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freelance muses

2011-06-02T15:31:00.001-04:00

visit me at www.freelancemuses.blogspot.com for frequent updates on etiquette, fashion, food, party-planning and whatever strikes our fancy for that day.

ciao!

beautiful

2011-05-16T15:02:00.005-04:00

you've got to get up every morning
with a smile on your face
and show the world all the love in your heart.
then people gonna treat you better
you're gonna find (yes you will),
you're as beautiful as you feel.
-- Carole King, Beautiful

i'm going to grow my hair out long like carole.

and wake up tomorrow with a smile on my face.

come again?

2011-05-09T12:50:00.007-04:00

The last time I actually saw the word "culottes" in print, it was on one of my mother's Simplicity sewing patterns from the mid-80s. Imagine my surprise when I saw both the word and the item in Anthropologie yesterday! Cute item - but such a funny word (say: coo-lots). It sort of sounds like a dirty word to describe a woman's nether-regions. Leave it to the French...

P.S. -- Just for fun, Google the word "culottes." The amount of times culottes show up in the results for "modest apparel" makes me smirk.

i know meghan - i know

2011-05-06T09:57:00.003-04:00

What a blogging dunce I am.

Life is so busy. I have lots of fun photos, stories and adventures to share - but after this week is over:

- I got a promotion at my day job. Woot!
- I'm making five dozen cupcakes for a bridal shower on Saturday.
- I'm making a wedding cake to serve 40 people for - yep, Saturday too.
- I ran a 10.6-mile race in Big Sur last weekend - and did surprisingly well, considering I didn't train.
- It's FINALLY spring in DC and I'm happy as a clam.

So much to share! So much to do! I stink at blogging anymore. If you're desperate for more frequently-updated content, check out my side project with friend Christina at freelancemuses.blogspot.com.

Til then - ta ta!

little fish in a big pond [which, actually, turns out to be a small pond].

2011-03-28T11:01:00.005-04:00

Though I’ve lived in the lovely district of columbia for eighteen months now, not a day goes by when I don’t miss some aspect of my little hometown of Lakeland, FL. One of my chief complaints when I first moved to d.c. was that nobody knew me. In Lakeland you can’t run the lake, stop by Publix for groceries or sit in “traffic” on South Florida Avenue without seeing someone you know – or being seen by someone. I missed the fact that my name didn’t mean a darn thing to people living here – not that I come from an affluent family with a famous last name, but see, that’s just the thing about living in Lakeland – people know your name, whether it “matters” or not. In d.c., people know your name if it will help them advance to the next job, get a vote or mean something to someone who can do either.

We recently traveled back to Lakeland and it was such a breath of fresh air (although in some ways, positively exhausting). It’s always particularly difficult in the days following a trip “home” – it’s always tough for me to transition back to being in the city, and to be reminded that I’m not known in d.c. like I am in Lakeland.

Regardless, I filled the week with activities to keep me busy and distracted. I had drinks one evening after work with a friend at a bar where the bartenders make it a point to learn your name. As I attempted to leave the bar, sans iPhone, the bartender hollered out to me, “Francine!” Here I was, a little girl in a bar crowded with black suit-clad Washingtonians, trying desperately to be known by someone who can get them somewhere, and my name is called out above the din of conversation. It was remarkable enough to mention to E when I arrived home.

The following night, E and I headed to a restaurant that we love but rarely patronize, and we sat at a table where a cute and trendy couple was enjoying an evening together. Upon leaving, E bent to tell the girl, “My wife loves your eyeglasses but she’s too shy to tell you.” The girl crooned, “Why thank you! You should try them on – they’ll look so good on you with your dark hair.” I was shocked – I never anticipate anyone being so friendly in d.c. I tried them on, received compliments from all nearby and then she graciously informed me where to find a similar pair.

Two days later, E and I were in the car driving down a street close to the house, when we saw the same girl – that same girl with the trendy glasses that we spoke with on our Friday night date, traveling by foot. We let her cross the street in front of us, and as she passed I leaned out the window and said, “You let me try on your glasses the other night at Saint Ex!” She smiled, laughed and waved energetically. E and I marveled that we would see the same person twice within the same weekend.

