intimidating, but this how-to makes it seem much more approachable.

my friend megan is such a prolific pinner. like she might be the best. for realz. i've never seen anything like it. and now, thanks to her, i know that dandelions burn different colors. 

you learn something new everyday...even about onions.

absurdly addictive asparagus? yes please. and i love food52.

super useful info for your next party.

so i would need to double this recipe for a party of eight. but really, i would probably triple it. because leftovers and late-night snacks.

over here in the canlas house we think jimmy fallon is KILLING it on the tonight show. and the folks over at los angeles times agree.

if you missed my last post, i'll be in utah for a few days in april and i get to teach a cooking class. it's going to be so fun! wanna come? 

and i loved this pic on jon's instagram feed from a few weeks ago. read the quote on the car and then marvel at the get-up. i knew that eistein guy was smart.

p.s. to receive a couple extra "if i were..." menu ideas and secret recipes every month that i only share via email click here. i'll also be sending out recipes every once in a while for testing and feedback. talk to you later dudes!