Alaska! Part I
The Gandhi-Shepards did some land, air and sea travel a couple weeks ago, when we were part of a 21-person entourage that made its way to Alaska.
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benjaminal + amir
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You’re 1, Son
There is so much to say … so I’ll start with this: Holy moly, our baby is 1 year old. Happy birthday, Little Man. We made it. Together.
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Put on Your Dancing Shoes
…Because it’s time to celebrate Amir’s walking accomplishment! Yup, at 10.5 months old, Little Man took his first steps.
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So Happy Together
Have you wondered how babies develop a sense of humor? How does the human brain — particularly one so immature — recognize “funny?” I think that’s one reason humans are the most complex and intelligent of all mammals.
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Look Who’s Loafing Around
I say the following with a combination of disbelief, relief and nostalgia: Amir is morphing from baby to kid. And the metamorphosis is happening fast.
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G.G., Dada and Amir
Though he sees them several times a week over Skype, Amir was lucky enough to be paid a visit by his G.G. and Dada (Grandma and Grandpa Gandhi) around Easter.
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In and Out
Why is it that babies often reject toys and go for items that, to an adult, seem uninteresting? That’s one lesson Amir teaches us every day: To look for wonder in everything.
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Noodles!
Amir is at the age where he’s begun to feed himself (thankfully). Though he’s still mastering the art of picking up and holding the slippery and squishy stuff, it’s comic relief for his dad and I.
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Goodbye, Lewis
Sweet Lewis, do you know what you taught us? You taught us to be tenacious when it comes to love and attention and … food.
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Best. Laugh. Ever.
Amir is a little man of many expressions. One minute, he’ll give you a delightful, wide grin of approval and the following minute he’ll sigh in your face and stare blankly, as if to say, “You’re boring me.”
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Chomp, Chomp
What is over 2 feet tall, has big, brown eyes and a bite that rivals that of Jaws? Beware: It’s the littlest Gandhi-Shepard.
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Water, Water Everywhere
We mentioned that Amir is a fan of water. Because of this affinity, I decided to sign up Little Man for an infant swim class held every Saturday until late April.
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Vaders, Stormtroopers and Ninjas
This past Saturday was packed with activity for benjaminal + amir. But I think Amir had the most fun. In addition to swim class (that’s another post), we helped celebrate the birthdays of 4-year-old twins!
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Got Milk? He does
This video of Amir doesn’t require much fanfare. I promise that watching my determined little boy go after what he wants will tickle and astound you. It’s that good.
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Stand Tall, Little Man
The newness never ceases with a baby. It seems that every week Amir reaches yet another physical milestone. Personally, I think he’s growing too fast.
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Happy Valentine’s Day
How many of you got struck by cupid’s arrow today? Did you happen to see the mischievous boy’s cherubic face? If not, we can ID him for you.
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Big Boy Status
Because I’m still nursing Amir and rarely give him a bottle (that’s his Dad’s job), I was shocked by this video that Ben shared with me. You’ll hear me say this again and again — until you can’t stand it — but I am in awe over how much this kid has grown.
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Sweeping Mommy Off Her Feet
Recent rain, sleet and snow have afflicted the Gandhi-Shepards with cabin fever. So what do we do to kill the restlessness? We dance.
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Yummy iPhone
Like we said, things have been more interesting around these parts now that Amir is crawling. We’ve enticed him with many toys — rattles, crinkle cubes, plastic links — but not one of those is as alluring as the iPhone.
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He Likes to Move It, Move It
The pediatrician warned it wouldn’t be long; grandparents predicted it; Ben and I even warned each other. All were right: Amir is now crawling. Things are a lot more interesting around these parts.
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Party Over Here!
On Saturday morning, at least one living room on Briarwood was buzzing with babies. NINE babies. The house was (almost) crawling with little people because Amir hosted his first play group!
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Trust Us, We’re Your Parents
Tonight we celebrated Amir’s half birthday. Yes, Little Man is 6 months old already — what a milestone! And of course there’s lots going on with him.
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Wake up, Sleepyhead
Stop the presses because there’s been a miracle! Last night, little Amir — nearly 5 months old — slept … and slept … and slept. He was asleep for so long, his parents thought something was wrong.
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Thanksgiving: Twice As Nice
Little Amir got a twofer on Thursday: Not only did he have the joy of experiencing his first Thanksgiving, he also experienced his first snowfall. The strength of the storm was unexpected but it made for a beautiful holiday in St. Louis. Check out the video — a first on benjaminal.
