Most Exciting News!

I am just bursting at the seams to tell the wonderful news:

Matt has officially been offered a position at his top choice restaurant in LA, Providence!!!

I am so completely proud of him and I am not at all surprised that they would want him to work for them. 

So how did this blessed event occur? Hard work, not taking days off and being persistent. Even though he was hired and had begun working at another restaurant he was not satisfied there. They didn’t offer the professional, meticulous, learning experience he wanted and he was not happy to go to work every day. However he took the job knowing it could be a while before he got what he really wanted. 

On his days off he did what is called a ‘stage’ (pronounce the a like ah). This is where you go into a kitchen and work as if you are employed so they can see your ability, but you’re doing it for free. Basically a skilled volunteer. Matt has been doing this instead of having days off to show that he is dedicated and really wants to work at Providence. And when he came home from his most recent stage on Monday night he had great news; they like him and want him to join their staff! 

Even though it was 1AM when he got home we had to celebrate so I made him delicious frozen pizza and we cracked open a lovely bottle of wine his dad had given us.

He starts work at his new job on the 4th. Talk about a Happy New Year!

In other news I’m not that thrilled with how the tree decorating video is coming along. It still needs some serious editing. I’m trying to get it together in time to upload for the holiday but in the meantime here is a picture of our super cute little tree.

Also important, I found a frame for our dress up photo we took in Colorado. Not sure where we’re going to hang it so it’s sitting on a rubbermaid container with some other photos for the time being. I still can’t get over Matt’s expression. That was such a fun time.

One of Matt and my favorite weekly podcasts is called Good Food which is put out by a local station, KCRW, and is based right here in Santa Monica. If you are interested in food it is a great listen even if you don’t live in the area (I started listening when I lived in the Caribbean and thoroughly enjoyed it then). It goes over local restaurants, has interviews with chefs and cookbook authors and bar owners, and gives great recipes. The segment I like the most is the market report which features the Santa Monica farmers market and what is fresh and in season. They talk to the various growers about their produce and it makes my mouth water every time. The best part is that I now live 4 blocks away from it. So now Matt and I walk down on Saturday and Wednesday mornings and get delicious, fresh, beautiful fruits and veggies and more. This is the haul we got most recently:

The raspberries were gone the first day, and the sundried tomatoes not long after. Matt is steadily eating the clementines, they are very sweet, more so than store bought ones. I cooked the baby new potatoes today for lunch - parboiled them, then put them on a sheet tray. Then I smashed them slightly with the side of a coffee mug, drizzled them with salt, pepper, olive oil and rosemary and baked them in a hot oven til crispy. YUM!

I’m still hunting for a job. Bad time of year to be looking I guess. I’ve broadened my search out of the restaurant industry to include pretty much anything I think I could do really well. I’m going to become the Queen of Cover Letters.

I was bad and didn’t take many pictures this week so here are a few random things that make me happy - and hopefully will make you happy, too:

This is sand magnified. Beautiful and kinda makes you think . . .

This is a tree in Wakefield, RI that Matt and I looked at everyday out of the kitchen window. It was one of my favorites on the property and I think it looked the best just as the sun was going down.

This is just hilarious - click on the picture to read the caption.

With Christmas almost here Matt and I have decided that we aren’t doing presents this year. The funds aren’t there and it has been such a stressful time getting into a new place and jobs and everything we didn’t want to add to the drama with 'Present Pressure'. Instead we are going to get a couple nice things that we decide on together (my suggestions are REALLY good extra virgin olive oil and a dish drying rack. I think Matt wants a wireless router. We are very exciting people). Most fun, we plan on driving around to look at Christmas lights and then watching a few classic holiday movies. I just love doing that. 

Must get going - I’ve got oatmeal coconut cookies in the oven . . .