That night at church, as I was taking communion, the girl giving the bread looked at my name tag (newly acquired, as we just became members of this church two weeks ago) and she called me by name: “Francine, the body of Christ, given for you.” It was so surprising, yet so meaningful. Of course I'm known by Christ - but known by the girl giving communion, even if it was aided, was such a blessing.

After service, E and I found it difficult to leave the building, as there were so many people we wanted to say hello to, to stop and have a conversation with and ask about their lives. A new friend remarked, “Gosh, you guys know everybody!” We laughed that someone in d.c. would ever say that to us.

And then, early this morning when I walked into the gym, the flamboyant and oddly-cheery-for-6 a.m. young man at the front desk recognized me and tittered, “Good morning, honey!"

God has been especially merciful to this soul-longing of mine – to be known and to know others – this past week. I’m so grateful.

p.s. there are photos of cherry blossoms, cake and family to be shared. hopefully soon.

salad, etc.

2011-03-07T11:43:00.003-05:00

I have to confess – I’m just not a salad girl. This revelation always shocked friends (and my now-husband, my then-boyfriend) – I’m petite and I was a vegetarian of sorts for three years. You’d think that a girl like me would subsist off of salad.

Not a chance. This woman cannot live on salad alone. It always leaves me hungry, and I just don’t love it that much. I’m not a fan of salad dressings, and too much olive oil and I may as well have eaten garlic bread or something. Not only that, but a lot of lettuces hurt my stomach. Anything with radicchio or mesclun is a no-no, I don’t like iceberg lettuce and romaine lettuce is as old as the Roman Empire as far as I’m concerned.

But then I moved to D.C. and there is a Whole Foods across the street and lo and behold, I discovered: hydroponic bibb lettuce. It’s also called butter lettuce, and for good reason. I can eat that stuff raw and without any accompaniment. It’s literally like butter – it’s so smooth and soft and mild and I could munch an entire head of it in one sitting, like a little bunny rabbit. Except that it’s expensive and I don’t buy it very often, so I don’t allow myself to do that.
I wish I could have my own hydroponic garden. Maybe one day. Along with our own compost bin and a clothesline for hanging laundry.

I never thought my wish list would include those three items…

fine new shoes

2011-03-03T13:05:00.003-05:00

"When I am walking down the street,
I do so like to watch my feet.
Perhaps you do not know the news,
Mother has bought me fine new shoes."

This line from a children's poem, shared with me by my Favorite Flautist, is in my head. My dear husband came home Tuesday night with a box tucked under his arm - yellow peep-toed heels for his winter-weary bride.

Perhaps you do not know the news, Eric has bought me fine new shoes! It's quite chilly in The District today (it's 35 degrees F at 1:30 p.m.!) so no yellow shoes today - but soon and very soon.

Thank You Lord for seasons, which remind me that every dark, dreary and dead winter is followed by a bright spring full of new life.

hummus

2011-03-02T10:11:00.004-05:00

Hummus is one of my all-time favorite foods. In my single days, I would eat hummus with pita and veggies and call it dinner. In examining my grocery bill one day, I realized that hummus is one of the more expensive food items that I purchase. I decided to start making my own. I've tried several recipes, and I finally decided that a variation of Ina Garten's recipe is my favorite. I roast the garlic prior to using it in the hummus to take away some of the bite (which just turns sour after a day or two). Besides, the leftover garlic-infused olive oil is so delicious for use in sauteed veggies later in the week.