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Pizza is Love
The Gandhi-Shepards celebrated their second wedding anniversary last week. It’s been an incredible journey to today, particular because there have been big milestones in a short time.
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Halloween Hot Dog
Amir celebrated his first Halloween as a hot dog! I had hoped that Ben and I could’ve made a theme out of it by dressing up as ketchup and mustard, respectively. But, alas, we couldn’t find costumes in time.
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Homecoming King, pt. II
Here are more pictures of Amir meeting and greeting his fans in Cali. This set primarily consists of close friends, which you’ll find we have lots of! But when it comes to loved ones, “More is more.”
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Homecoming King, pt. I
After much hemming and hawing, I had mustered up the courage to book a trip out to California so Amir could meet his Gandhi clan. The trip was fantastic for both Amir and me — as that week served as restoration for my mind and body.
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Baby News and Close Calls
The extended Shepard family welcomed another cutie-patootie into the world today! Amir is no longer the youngest in the clan; Evan Alan Dredge now holds that title. But wait … there’s more to this story.
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Watch Out, Bobby Flay
Yes, summer bid its farewell weeks ago, but before he completely grew out of my favorite onesie, I dressed up Amir and had Ben take pictures of him. Though the little man can’t help on the grill just yet, I’m certain he’ll get lots of practice barbecuing, considering that his pops has major skills in that department.
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The Sleep Situation
When Amir sleeps, we sleep too. That is, when we force ourselves to ignore the dishes, the vacuum cleaner and the errands.
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Ridiculously Cute
It seems as though Amir hits a new milestone every day, making me recall that old-time cliché “They grow up so fast.”
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Snapping Away
There are so many pictures we take of Amir that we can’t wait to show him when he’s older — say, at his graduation party or at his wedding. Embarrassing, you say? But as parents aren’t we now entitled to embarrassing our child … just a little?
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Little Man in the Mirror
I read somewhere that in the early months of life infants are visually attracted to high-contrast patterns, bright colors and faces, especially Mom’s and Dad’s face.
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Air Amir
Amir is exceptionally fortunate to have the family and friends he has. Not only do these people shower him with kisses, cuddles and love, they’ve loaded him up with gifts, some of which have stocked his wardrobe with the cutest wearables.
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Out and About at Art Hill
New Parent Rule No. 1: Get out of the house. It doesn’t matter that the baby is fussy, that you look like a zombie or that packing for an outing is a hassle. You. Must. Get. Out. Of. The. House.
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Multitasking
A huge struggle after having a baby is trying to find time to tend to other, non-baby responsibilities. It takes planning before Ben and I can shower, cook, even eat!
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Amir’s Blessing
When Amir turned 5 weeks old, he, Ben, Grandma Shushi and I took him to the Hindu temple for the first time.
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Water Baby!
It may be that all babies generally enjoy being immersed in water. But Amir, well, he loves water.
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And They All Ate Grits
Grits have been a part of the Shepard family for a couple generations now. Almost every Sunday morning, Ben and I (and now of course Amir) head over to Ben’s father’s place to nosh on the Southern specialty.
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Shepard Family Reunion
Some of the Shepard clan recently assembled at my in-laws’ lake house in the Ozarks for a reunion. Relatives traveled from as far as California, Ohio and Michigan to catch up for some family time.
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Amirio and Luigi
Amir’s favorite video game is Super Mario Brothers. He’s so old school. Which character suits him best? » Read more…
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Total Recall
Amir wanted to play Quato from “Total Recall,” so I let him. Baby gets what baby wants. Of course, Amir is far cuter than the movie character.
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benjaminal + amir
benjaminal has just undergone its third redesign — and with good reason: Amir. Following is a brief trip down memory lane.
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Amir is here!
Amir Mandela Gandhi-Shepard — 6 lbs., 13 oz., 20.5 inches — born July 18, 2010, at 7:04 p.m., in Saint Louis, Mo.
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Peeling away
Yesterday I sat on the couch and peeled three heads of garlic. The day before, I peeled one and a half. Focusing on a simple task that requires little brainpower helps ease the restlessness.
BECAUSE I AM RESTLESS.
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Yes, Still Pregnant
Evidently, I’m not among the 5 percent of women who birth a baby on its due date. July 12 has passed, and I’m still very, very pregnant. Very pregnant. Very, very. I’m 1 cm dilated, and the baby hasn’t “dropped” yet. His stubbornness is showing, wouldn’t you say?
