Pages

Sunday, January 31, 2010

The Quarter-Life Cooks







Do you know Phoebe and Cara, the Quarter-Life Cooks?

They're 2 twenty-something ladies living in New York, cooking in their kitchens, and writing a great food blog about their adventures. The two friends post all sorts of recipes from cooking for one to cooking for many all from their teeny tiny NY kitchens. They give all the details of their gatherings: the party size, ingredients, special tips, and always a recap of the event itself. I just love these girls. I wish I was their friend so I could attend one of their Park Slope parties! (Beck and Bails, maybe you could get the in with these girls?) Looks delicious and so much fun.

Check out their blog and see for yourself: Big Girls, Small Kitchen. Whether your in your quarter-life or not there's something for everyone.

I WANT.

I was twittering the other day when design*sponge told me about a clothing company called Spool No. 72. One look at their website and I was in heaven. There pieces are well crafted, "a unfussy classic American style". I LOVE. I WANT.

Have a look at these items of clothing I discovered
(you will want them too):
"A delicate blue and white pinstripe silk is the perfect base for a bright embroidery."

"A soft cotton base is the sweetest backdrop for delicate embroidered and beaded details. Three button detail front, darling stitch pockets, and the sweetest stretch sleeves."

As you may know, I am not allowed to buy these precious clothes (although the urge is almost unbearable). But just because I can't buy certainly doesn't mean I can't look. And, really, I'm just doing you a favor letting you know about these gorgeous items in case you have the desire to buy them for yourself (or for me).

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Busy, busy, busy.

I was so so busy last week I hardly had any time to blog. These next couple of months are going to be jam packed with stuff, but I am determined to make it out alive. Although most likely, I won't be blogging as much as I have been, I still hope to get a post in from time to time-- it's such a creative outlet for me (in a virtually-artsy kind of way) and something I have grown proud of. I'm a writer! Who knew?!

Here's what I'll be up to this semester:
  • I'm taking 4 grad school classes
  • I'll be volunteering 3 mornings a week in a first grade classroom
  • Hanging out with Wyatt and Asa... my little love bunnies
  • Watching the very last season of LOST
  • Dancing the night away at Bailey's wedding in April !
  • Working on a new blog: letsreadtogether.wordpress.com (I'll be tracking my life as a young teacher... posting about new information I've learned, classroom tips, children's literature reviews and other interesting info about working with kids)
I'm excited, stressed, and exhausted about the idea of all I have to do. It's gonna be a whirlwind semester that's for sure. Luckily, I do enjoy everything that I am doing (yes, even the classes part) and so hopefully it will make the craziness bearable. Wish me luck!

Friday, January 29, 2010

Crazy Times

Sorry for being MIA.
This week was just CRAAAZY!! I started up with classes again and boy is it gonna be a busy one.

I feel a lot like Olivia looks in these pictures:
You know, like skittering around on a scooter, kicking a soccer ball, and playing with cats (EEK!). Well, not really, but something like that.

Anyways, I hope YOU had a good week!
Have a great Friday.
And a SUPER weekend!!!

xoxo.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

WICKED!






















Back from the cuse and what a wonderful weekend it was.

The best part: I went to see my first ever show of the broadway musical WICKED. INCREDIBLE!!! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, loving the characters and the story line, and especially the music. It's a spin off the classic Wizard of Oz. A very clever tale of Glinda the "good witch" and the "wicked witch of the west", Elphaba.

Amazing. Fantastic. Brilliant.


I think this one has moved up to the top of my list of favorites, everyone. It's official.


"So if you care to find me

look to the Western Sky

As someone told me lately

'Everyone deserves a chance to fly!'"


Saturday, January 23, 2010

A weekend in the Cuse.


This weekend my sister and I took the bus home to Syracuse. Yay home! For Christmas my mom gave us tickets to see WICKED! And it's this weekend! I'm so excited I could burst.

What are you doing this weekend? I hope you have a good one!

Friday, January 22, 2010

bridesmaid extravaganza

This weekend I am extremely sad to be missing out on Han's bridesmaid dress hunting extravaganza weekend. BOO.

