Greetings from Europe!

Our trip has been wonderful and adventurous, filled with lots of great food, sightseeing, and sleeping in. I'm currently writing from beside a swimming pool in Costa del Sol, Spain.

This will be a quick post because Steve and I have the ambitious plans of getting some sun at the beach, and then enjoying churros y chocolate at our new favorite joint in a nearby town. It's a hard life here.

For now, here are a few photos of our London experiences:

We stood in front of Big Ben! And on a gloomy, overcast day, no less. Really, how much more London can you get? While on a self-guided walking tour of the city, we also visited Buckingham Palace, St James' Park, the Thames, and Tower Bridge.

Riding public transportation around the city was great - simple, accessible and quick.

We also had a good laugh whenever the woman’s voice on the loudspeaker told everyone to “Mind the gap.” This, among other phrases stated in a strong British accent, has become stuck in our vocabulary. One of us will say something that sounds like a strange mix of Cockney, Irish, and a screechy-voiced witch villain straight out of a cartoon, and then we will both burst into a raucous laughter. Quite embarrassing, really.

Yes, we just HAD to be the annoying tourists who pretend to use the phone booth simply for a photo opportunity.

Westminster Abbey - primarily known to Americans (and by “Americans,” I mean me) as the place where Chandler and Joey have a squabble during the Season Four finale of Friends. And also a key location in Da Vinci Code. I know, I should probably brush up on things like actual world events and geography.

And finally, the number one thing we wanted to accomplish while in London - have a beer in a British pub! We went the full mile, and ordered fish and chips, and steak and potato pie. The food was delicious, but the beer was a little bland and warm. Maybe that’s just the way it’s done in the UK? Still, it was a perfect way to end our trip to London.

More to come on our time in Spain. Cheers.

Crustless Spinach and Mushroom Quiche

Yes, I am writing at 4:15am. That's because I woke up at 2:00am, after forcing myself to sleep at 9:00pm last night. That's because Steve and I are doing what we are calling Project Get On London Time.

We're leaving for our month-long Europe trip today! Our bags are packed, camera batteries charged, and email away message posted. I also packed an insane amount of dried fruit for the journey. So we're all set, I think. Our first stop is London. Steve is excited to get back to his English roots, and I'm excited to find a real British pub. After that we head to Spain and Italy.

I hope to blog while we're there, so stay tuned!

Before I go, I'll leave you with crustless quiche, which is becoming a new regular breakfast in our house. I've made this a few times, with variations on the vegetables (i.e. diced tomatoes added). It usually lasts about two days before disappearing. Quiche without crust may sound like it misses the main point, but we're trying to eat healthier, people. And it really is quite delicious.

Crustless Spinach & Mushroom Quiche
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 (4.5 ounce) can mushrooms
1 tomato, chopped
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
5 eggs, beaten
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-inch pie pan. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft. Stir in mushrooms and tomatoes, cook 1-2 minutes. Stir in spinach and continue cooking until excess moisture has evaporated. In a large bowl, combine eggs, cheese, salt and pepper. Add spinach mixture and stir to blend. Scoop into prepared pie pan. Bake in preheated oven until eggs have set, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Summer Break, Baby!

I think I've literally sent over thirty emails today. Is that normal?

My eyes hurt from staring at my laptop screen, my back hurts from being hunched over as I type, and all my brain can concentrate on is the purpose for all of this butt-busting work. I am urgently trying to finish up loads of tasks for one main reason: SUMMER BREAK. That's right. I get to do all sorts of fun things this summer, which means that this week I am practicing the discipline of delayed gratification, and attempting to tie up loose ends before the fun begins.

Before I describe the items o' fun to you, let me first say, don't you wish you had my job? I'll bet many of you are thinking, man, I really should have gone into the college pastor field. Yeah, that's what I thought.

Okay, so the summer plans. Here goes.

• Fun Thing #1: five-day trip to Catalina Island. Steve and I actually go there a lot, but it still counts as a fun thing. We'll be there with friends, basking in the warm sun, and enjoying lovely things that are hard to come by here in Los Angeles, such as clean air, trees, and visible stars.

• Fun Thing #2: my brother's wedding. My younger brother and his fiancee are planning an outdoor wedding with the coolest reception ever. Don't believe me? It's going to include classic BBQ grub, athletic gear and Rock Band. I get to be a bridesmaid (or is it now bridesmatron since I'm married?), and wear a lovely yellow summer dress.

• Fun Thing #3: month-long trip to Europe. Yep, you read correctly...a month. Steve and I will be visiting England, Italy and Spain. Some of the trip is work-related, some will be vacation. All of it will be awesome. I have been dreaming about visiting Europe for years, and am delirious with excitement and anticipation for all our adventures. Pictures and tales will follow, I promise.
  

