JAN 2022: COVID, Anniversaries, & Finding the Perfect Lamps!

2022 didn’t exactly start off how we expected.

We started January with a lot of excitement for the new year, but much of our ambitions for building new memories and habits were put on hold by the inevitable… COVID. We spent a couple weeks quarantining at home, and the first week we spent most of our spare time in bed or asleep.

We took advantage of being forced to slow down and played some conversational card games. TWOSOME from Buffalo Games was a fun choice since it felt like a new game every time. Basic gameplay revolves around placing two cards down that have behaviors or traits on them, and you have to try and match them to who you think they better represent. When you reveal your guesses –if they match– you get a point!

The other card set was “The { } AND, Couples Edition Long-Term” from THE SKIN DEEP. Definitely a little deeper in content, but a wonderful way to pass the time and reconnect with one another! We’ve brought it out before, and even though the prompts don’t change, the conversations are always slightly different. Life changes, and as you discover new things about yourself and one another, the questions mean something slightly different over time.

Some sample prompts are:

“How have I changed most since we first met?”

“What do I do that makes you feel seen?”
“What do you think I am hesitant to talk to you about?”

At some point, we’d love to try out more of the card sets they have available. Some of the other sets include: The Healing Edition, Family Edition, Friends Edition, Strangers Edition, Self Edition, & Amusing Edition.

Shiann’s parents celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary this past month, and we celebrated our dating anniversary this past month as well! We made reservations to celebrate at Casa Del Toro, a newer restaurant serving Oaxacan-inspired cuisine. We ordered an appetizer, salad, entree, and dessert to share:

Croquetas de Yuca - Ricotta cheese, beans, ajillo crema, & pickled fresno pepper
Roasted Beet Salad - Citrus, queso fresco, lemon vinaigrette, arugula, & toasted pistachios
Risotto de Hongos - Farro, wild mushrooms, winter vegetables
Mexican Chocolate Bread Pudding with Vanilla ice cream

Everything was phenomenal, but the Rissoto was the most memorable for us – Insanely delicious! It even inspired us to make a Farro dish at home this coming week.

Speaking of food, one of our favorite dishes we made this month was the Rainbow Frittata from Mostly Plants, by Tracy, Dana, Lori, and Corky Pollan. The secret ingredient we chose for our dish was a splurge item we almost didn’t pick up: 11 Year Cave-aged Gruyere cheese from Switzerland (MIFROMA)!

Another unique cheese we enjoyed this month was a Port Infused Derby from our visit to Cordial Cellars & Lounge. After enjoying a tasting flight of red and white wines, we brought home a bottle of The Whole Shebang! Red Blend & a bottle of Elizabeth Rose Chockablock.

We’ve been preparing to move into our own place later this year, and part of that has included trips to antique shops and home goods shops looking for items we’d like to have when we move. One of the things we’ve been actively searching for is the perfect pair of nightstand lamps. This month we visited Antiques Unlimited in San Carlos where we found the perfect set of mid century wood block lamps. Can’t wait to see how they tie into the final space!

After the antique shops, we took a trip to Barnes & Noble. Two of our goals for this year were to send more cards for special occasions, and read more. Shiann picked up a massive supply of cards, and Carlos found a new book to read: The Pearl, by John Steinbeck.