Fish 101 - A Restaurant Review

No, I'm not getting paid for this post. And no, I don't have a new gig as a restaurant critic. : ) I just really wanted to post about this AMAZING restaurant: Fish 101 located in Encinitas, CA.

We took the girls on a little whirlwind amusement park vacay last week. Two days at Disneyland and 2 days at Legoland. Oy! I was so ready to eat something other than the usual park food - for those of you who really know me . . . Did I just write that? ; )

Darling Hubby has a fishing buddy who owns Fish 101. This place was crazy busy! I was so happy we were able to find a table because I did not want to pass up all the good eats. Unfortunately, I was so busy eating I didn't take pics of everything. : ( But I promise you it was all good. From the calamari, to the oysters, to the grilled shrimp plate, to the mussels, to the grilled fish tacos . . . ALL GOOD!

Best way to start!

Yes, Sophia ate this entire bowl of steamed mussels.

Favorite shirt ever!

Catching Up

This might be the second time I have played "catch up" with blogging. April has always been a happy month filled with birthdays and spring time fun. However, this April was not and will never be the most memorable.

But I cannot ignore the good moments that did happen. And so here are a few pictures that helped make April pass a little easier.

April is a double birthday celebration month. David and I did get a chance to celebrate with the girls at Beachside Cafe. I am pretty sure they love eating there because of the monster sundae : ) David and I celebrated again, sans girls, at the newly renovated El Encanto. Needless to say, there was a lot of eating during these outings. My absolute favorite though were the "Hostess" cupcakes David managed to have made by Jeannine's. He really does know me!

Nothing like a little topless night out : )

And then there was New Order. And for those who really know . . .

Joy Division forever!

My last Gala as an active JLSB.

We made it a girls' night. And although I thought I was letting David off the hook,

I secretly think David was a little bummed he didn't have to attend ; )

Now for some random fun . . .

Squeezing cute Addy

Hairdo compliments of Sophia

Impromptu visit from Grant (Sophia's first love) and Gwen

First long bike ride with dad (little over 7 miles):

A little something to honor Kalista's teachers during Teacher Appreciation week.

I did do things for Sophia's teachers, but I accidentally deleted the photo.

It was an orchid flower pot that read, "Thank you for helping me grow."

I have been running like a crazy woman. Not training for anything.

Just finding sanity.

And my favorite picture from April.

"Angel" rays from above.

Young Love

Today would have been my parents' 48th wedding anniversary. This is my favorite picture. I think it captures the moment perfectly. Just a young couple in love and happy. The way life should be.  

 August 1965

Halibut en Papillote

That title post is a fancy schmancy way of saying, "I baked halibut in parchment paper." : ) 

Darling Hubby will soon be heading off to sea for his annual Alaskan fishing trip. Let's hope he will be just as lucky like his past trips:

This upcoming trip made me realize, I better get moving and clear out the 2 deep freezers (yes, TWO), and use up our halibut. I know what you must be thinking . . . frozen fish from almost a year ago?! GASP! Let me tell you, next to eating the fresh caught fish on site, I have never tasted anything more fresh! Whoever created the vacuum seal was a genius.

I love to grill so I forget how easy it is to bake with parchment. And the clean-up is just as simple. Thankfully, I had parchment paper on hand because propane I did not. This is by far the easiest way to make a weeknight dinner. If you have kids, this will be the easiest meal you will throw together. You can use whatever veggies you have on hand.

Preheat oven to 450 F. Cut parchment paper and fold in half.
1. Toss green beans, grape tomatoes, and sliced garlic with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
2. Make a nest on one half of the parchment paper and put halibut on top.
3. Spoon a few more veggies on top along with the residual olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Fold other half of parchment paper over and give both ends a twist.
5. Place on baking sheet and bake for 15 - 20 minutes. My halibut fillets were around 8 ounces.

Our Little Reader : )

Sophia has been working hard this year with learning how to read. Everyday (yes, everyday) we practice. It is hard work for Sophia and for us. There have been times of frustration, on both our parts, but those are the times we need to remember hard work is the foundation of a successful education and life.

Congratulations Sophia! We are so proud of you. Keep up the great work!

Signs

It's been a month since my dad died. And this is a much needed therapeutic post.

Signs. Up until a month ago, I never experienced any true signs. I have believed friends 100% when they have shared their signs. I never doubted them once. I marveled at their emotions. And now, I can say I have my own sign experiences to share . . .

LOVE & READINESS:
Before I arrived to my parent's home, I was told my dad was loosely coherent. I wasn't sure what to expect when I walked through the door. To my surprise, my dad greeted me with open arms, gave me a huge hug and said, "Oh! You're here!" From that moment on, we talked and reminisced. He recorded messages for my kids and David. I was able to tell him over and over how much I loved him and how lucky I was to have him as my dad. Our visit was one of no regrets, just love. He died the next morning. I know in my heart he waited for me. This was his last gift for me.

COMFORT:
Kathie and Anne are two friends I have known for over 17 years. Kathie is a nurse and Anne is a vascular surgeon. They have been my support through everything in my life; especially with my dad. All of us worked together for years and they were just as fond of him as I was. There were 2 nurses who were involved with my dad's care at home. One was Kathie and the other Anne Marie (Marie is my friend, Anne's, middle name). Not sure how they actually spell their names, but I am taking the liberty to spell them the way my two best friends spell their names.

I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE:
The first time I was alone, after my dad died, I was in my car. I turned on the engine and a new song immediately started airing on the radio. It was the song my dad and I danced to at my wedding, "Wind Beneath My Wings." And for a split second I knew I would be okay, someday.