So for the next few weeks I will be hard at work. And trying to decide what to do with the blog while I'm away (guest-posts? advance posts? blog from Europe?). And purchasing some new post-weight-loss clothes (because a baggy swimsuit is just wrong).

And the Winner Is...

The winner of The Great Coloring Book Giveaway is...wait for it...Morgan from Miss Priss!

She will soon receive a free autographed copy of The Road to Hana coloring book, mailed directly from the author, Renee K. Coates. Congratulations, Morgan!

Even though her name was chosen at random from the pool of entries, Morgan had a great description of her ultimate dream vacation. Said Morgan, "My dream vacation has been Paris since I was about 10... I better not have taken 4 years of French for nothing! Hubby better deliver on one of our upcoming anniversaries." Love it. And I love her blog, which is devoted to all sorts of fun and girly things, from fashion to pregnancy hormones. Go check her out and say hi!

The rest of you also had great ideas for your dream vacation - a family trip to the Australian Zoo, food-tasting in Japan, a trip to South Africa with friends, snorkeling in the Maldives - wow! You guys should plan my next vacation.

Have a great weekend, folks!

* Also, for those who didn't win the free coloring book, Renee has a special offer for you all: a 20% discount on the coloring book! Just go here and enter the coupon code QHYE9CCG when you place your order. Note that the code is only valid at the above link, and cannot be used at the amazon site.

The Great Coloring Book Giveaway!

Win a free autographed copy!

This past week I had a great time with Katy and Emily (pictured on the left), who were in Los Angeles for a short, but lovely visit. They are very dear friends from the old middle school days on Maui, Hawaii. And now we're all grown up, stepping into adulthood together!

Also, Katy just so happens to be an amazing artist by the name of Renee K. Coates, whose Hawaii-influenced artwork can be found at her website here. Among her many creative endeavors, she recently published a coloring book! Isn't that cool? The Road to Hana tells the story of a family who explores the little town of Hana-Maui during their vacation in Hawaii. It is filled with gorgeous illustrations, and makes a perfect gift for anyone! The coloring book is available for purchase at amazon.com here. I am so proud of my friend, and thrilled that our shared background of Hawaiian life and culture is such a foundational part of her art.

Here is the good news for you, readers. Renee wants to give away a free autographed copy to one of you! That's right - you have the opportunity to receive your own copy of The Road to Hana (retailed at $11.99), sent directly from the author. Pretty much as good as winning an actual trip to Hawaii, if you ask me.

So without further ado, The Great Coloring Book Giveaway!

How can you put your name into the running for the prize? Simple! Answer the question below, either in a comment, or via email to larissalmarks (at) gmail (dot) com. Comments will close at 12pm PST on Friday, May 16th. A winner will be chosen at random, and announced here on the blog on Saturday, May 17th. Make sure you leave your name and a way to contact you if you win. And feel free to pass on the word about this, and let others know about the contest!

Here is the contest question (in the spirit of Hawaii), which you may answer however you want:

What would be your ultimate dream vacation? Where would you go, who would you take, what would you do?

Good luck!

La Ciudad de México

Hola. Me llamo Larissa.

Steve and I just got back from spending five days in Mexico City for some work-related training. Yes, my job occasionally sends me to lovely and exotic places. Jealous?

It was my first time there, and I was thrilled to revisit my youth and practice the Spanish phrases that Sesame Street taught me through catchy songs. Poor Steve (whose Spanish is quite excellent) had to put up with my endless questions. What does that sign say? What is she talking about? How do I say "another shot of tequila, please"?

I mostly picked up the important words: torta (the best sandwiches you'll ever eat), liquidos de fresa (strawberry and milk smoothie), and of course, cerveza (beer). I could have stayed just for the food alone.

The people, culture, and entire experience was wonderful, and I wish we could have visited longer. Here are a few pictures of our adventures.

More photos from the trip here. Adios.

Merry Christmas from Lodi

I am currently blogging from Lodi, California. I'm not stuck here, however, if you were wondering (any Creedence fans out there?). We're here for the week with Steve's family.

Steve and I caught a cold a few days before Christmas, because as we all know, our bodies love to malfunction at the most perfect times. Nevertheless, we have had a wonderful time celebrating the holidays together. In true family fashion, there has been an abundance of games, presents and baked goods. And since this is Lodi, home of the best Old Vine Zinfandel, we're all going wine tasting today.

Being here for Christmas has reminded me of how grateful I am to have been graced with a wonderful in-law family. I love, love, love Steve's parents and siblings, and it's always a joy to spend time with them.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Did You Miss Me?

I'm back from a wonderful weekend in Chicago!