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The Happiest Place on Briarwood
After much ado, I tasked Ben with photographing the nursery. I love the room — love the lightness and brightness of it.» Read more…
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The home stretch
Ben and I recently had what may be our last ultrasound for this pregnancy. And this time, we saw a BABY on the monitor — not something that we cerebrally acknowledge to be a baby but something that truly looks like one. Do you see Little Man’s face?» Read more…
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Kitty lovin’
I’ve been reading a lot about how to get babies and cats to coexist successfully. Ben and I will have to deal with four cats — not just one — which makes me worry.» Read more…
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The Bump
I’ve received numerous requests from my dear friends and family in California to publicize pictures of my pregnant self. That’s when it dawned on me that even my parents lack the opportunity to see how my belly (and their grandson) is growing almost 1,900 miles away.» Read more…
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It’s a boy!
As usual, there was much curiosity about whether we’d bring home a Mini Minal or Mini Ben come summertime.
Last week, we got our answer: It’s a boy.» Read more…
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Chili and grilled cheese sandwiches
As the temperature drops, there’s nothing like a warm bowl of chili and a grilled cheese sandwich on a cold winter night. It has been a few years since I made chili, so I hacked a recipe from Epicurious.
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Briarwood Then and Now
It’s been a full year since Ben and I bought and moved into our first house. Closing escrow less than 10 days after our wedding made us wonder whether we moved too fast — you know, buyer’s remorse — but everything worked out just right, and this Thanksgiving one of the things we’re thankful for is the pretty roof over our heads.» Read more…
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Small luxury
We tackled another home-improvement project yesterday, and this one took nearly seven hours to complete. But it’s done and, for Ben especially, it was well worth it.» Read more…
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Leaves Be Gone
Though autumn has been eye candy for us, the responsibilities that the season brings upon homeowners isn’t too fun.
I’m talking about raking leaves.
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Autumn in the Show-Me State
Every year since 2006, I’ve been struck by the beauty of autumn in the Midwest. But this year, even native St. Louisans have been taken aback by color, color, everywhere. Since the end of October, the scenery has looked as though Mother Nature came through town to shower us with a confetti of leaves — orange, red, yellow and plum.» Read more…
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Commitment and Camaraderie
Benjaminal are celebrants of love. How can one not revel in the lifelong commitment two people make to support and nurture each other?
So we jumped at the opportunity when our friends Dana and Shedrick invited us to mark their five-year wedding anniversary one recent Saturday.
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Halloween 2009
We were armed with about $50 worth of Halloween candy — yes, overzealous indeed — but had the chance to treat only three trick-or-treaters from our neighborhood. It was so disappointing.
Two hours passed with us idling around, snacking on Snickers bars, waiting for something to happen. But, no dice. Just when we thought our Halloween was a bust…
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It’s All in the Details
We’re just a month away from the first anniversary of our home purchase — and even less before our first wedding anniversary!
Throughout the past 11 months, we’ve spruced up the house with attic insulation, some window treatments, a sofa, TV, dining-room set, futon and bedroom furniture. Once the big stuff was out of the way, I started to focus on the details. Recently, Ben installed my favorite detail to date: the hanging pot rack.» Read more…
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Music to My Ears
For the past couple weeks, I’ve been trying to teach my 1-year-old nephew Ian to say my name. It’s admittedly not the easiest to say, like “Ben” (who is known in the family as Uncle Bunny), but because of its uniqueness, I’d like to think mine is a fun name for kids to pronounce. » Read more…
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Bermuda in October
Ben and I took enough trips these past few months to make the summer feel like it was twice as long.
Our most recent out-of-town travel was to Bermuda, where the air smelled beachy, the moon shone brighter and relaxation was our only option. Not that we’re complaining, trust me.» Read more…
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Sal Mubarak
It’s already Sunday. The busyness of the holiday weekend wore me out … or maybe it was dressing myself up in a sari that did me in. So many safety pins make you a bit crazy.» Read more…
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Let Your Light Shine
“While popularly regarded as the Festival of Lights, the most significant meaning of Diwali is the awareness of one’s own inner light.”
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Spartans Unite!
Whenever a trip to California looms, I begin to strategize ways to spend time with a jillion people within three days. That’s when the stress begins.» Read more…
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From Cali with Love
Toward the end of the summer, Ben and I took a trip out West to visit my parents, grandma and extended family.
