The Lifeys 2014!

[We had a disagreement about how to start this post. So, in fairness to all parties, both intros appear below]

B: It's 2015! And as is our tradition, we are looking back at 2014 and recognizing the best of the year. That's right, dear readers, it's time for the Lifeys 2014!

E: Deep in the darkest, coldest days of winter, there is a spark of light. Nay! A ray of light! A light that shines boldly, inviting you to come in from the ghastly rain, curl up with a cop of hot cider, and peruse . . . The Lifeys.

(Also, B only said "dear readers" to try to sound like me!  He knows I'm funnier!)

And so, without further ado, our picks for the 2014 Lifeys!

Best Movie: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Food to Make: Lentils and Rice in Coconut Milk
Runner-up: Pumpkin Curry with Chickpeas (we put spinach in too)

Best New Baby (in order of appearance):  Baby R, A, O and H

Best New Toddler: C (no competition)

Best Accomplishment: Talking

Best New Tradition: Takeaway sandwiches and salads from Fika on Tuesdays - our busiest work day.

Best New Album: Alexi Murdoch, Time Without Consequence

Best Meal Out (so good, we ate there three times!): Berlin's Dolores California Gourmet Burritos

Best European Vegan Discovery: Veganz, the all-vegan supermarket

Best Performance: Verdensballet 2014 at Møllerup Gods. Even the Queen came.

Best Dinners in Berkeley (tie): Potluck with the Santa Barbara posse
                                              Cactus Taqueria with R and J

- C's picks -

Best New Pursuit: Hopping

Best Playground: Prague's Petřínské park playground with lots of slides (map)
Runner-up: Børnenes Jord, here in Aarhus

Best Berry: Raspberry

Best American Discovery: Splash pads!

The Lifeys 2013!

Yes friends, it's time once again for that most hallowed and anticipated annual event--the Lifeys!  Where the Daring Duo (C doesn't get to vote yet) gives awards to the best things in the year.  With no further ado...

Best Trip Abroad--bringing C to her ancestral homeland, March/April  (we wanted a picture right at the "Welcome to the US" sign at customs, but apparently that's not allowed).

Best New Danish Destination--Sandbjerg Gods, Sønderborg, Denmark  (seriously, do a Google Image search for this)!
      runners-up-- Vejle, Denmark and Ry, Denmark

Best Meal Out--lunch in Tucson at the Tucson Tamale Company, March
      runner-up-- dinner in London at Nakhon Thai, August

Best New Thing to Cook--Red Lentils and Spinach Masala
       runner-up-- Almond Butter Cups

Best Books--The Help, by Kathryn Stockett; and
       Island Beneath the Sea, by Isabel Allende

Best Accomplishment--tiny C learning to walk!

Best Month--July

Best New Game--Citadels

Happy New Year!

The Lifeys 2012!

Happy New Year, darling readers! 

Yes, it's that time again.  Time for the Lifeys!
(It's a guilty pleasure, we know, but we won't tell anyone how much you've been looking forward to this).

Best New Song:  A Comet Appears, by The Shins

Best Meal Out: Thai Peacock in Portland, OR, August 2012

Best Meal In: our new tradition of Taco Tuesdays, especially if the zucchini salsa is involved

Best New Baby:  tiny C!
Honorable Mentions: the UHS Alums October Babies, ie: baby boy L and baby girl A, as well as the     November nearly-nephew, baby boy S.

Best New Job:  B's new position as an assistant professor

Best New Album:  Casino Twilight Dogs, by Youth Group (B's choice)
There's No Leaving Now, by The Tallest Man on Earth (E's choice)

Best Startlingly Amusing Movie:  Horrible Bosses
(we saw some good stuff this year too, but nothing worth winning Best Actually Good Movie--did we miss something?)

Best New Cookbook:  Tie:  Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day!  and Vegan Eats World

Best "High School Reunion:"  B meeting his former German exchange students in Berlin this summer!

Best Penny Arcade Comics: Betwixt and Anthrophila

Most Uplifting Video We Found on the Internet:  David Attenborough and the BBC giving us a Wonderful World


All told, looks like it's been another great year! 

The Lifeys 2011!

Can you believe it? It's been a whole year since the last Lifeys!* Remember how you waited, tense with anticipation, for the day they would debut? Remember how you plopped down in front of your laptop with a package of microwave popcorn, some ice cream, and a handful of wine coolers? Remember how you rehashed them--what we wore, who we sat next to, how our hair looked--all week with your coworkers?

Well, it's that time again. Presenting...

THE 2011 LIFEYS!

Best New Meal: Peruvian Potato Stew (from Viva Vegan! by Terry Hope Romero)

Best New Stand Alone Game: The Resistance

Best New Game Expansion: Dominion Hinterlands
Runner-up: Saboteur: De Uitbreiding!

Best Actually Good Movie: The King's Speech
Runner-up: Midnight in Paris

Most Startlingly Amusing Movie: Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
(disclaimer: this movie is, in fact, really stupid and kind of gross, but also hilarious)

Most Mindblowing Food: Peach and Blue Cheese Pizza at the Cheeseboard (B); lime pickle (E)

Best New Artistic Pursuit: Folding Julestjerner

Best New Album: Shallow Grave, by The Tallest Man on Earth

Best Meal Out: Indonesian take-away in Noordwijkerhout, South Holland, The Netherlands

Best Penny Arcade: This Dilapidated Universe (August 24th, 2011)
Runner-up: Surprise Ending (October 31st, 2011)

Best Burritos: Molina's Crazy Burrito, November (B)
The Sunny Side Cafe Tofu Breakfast Burrito, August (E)
Runner-up: Papalote, August (E)


*which can be seen HERE