Also, go ahead and splurge on tahini (sesame paste - the texture and look reminds me of natural almond butter). I didn't always use it because I felt like it was one of those ingredients that you could live without. But once I started using it, I realized that it gave my hummus the creamy texture and flavor profile reminiscent of the kind you get at a Lebanese restaurant. An $8 can of tahini is enough for 6 or 7 batches of hummus. It's worth it.* Hummus – adaptation on Ina Garten’s recipe

3 garlic cloves (peeled and whole)
1/3 cup olive oil
2 cups canned garbanzo beans, drained, liquid from one can reserved
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup tahini
Juice from one lemon
3-4 tablespoons liquid from the chickpeas
4 dashes hot sauce

Pour the olive oil into a pan over medium heat and add the garlic cloves. Cook the garlic until brown and fragrant, turning periodically. Remove the cloves (save the oil) and in a food processor fitted with the steel blade, drop the garlic down the feed tube; process until it's minced. Add the garbanzo beans, salt, tahini and lemon juice and process. Add a few tablespoons of the chickpea liquid and pulse until the hummus is a creamy consistency; if it seems dry and seems to stick to the sides of the bowl, add a bit of the garlic-infused olive oil, one tablespoon at a time.** Add the hot sauce (if desired – I like to use Tabasco sauce). Taste for seasoning, adding more salt or liquid if needed. Garnish with smoked paprika, and serve chilled or at room temperature with pita chips or veggies.

*I looked for tahini online and for some reason the kind I buy was like, $30! Not true. Whole Foods. It's $8. At most, $9. I wouldn't lie to you.

**Remember - don’t throw away the remainder of your olive oil! Garlic-infused olive oil is so yummy and delicious and you can use it for just about anything you can think of.

first gig

2011-03-01T15:25:00.016-05:00

This past weekend Little Bird Cupcakes had a gig (the first real gig, mind you!) - create two dozen mini cupcakes in a variety of flavors for an Oscar viewing party.

I had so much fun with this. I decided to create three of my favorite cupcakes: Pink Lady, Little Pick-Me-Up and Vegan Lemon. Also, in honor of the Academy Awards, I created a cupcake that I called “Black Swan” – chocolate cupcake with a dark center (a dark heart, if you will) topped with fluffy vanilla cream cheese frosting and decked out with a fluffy coconut “tutu.”

The apartment was a cupcake factory – I baked all of the cupcakes late Saturday evening and prepared all of the frostings Sunday morning just prior to delivery. E stayed out of the way, except to snap photos after completion (and to snatch a cupcake when I wasn’t watching).

(above - black swan and little-pick-me-up side by side; little pick-me-up's close-up)

There were lots of leftovers, and lest any cupcake go to waste (or be left in the apartment for Team Asche consumption – can’t have that!) E and I delivered some to neighbors, as well as a realtor hosting an open house in a condo across the street (along with business cards, should he like to order for future open houses – my marketing exec thought of that one).

(above - lbc minis, all packed up and ready to go!)

The girl who ordered them (a marketing guru herself) had all of her friends fill out comment cards so that I can improve. Such a good idea – some may shudder at the thought of a client telling them exactly what they think about a product or service, but I drank it up. I received such great feedback from all of her guests, and I’m eager to apply a few tweaks to my cupcakes as a result. Oh, and I should mention, not only did she give me feedback, but she and her friend decorated the comment “cards” to be little birds and cupcakes and delivered them to me in a little package! I swooned - such a brilliant idea. This client has my heart and my business.

must-share recipe

2011-02-21T17:25:00.004-05:00

This recipe is one of mine and Eric's absolute favorites.

BBQ pulled pork sammies. Nom, nom, nom.

Super simple, relatively inexpensive (a little more expensive for us, because I insist on purchasing our meat from Whole Foods - no exceptions, ever) and really satisfying. It's been in our Crock Pot all afternoon and the smell is making me absolutely batty. I'm probably twitching and salivating at the corners of my mouth right now.

A couple of little fpa variations:

-- rather than dump everything into the Crock Pot, I mix together a "rub" consisting of the first few ingredients (brown sugar, chili powder, etc.) and rub it on the pork. Then I plop the pork into the pot with the water / vinegar and let it go. It's much messier, but totally worth it.

-- for the cole slaw, I use Miracle Whip rather than the mayonnaise and sour cream - it gives it a tangy kick that is accentuated by the cider vinegar (and if you use the reduced fat Miracle Whip, it's lower in fat and calories).