One thing is for certain during such visits: We are fed. Very well. With mouthwatering morsels of Indian treats.» Read more… -
Friends Like These
We love three-day weekends. Then again, what 9-5 workerbee enjoys Mondays? So when Labor Day rolled around, Ben and I were relieved to have an extended break to the workweek after our hectic trip to Spain.» Read more…
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España!
Well wouldn’t you know, it’s September.
Somehow, the St. Louis summer breezed by us. Literally. Global warming naysayers only had to look to this city, whose residents usually brace for August’s muggy scorchers, to argue that shrinking arctic ice caps are a load of bull. Summer in StL has been perfect and pleasant.
But do you know where it was hotter than Jesus? Barcelona. Yes, as in Spain; as in flamenco and gazpacho and the term “Olé.”» Read more…
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Here and there
Yes, we’ve been M.I.A. for a few weeks. It’s a bit of laziness paired with lots of busyness, with a touch of computer problems.
But, hey, summer is here! St. Louis certainly didn’t hesitate to bring on the heat. In fact, temperatures in Missouri tapered off just yesterday, after a 10-day stretch of 95- through 98-degree weather — and taking humidity into account, the heat index had reached 110 degrees!» Read more…
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Slides, Swings and Strollers
Ben and I had a sweet start to our weekend. Our 9-month-old nephew, Ian, came over on Friday for his first slumber party at our place.» Read more…
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Hard at work
Bumshiqua enjoys it when Ben or I surf the Web and work on the computer. Like a typical cat, she offers her company when it’s least needed. Notice her sitting pretty, paw stretched out over the keyboard in the photo below — classic cat style.» Read more…
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Where the wild things are
Since the onset of spring, we’ve had lots of visitors come by our place. We’ve welcomed them all — even those of a different variety.
Our cats are especially fond of the “different variety,” scurrying after birds and squirrels at full tilt the second the four sneaky felines can squeeze their furry heads out the door.» Read more…
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Vegetarian Delight
Since moving to St. Louis, my eating habits are not what they used to (nor should) be. Food in the Midwest just can’t match the flavor and variety found in my beloved California — nor my mom’s kitchen.» Read more…
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In Good Company
May has been a busy month full of family. First, we cashed in quality time with Carl, Katie, Tootie and Brooke during their weeklong visit in St. Louis. Then, over the Memorial Day weekend, we spent time with Marc, Kathryn and Brendan while they were visiting from Michigan.» Read more…
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A Table…Finally
Last weekend our house transformed into a home. Because what’s more comforting than family, friends and food — and a place to combine all of those things?» Read more…
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Eggplant — lots of eggplant
We have recipes stockpiled for use, but I’m doing all I can to keep this blog from becoming “What We Had for Dinner.” So I promise to always sprinkle in non-food-related posts. Today, however, is not a day for that.
Therefore, I give you my borrowed recipe for eggplant parmesan. Tasty, cheesy, eggplanty. It was my first attempt, and the result made Ben very, very happy. Bon appétit.» Read more…
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Worst Chocolate Ever!
My chocolate taste buds got bombed! A couple of weeks ago, I had the displeasure of trying Green & Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate with Whole Cherries and Lindt’s Excellence Chili Dark Chocolate bars. I strongly advise against eating them — unless you are interested in winning a face-contortion contest.» Read more…
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Suzy’s Mother’s Day Birthday Party
My mother, Suzy Shepard, or Shushi as some of us endearingly call her, turned 60 on Sunday, May 10.