The last bridesmaid extravaganza weekend was a hoot!!

Not that I'm not excited to go home.
And see my mom and dad.
And eat Wegmans subs and Mario and Salvos Pizza.
And see WICKED!
Because believe me, I am.

But oh, for the love of dresses. A weekend of girls shopping is just my cup of tea. So I'm sorry to be missing it.

Hannah already picked out this dress:





















It's the Silk Taffeta Strapless Dress from Anne Taylor

I LOVE. Isn't it pretty? Even though we bought this dress (couldn't pass up the sale price), the weekend is just a chance to see what else is out there. You know, from j.crew and such. Oh, the fun it should be.

VERY excited to hear all the details...
Have fun girls! xo.

gorgeous frames

photo: design*sponge

Thank you, design*sponge, for introducing me to this gorgeous frame! The designer is John Murphy, an experienced photographer who sells his amazing photos through his website. In addition to selling his photos (which are a little out of my price range) he sells stationary and frames. I think the frames are stunning. Glorious, even.

And today, if you feel so inclined to purchase one of these frames, they're 20% off-- a d*s readers special!

Have a great friday!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

happy birthday dear, ee.


a little birthday wish for my dear friend ee.

remember when we planted our flower garden in front of sweet sweet sherrill?
here's some pretty pretty flowers
for pretty pretty you.

love you, ee.
happy birthday!

(and it's always fun to take a trip down memory lane....)

2010 web bloggies...


Check out this link to the 10th annual weblog awards. I'm fairly new to the blogging world, but am already loving being a part of it. I find interesting and unique blogs everyday, some that I check out and pass by, and those I return to day after day for my "fix" of inspiration and other musings. Just by viewing the nominees for this years bloggie awards, I've already found some new favorites!

Take a look for yourself, who knows what you will discover!

Franklin Cafe


We headed to the Franklin Cafe last night in the South End. I've been wanting to try this place since September but have never had the opportunity until now. The atmosphere is warm and cozy and the food was yummy. I ordered the steak frites and Zan decided to go with the duck. Delicious food. Mine was pretty standard, no surprises there. The duck came with a thin side of mashed potatoes and currants. We both enjoyed our food but decided by the end of the night that we would rather go back to Toro next time. Not that The Franklin Cafe isn't good, because it is, but Toro offers a really fun ambience that is fun and different for a night out in Boston. The Franklin Cafe gets a 7 out of 10 from me. Good, hearty food. A great place for a cold winters night.

Classic Steak Frites
Port Demi Glace, Roquefort Butter

Crispy Hudson Valley Duck Leg Confit
Pomme Puree, Spiced Currants

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Welcome to my breakfast

I basically eat the same thing for breakfast every morning. I'm one of those people that could live on a few staples and be perfectly content. For example, I ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich every singe day while I was in college. I'm not even kidding. I still eat it for lunch whenever I can. It's such a classic it never gets old. Ever.

Recently for breakfast, I have been eating greek yogurt. I love the honey flavor. Drop some raspberries on top and you're good to go. SO satisfying.

And my sister came home the other day with this cranberry green tea from Trader Joes. It's REALLY delightful. Plus, the water turns pink when you put the tea bag in your mug. Pretty!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

a Real Simple dinner.

Decided to make a chicken stroganoff recipe from Real Simple last night. It was really simple, and it was really tasty too!


There are a lot of ingredients, but most I already had lying around. Went to Whole Foods to pick up some fresh veggies and had some chicken in my freezer I laid out in the am to defrost. I followed the recipe pretty accurately (not super confident with my cooking skills yet), and the dish came out great and is definitely something I will make again.


Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced into rings

1 green pepper, seeded and thinly sliced

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

8 ounces (15 medium) button mushrooms, thinly sliced

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch-thick strips

1 cup dry white wine

1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

2 tablespoons barbecue sauce

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon hot sauce

1/2 cup sour cream

Served over: egg noodles


Here's the easy-peasy recipe:
To start, gather your ingredients for a group picture

Chop the onions into rings

Get the green pepper ready

Chop those into small strips

The chicken also gets cut into small strips

Cook the onions for about 8 minutes in a tablespoon of olive oil (until softened)

Add peppers and mushrooms
(and 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. of pepper)
Cook approx 6 minutes, until mushrooms give up liquid and are tender

Remove veggies and place in collander (save the liquid)
Cook chicken (seasoned w/ 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper)
Pour the wine, chicken broth and veggie liquid into pan and bring to a boil

Add the BBQ sauce, mustard, Worcestershire, and hot sauce
Whisk until smooth
Bring to a boil and let the liquid reduce by half

Reduce heat and whisk in the sour cream

Return chicken and veggie to pan
Simmer until heated through

I put this dish over egg noodles
(but you can choose any type of pasta or rice)
YUM!

Monday, January 18, 2010

The Help

It seems appropriate I finished this book on Martin Luther King Day. It's an absolutely wonderful story about 3 women in Jackson, Mississippi during the civil rights movement. I fell in love with each of the characters, so much that I didn't ever want the book to end. Miss Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny: Beautiful woman who pull at your heart on every page. It's a long book, but worth every minute you spend reading. I promise you, you will love this book-- It's brilliant.

ridiculously delicious chocolate chip cookies

Introducing: The world's most delicious cookies! Zan's mom's specialty. These are not your average tollhouse cookies, although that's the recipe Sue uses. There is something about the way she makes them that's different than any other tollhouse cookies I've ever eaten. I've tried to replicate it, with no luck at all. They are so SO soft in the middle, almost as if they're not cooked all the way through. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. They are amazing. And no, you can't have any.

This weekend we took a trip down to New Haven to visit John and Hillary. The cookies came with us and by the end only crumbs remained. Cookies for breakfast. Cookies for lunch. Cookies for dinner. Just the way I like it.

We did do other fun things besides eating cookies. I swear.
We took a tour of Yale

Saw some secret societies

Looked at old books

LOTS of old books.

Ate homemade Thai food

Cheered on Yale Hockey

And played a whooole lotta Wii
(that's Zan in the front... and I'm to his left.)

Rhythm Kung Fu... I own you.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Happy Weekend!

HAPPY WEEKEND!
xoxo

Friday, January 15, 2010

Help for Haiti

The news is just devastating. I find myself not knowing what to think, besides an immense amount of sadness and helplessness. But after watching enough news covereage, I don't want to just sit around anymore. I've decided there is something I can do. Something that everyone can do. Please take a minute to donate to an established non-profit relief organization. There are MANY organizations out there with workers and volunteers helping in Haiti. I've listed a few below... give what you can! Whether it's a penny or a comment every effort matters.

Haiti Earthquake: How to Help

And for more, visit MSNBC here for an even longer list of active organizations helping in Haiti.

Lastly, there are many blogs out there with fundraising efforts. Please visit these blogs and comment! Every little thing counts!!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

délicieux scents

Hello all you lovely ladies out there... here is a post for the beauty queen in you. I've recently discovered L'Occtaine en Provence, which is expensive but utterly divine. Here are some delicious smelling products I am using at the moment:

This eau de toilette from L'Occtaine is so pleasant. The scent is "Cherry, the softness of a single summer". Yes, I do realize it's not summer, not even close, but that doesn't mean I can't pretend it isn't. So there.


And I got this wonderful lotion for Christmas (thanks Adams family!!)... Ruban D'Orange Soft Skin Milk. Dreamy. The scent is refreshing without being too strong. It's a very good moisturizer too... really does a great job on my dry winter skin!

Also, These products are both on sale now, which makes them positively perfect. C'est fantastique! Oui, oui, oui!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

all the pretty colors!



Light pink?

light blue?

light yellow?

BRIGHT yellow?

a plain creamy white?

or green OH SO bright!?

(top photo from winifredStudios at Etsy)

I just entered a contest at the Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen blog.... all I had to do was enter my favorite ice cream flavor and I'm in the drawing to win a KitchenAid mixer!! The options for colors aren't as playful as my picks, but who gives! Imagine what all the tasty things I could make with one! Oh, let the girl dream.....