-- I use slider buns - it's more fun to have little bitty messy sandwiches, pork and BBQ sauce all over the place.

-- Eric always puts his cole slaw on his sammie - it creates a great contrast of texture and flavor.

-- I swear by Stubb's BBQ sauce. Stubb's is a place in Austin, TX and they bottle and sell the sauce at the grocery store (I've found it at both Safeway and Whole Foods - you lucky Florida peeps will have to let me know if you can find it at Publix). Buy the original variety - you won't be sorry.

Enjoy! I bet this will become one of your staples, too. If you don't eat pork, just use beef butt or shoulder. And if you don't eat meat, I suggest you check out the vegetarian BBQ sandwich at Jo's in Austin. But that's a whole other post in and of itself....

sunny days

2011-02-16T09:47:00.002-05:00

There comes a point in the winter where any blue-skied, sunny day will do – no matter how brisk. I find myself craning my neck and turning my head up toward the sky like a sunflower, following the light of day and avoiding any street with a shadow cast by city buildings or trees.

Spring. I know you’re out there.

playin'

2011-02-10T12:49:00.002-05:00

My boss is out sick today, and we just finished a really big committee meeting earlier this week, so I feel like I'm in the calm after the storm. I spent my lunch break eating a sounded-good-at-the-time-but-made-me-feel-yucky whole wheat mahi wrap, and needed some creative goodies to distract me from my discomfort.

I would love to do this in our kitchen - there is a small amount of space below the cabinets on the wall where our stove sits, so it would be such a visual treat to have bright green subway tile there. However, it's too much work to do in a rental property. Perhaps I'll purchase some lime green paint instead. I have spring fever, and as a result have painted both bathrooms, cleaned like a fool and collected heaps of Goodwill offerings. All this, and it's only February 10 (God help us all).

Really wish I had seen this in time for our wedding! How beautiful - and delicious. My dear husband has a strong love of hard candy (particularly LemonHeads), and I love lemons. In fact, our wedding had an old Florida / citrus theme. It would have been delightful (and most likely much easier) for my friend Christina (who made an unbelievable cake for us - such an amazing cake) to have made a lemon cake with buttercream and crushed LemonHeads all over it. No regrets though - perhaps I'll make a mini version of this cake for our anniversary.

Speaking of weddings - praise the Lord we got married when we did. Otherwise I'd be in some serious debt. Scroll towards the bottom of the post and check the dresses the petite Asian is modeling. J'adore!!!

We're celebrating Valentine's Day two days early this year because I'm sending E to math camp next week (ok, so it's actually a business finance class at Wharton. I'm still going to call it math camp). Saturday night I'm going to make herb roasted lamb chops, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted green beans and some kind of yummy dessert. At first I thought I would do chocolate heart-shaped mini cakes, but these look divine! The jury is out on whether I'll do red velvet like this recipe calls for, or if I'll try my hand at chocolate whoopie pies with salted caramel frosting. We'll see what E wants.

And of course - shoes. Because I love them. My wish list:

These. Pink leather! Come on! Swoon!

These (I've been longing for high-heeled oxfords for what seems like forever - and the stacked heel on these. Gor-geous)

I used to own something similar to this in yellow, but I wore them slap out. Would love a replacement pair - but this time in orange!

little pick-me-up

2011-01-31T10:57:00.003-05:00

Who couldn’t use a little pick-me-up when the weather is so gray and dreary? It’s cold and slushy here in DC – I keep wishing for snow, and then when we get some it’s called a “wintry mix,” which is really just a weatherman’s PR-friendly way of saying, “Disgusting sludgy, slushy, dirty snow and frozen rain that I wouldn’t recommend going out into.” Needless to say, I needed something this weekend to make me feel more cheery.

Most of us are familiar with the Italian dessert called tiramisu - that delectable, layered dessert with cinnamon, drunken lady’s fingers cookies, sweetened mascarpone cheese and espresso. The word translates into English as “little pick-me-up” – and of course it is! A little sugar, liqueur and espresso can pick anyone up.

