One Third

Sometimes in life, you have to celebrate milestones. No matter how small. To some, one third of a year may not seem like a long time. But when it marks the time you've been married to Nick...whew...it's an eternity.

I kid.

In all seriousness, today is our four-month milestone. Can't quite call it an "anniversary" now can we? Well, we did anyway. I'm just refraining from doing so here. Four months. One third of a year. It's flown by in a series of mostly blissful moments.

To commemorate, we put some of our wedding gift certificates to use and purchased the holy grail of cookware: a Le Creuset.

We also embarked upon a task that is rarely accomplished without an argument of some sort, and the occasional tear. We made vegetable soup. Together. Using these veggies.

Usually, cooking is something of a solo task for each of us. We have very different "visions" when we grab a knife, pots, pans. And usually they clash. Hence the solitude. But tonight, in honor of our four whole months of marriage, we intrepidly embarked upon the task of joining our visions, and embracing the beauty of collaboration.

It was a great success. The size of my still-full belly can attest to that.

Yes. This is really the size of our kitchen.

So here's to the next four months, and the four after that...and the forty million after that.

A New Leaf

The leaves on the trees have a new look...and so does my blog! This baby has been a work in progress for sure. Furthermore, I was solidly convinced that I had no more than 6 readers, including my mother. However, with the recent addition of the Blogger Stats tab, I have found that I stand corrected. Welcome Readers! I am honored that you choose to wander through my little blog as you carry out your day...and am honored more still when you leave your footprints behind (I'm referring to comments, here...try to follow my rough analogy :)).

In honor of fall and changing leaves and blogs and all that, here are some inspiring images I stumbled upon in my daily meander through BlogLand. Are these not the chicest of the chic? Usually, wearing scrubs comes as a welcome respite from the daily conundrum of what to wear. But now, I must say, I'm pretty sick of it. Starting tomorrow, I get an entire month of wearing normal clothes! And with ideas like these below, I look forward to making a canvas of my wardrobe. Perhaps a shopping trip is also in order...

Photos courtesy of the sartorialist and the shiny squirrel. Both courtesy of wit+delight.

What I've Been Up To...

...not much.

I have seen precious little of the world outside of Stroger/Cook County Hospital and it's every sanguinous Trauma Unit. I return there tomorrow for another 30 hours of attempting to save people from the ridiculous predicaments they get themselves into. Then again on Thursday for my very LAST trauma call. Hallelujah.

Most of my time away from the hospital has been spent sleeping. But I have managed to squeeze in a few lovely hubby excursions to the park and a fair amount of cooking (girl's gotta eat). I also managed to document these moments on film. With you in mind.

You're welcome.

I wish my life was more interesting.

For your sake.

Lincoln Park. Probably a weed. Albeit a pretty one.

A mysterious path. No idea where it goes.

Oz Park. I am waiting for the leaves to change colors before I reveal the statues of the characters from the Wizard of Oz. The Fearsome Foursome are all there. Not the witches.

Dinner party with our friends, the Swanks. Mr. Swank brews his own beer. I'm impressed. You should be too.

Food just looks better with this camera.

Confession: my husband was actually the brilliant chef behind this delicious Italian cuisine. Here we have a "peasant stew" made with farro (an Italian grain- kind of a cross between barley and rice), pancetta, black beans and rosemary. Also an arugula, pancetta, and parmesan salad with a lemon and olive oil dressing. And some crusty bread. 

What can I say? He's a catch.

This is a Tuscan Beef Stew, made with thyme and turnips. The sauce is like, 95% red wine, so naturally, I was in love. I served it over polenta. And lucky for me, I have leftovers to take to work tomorrow. It's the little things...

Come Friday morning, the smile on my face might be too big to fit through the door, as finally...trauma will be over. Don't get me wrong...I am indeed one of those people who gets very very excited by the words "open thoracotomy". But I also enjoy sleeping. In my own bed. With my new husband. So it will be with a smile that I bid farewell to the Trauma Service.