Last Monday, while Mike and Justin went out to eat… yeah, you guessed it, Thai Food, I ditched the boys to attend a Soup Swap organized by my friend Barrie.

I’d heard of Cookie Swaps before, usually around the holidays, but the idea of a Soup Swap was totally new to me.  Basically, everybody shows up at somebody’s house with 6 containers of homemade soup that has been frozen in disposable containers (or at least containers you don’t care about ever getting back).  You make tags for each of your sou containers, throw them in a hat, and pass them around.  Voila!  Everybody suddenly has a whole array of soups to take home.

My soup booty:

I took home Vegan Tom Ka, Portugese Bean, Matzo Ball, Chicken Tortilla, Acron Butternut Sqash and Cheesy Cauliflower.  I had brought Chicken Tortilla as my donation, it was the only repeat in the bunch.

A Soup Swap is way better than a Cookie Swap!  I’ve never actually swapped cookies, but I still think soup wins because a) I’m admittedly not a great baker, b) soup is usually healthier than cookies, and c) it’s cold here and i need things to keep me warm.  (Don’t mock- it is 52 degrees outside as I type.  To me, that is cold.)

I know I’m late in posting about this, but it’s been a busy couple of weeks.  However, in the spirit of soupy goodness, I’m enjoying a bowl of Matzo Ball Soup as I type.

Cheers!

This week has been crazy, even for me and my supposedly “leisurely” lifestyle.  So I’m resorting to bullet points today.  Sorry.

• Mike has been working like a crazy maniac.  His team has a big product launch next week, so they’ve all been putting in ridiculous hours.  It is extra challenging because he is still so new to the company and the corporate lifestyle, but he’s slogging through (and surprisingly, working all day instead of all night).  Send us good juju.  Hopefully things will normalize a bit next week.
• The Handicraft Cafe blog is going live next week.  I trust that all of our faithful readers will add it to their Google Readers and then quickly be inspired to buy yarn, or at least you’ll learn something cool about the wonderful world of fiber arts.
• The weather is definitely turning.  It was mostly gray this week and a little rainy.  Being the giant weather wuss that I am, I’m a little scared.  At least it’s an excuse to buy cute winter clothes.
• I made granola.  So easy, so yummy:

• We’re going to Portland this weekend!  Mike is attending WordCamp for work, and I’m tagging along because a) I want to see Portland, and b) I am committed to creating a better blog for the 4 people who actually read this.  We won’t have much time to play, but I’m sure I’ll post about it.
• Tonight we watched our first episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” as official Seattle-ites.  I feel like this is some sort of milestone.
• JIM FINALLY PROPOSED TO PAM! I freaking love Jim Halbert.  I know it’s a TV show and not real life, but I still got teary.  Then I reached over and punched Mike in the arm for not being as romantic as Jim is.  Mike tried to point out that his proposal in the parking lot of Houston’s was not sooooo different than Jim proposing at a gas station.  I guess that is kind of right.  Still, Jim is better.

I already posted the “Jimmy” hat (haha), which reminded me about my favorite baby brother in law and got me all weepy a few days after moving up here. Today I present you with another little reminder of something in SoCal that I miss indescribably (though this one made me laugh instead of cry, which is good):

Michael BACK? Seriously? Derek, you’ve known Mike for 12 years. And you are friends with all of his siblings. And there are only 4 letters to remember.

::shaking head:: Oh Derek, I can’t wait to see you again. You are my favorite hairy overgrown child.