The Women's Conference was awesome, and served as a nice reminder that many (if not all) women have similar struggles with self-doubt, fear and questions regarding purpose and direction in life. Yay...I'm not a complete crazy person! In addition to reaffirming my general sanity, the conference gave me a chance to connect with some amazing women, have quality time with myself and God, and experience an actual fall season (with actual orange and red leaves on the trees!).

I arrived home last night to a few surprises.

Surprise #1 - a clean house, and a complete dinner prepared by a loving husband! Steve figured I might be tired from the flight, and made a lovely meal for me to enjoy. Ah, marital bliss...may it never end! By the way, you can read about my husband's cooking here.

Surprise #2 - plants, alive and kicking! That is, except for the stupid palm tree in the living room, which refuses to stay green no matter how much I douse it in water. But the rest of our hodgepodge of wildlife is doing well. You can all breathe a sigh of relief now.

Surprise #3 - Guitar Hero 3 for the Nintendo Wii! This actually wasn't a surprise, since we pre-ordered the game a few months ago. But I was surprised to discover how completely lame I am at the game. I mean, I can play the actual guitar in real life...so shouldn't this little plastic guitar with buttons be a cinch? Apparently not. I named my band The Manatease (yes, you may laugh), and am determined to at least pass the "easy" level. If you don't hear from me for a while, you can safely assume I'm cultivating my Guitar Hero skills.

Pumpkin Mania

Pumpkins have officially taken over our house. Baby pumpkins on the coffee table. Pumpkin pie (which Steve made from scratch, by the way) in the fridge. Roasted pumpkin seeds in a bowl on the kitchen counter. Big fatty pumpkins in the dining room waiting to be carved. We're going to adorn our porch with some lovely jack-o'-lanterns. I don't care if the only trick-or-treater we'll probably have is this guy. We're going to celebrate the wondrous holiday that is Halloween in style.

I'm going to Chicago for the weekend for a Women's Conference. I'm excited to travel on my own, to get some rest, and for all the cool woman-y self discoveries I'm sure to bring back with me. I am not, however, excited to leave my loved ones. Yes, I am talking about my plants. Will they survive a weekend without their nurturing and attentive gardener? Will I survive a weekend without my beloved basil?! I don't know if I can take this kind of separation.

Okay, I will also miss my husband. Steve and I have spent weekends apart before, but it's usually me at home while he's away. The first time he was gone for a few days, I was surprised to find that I missed him most just as I was falling asleep at night. You just get used to that other person lying next to you, making soothing breathing noises for you to fall asleep to, you know? Anyway, I'm sure my husband will do just fine while I'm in Chicago. I just hope he doesn't get too used to having the whole bed to himself.

That's Poker, Baby

Quad 3s - take THAT, computer! Sorry for the scary photo...the face of video poker ain't pretty.

Most friends know that Steve and I are both moderate poker addicts. I say "moderate" because while we don't play poker frequently enough to qualify as true addicts, we will say yes to pretty much any invitation to play, and we do TiVo every episode of the World Series of Poker on ESPN. I couldn't name five current Major League Baseball players if you asked, but I could spot Scotty Nguyen a mile away. Cool or sad, take your pick.

This weekend we were in Las Vegas with family, and we made a profound, life-altering discovery - video poker at the bar. I'm sure we're all aware of the video poker machines that litter the casinos. But did you know that you can sit at a bar playing 25-cent video poker, and you'll receive free drinks? Yes, thank you, I will enjoy complimentary beer and a mountain of nachos while pressing little buttons that go beep.

Too bad I have to pay money for drinks in real life. I miss you, Vegas.

Trip to Reno

In a moment of spontaneity, Steve and I took a day trip to Reno while we were up in Northern California. It was my first time to the so-called "Biggest Little City in the World," and I discovered that Reno's reputation as the trashy little sister of Las Vegas is indeed very, very true. The whole place just had that depressing, run down strip mall feel, you know? But whatever. It was fun.

We spent the day in appropriate casino town fashion: all-you-can-eat sushi, $1 blackjack, cheap cigars, cheaper beer, and a photo op with our good friend Captain Mo. We then hopped in the car, made the 8-hour trek back to LA, and arrived home at 4 o'clock in the morning.

You'll find more photos of our Reno adventure here.

On a sad note, I came home to find some of my plants completely withered from the super hot weekend. I might be able to revive the oregano and marjoram. But alas, the young and vulnerable zucchini is no more. Let's have a moment of silence for the little trooper that wasn't quite resilient enough for the summer sun.

Home From the Islands

We just got back from our long-awaited vacation in glorious Hawaii. Most of our time was spent lying out on the beach, finding good happy hours (the best was Moose McGillycuddy's in Waikiki, with $3 for HUGE Long Island Ice Teas...yeah, we went three times), and hanging out with family. And now we're all nice and tan. Check out pictures from the trip here.