To know Shushi is to know a great mother, one who is selfless and loving. It’s no wonder her birthday always falls within a few days of Mother’s Day.» Read more…
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Quesagrilla and Guacamole
Like many American men, I like to grill, and I like a meal that can be made quickly. A recent night called for just that. So we feasted on a homemade Mexican staple. Bon appétit.» Read more…
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“Minal and rice”
I’ve been lucky to have parents who are amazing cooks. My dad is a full-on foodie, someone who is very curious and experimental and always excited to add his own flair to others’ recipes. My mom is, without a doubt, the very best cook of Indian food. She is like a superhero in the kitchen: quick and able to multitask effortlessly. And they both taught me well.» Read more…
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Runs and puns
As a kid, I didn’t like running. If sports or play involved running, it was OK, but cross-country teams or track-and-field teams or mile-long trips around the track were boring, exhaustive nightmares.» Read more…
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Eat Greek
After returning from a trip to Greece in the summer of 2007, Minal and I came back with hundreds of photos and a craving for Greek food. A common and favorite meal for us in Athens was chicken souvlaki and salad. So, one of our main objectives after returning from Greece was to whip up some tasty Greek food.» Read more…
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Addicted to Xocoaltl
Woot! Woot! Cultivated nearly 3000 years ago by the Mayans, “xocoaltl,” now know as chocolate, has become my favorite substance on earth. Did you know that it wasn’t until the end of the 18th century that hard chocolate was developed? Previously, chocolate was only enjoyed as a bitter, spicy, sweet, hot or cold drink. Now I can find scores of chocolate goodness at my favorite international grocery store, Global Market (GM).» Read more…
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It’s never too late to Sk8
My good friend DJ Crucial (Rob Fulstone) invited me out to skateboard the other day. Aside from it being my first time out on a skateboard in years, I had a great time. Minal Monster gets all of the photo credits.» Read more…
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Spring, by Minal
Since spring has sprung, Benjaminal took a trip to the Missouri Botanical Garden this weekend. It was Minal’s first visit, and she fell in love with the place. She used Ben’s Canon macro lens to capture the inspiration that blooms in St. Louis every year. The light rain that fell throughout the day left such sweet and delicate dew drops on the petals and plants.» Read more…
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Monster Yum!
The Gandhi-Shepards love spice. That’s what happens when half of us is Indian and can’t be satiated unless food has some kick to it. Minal Monster made some yummy salmon and potatoes last night! She improvised with ingredients already in the kitchen. Here are some pics:» Read more…
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Michelle Obama Paper Toys
A friend that I work with signed me up to be a participating artist for Fashion Week here in St. Louis.» Read more…
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Sunday Grits
Every Sunday we eat grits. It’s a Shepard family tradition that goes back a couple generations.» Read more…
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Curious about the credit crisis?
Here is a fantastic video that Minal’s father, Viren, forwarded to us about the current credit crisis in the U.S. economy. It is only a few fun animated minutes, yet it does a superb job of putting the whole crisis into perspective.» Read more…
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LOST at Pasta Night
Every Wednesday night we watch the exciting yet confusing hit TV show “Lost” with friends (usually the totally awesome Kelleys). And every Wednesday night we cook pasta. Recently, Dana Kelley blessed us with a broccoli, chicken and red sauce over some wheat spaghetti noodles. It was delicious.» Read more…
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Home Cookin’
We have been eating well at the Gandhi-Shepard crib. Chef Benjamin has been on a cooking streak.» Read more…
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Stunna Shades
I got some sweet stunna shades from the eye doctor the other day. Oh yeah!» Read more…
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Warmer Winters are Upon Us!
Disclaimer: This series may draw out big yawns from readers, for, let’s face it, news that excites first-time homeowners is hardly ever as thrilling and dramatic as they proclaim.
For our second installment of The Joys and Pains of Homeownership, we have some big news.
JOY: More attic insulation!» Read more…
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Los Gatos…
No, that’s not in reference to the bourgeois town in California’s Bay Area, but instead the four critters we like to call our kids.» Read more…
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Our Wedding Photos
Just because we updated benjaminal.com doesn’t mean that you lost access to cool things the old site had to offer, such as our wedding photos!» Read more…
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A Fresh, New benjaminal.com
benjaminal.com has a fresh, new look and a brand new purpose. Here, you can stay in touch with us without the pressure of phone calls, letters and e-mails (all of which are still welcome and cherished).» Read more…
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A Room for Living
This is one of the many rooms that sold us on our house. At 219 x 203 inches, we envisioned this living room as a comfy space to chill, host Superbowl parties and avoid smacking a fool while playing Wii tennis. To achieve this task we sat on dozens of couches and endured hours of time in showrooms with bad art — really bad art.» Read more…
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Engagement Photos
On March 29, 2008, we got ENGAGED! Ben had planned a sweet vacation for us to enjoy after he popped the question.» Read more…
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Our Story
When it comes to Ben, I have a staring problem. And if you were to ask him why, he might flash some Leo swagger and say it’s because he’s the handsomest guy around — and he’d be correct.
But there’s more to it.» Read more…
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The Gujarati Wedding
The Gujarati culture is deeply rooted in rich customs and traditions. Gujaratis celebrate special occasions with magnificent splendor and gaiety, and a wedding, along with its preceding rituals, are no different. These events are animated, bustling and full of sentiment and camaraderie.» Read more…