Since cupcakes are my thing, I decided to create my own spin on this dessert but in mini cupcake form. I made a cinnamon mini cupcake that I spiked with Frangelico (an Italian hazelnut-flavored liqueur) – the liquid in this cake comes from milk, but I did half milk, half Frangelico, and then a little extra liqueur to make up for any of the alcohol that would burn off in the baking process. I filled the cupcake with an espresso cream – essentially, confectioner’s sugar, finely-ground espresso and mascarpone cheese. I topped the whole thing off with a mascarpone frosting – a little like cream cheese frosting, but fluffier and with a more unique flavor.

I also experimented with fondant this weekend. My one experience with fondant was using it from a tub, but this time I made it from scratch using (get this) marshmallows and Crisco. I know. You’re never going to eat fondant again, are you? I tinted the fondant my two favorite shades of blue, and cut them into little flowers – nothing like flowers in my favorite colors to cheer my disposition.

playing with one of e's cool iphone apps

so i'm a goofball. what of it?

birthday cake cupcakes

2011-01-28T09:50:00.004-05:00

When I was a kid, my mom would always make a yellow cake with rich chocolate frosting for family birthdays. If you requested something else, she was happy to oblige - knowning full well that the allure of the yellow cake would beckon the following year. My father was the only man wise enough to request it every single year.

I decided that I wanted to create a cupcake that was like a birthday party in and of itself. And of course it had to be yellow cake with chocolate frosting. With sprinkles! What's a birthday without sprinkles?

The yellow cake recipe I tried first was a Cooks Illustrated recipe - guaranteed winner, right? Wrong! I was shocked. I have never tried a recipe of theirs that wasn't absolute perfection. But hey, the recipe was posted in 1996, so I'll cut them a break (but kindly suggest they revisit it).

For my second try, I Googled "yellow cake recipe" and found several great options. After studying them a bit, I found two recipes that I melded together, then made a few key alterations: a) I used buttermilk rather than regular milk; b) rather than 3 whole eggs I used 2 egg yolks and 1 whole egg; c) I added two little drops of Lemon Yellow food coloring - just to give it that yellow color I wanted (without it being sickeningly yellow, of course). I used a tried-and-true chocolate ganache recipe (Cooks Illustrated) which was rich, fudgy, chocolatey goodness that complemented the mild yellow cake well.

I brought them to work for my colleagues to try, and one woman sent me an instant message that read, "What on earth is the heavenly chocolate icing on top? It's like fudge! I needed to be alone when I ate that thing."

I'd call that a success.

if this doesn't inspire me to blog more often...

2011-01-27T13:35:00.001-05:00

...I'm not sure what will.**

**No, I'm not Mormon. And I'm definitely not a mommy. But I find their dedication and approach to blogging fascinating, and this latest call-to-arms (call-to-keyboards?) certainly challenges me and my faith.

thoughts, etc.

2011-01-25T10:39:00.001-05:00

E & I spent a long weekend in NYC. He worked; I played hooky from work. Then we played together for the remainder of the weekend. Stayed in a nice hotel. Ate like fools. Slept in until 10 a.m., drank coffee in bed, read all the news that’s fit to print – in print (something about holding the newspaper, newsprint on your fingers and all – there’s something about it that no iPad will ever be able to improve on).

Now back in DC, feeling bluesy. The weather, I’m sure. It was so cold in NYC and yesterday here it was like a sucker punch in the mouth. It annoys me when people who drive to work complain about the cold. I feel like I have cold weather righteousness. I’m out in it, man. You walk to your car and turn the heat on, and then scurry into a heated building. Quitcher bitchin.

Been introspective the past few days; perhaps too much. I’ve noticed unflattering weaknesses, poor habits I’ve allowed to develop out of sheer laziness, areas that lack diligence and attention. Listened to a message by the ever-discerning Tim Keller of New York yesterday while running – he made the point that when those who know God marry, they marry someone not for who they are but for who they believe that they will become; that they can look into that person’s soul and see through windows of glory, seeing their glorified state, seeing who God has created and intended for them to be. I was wholeheartedly encouraged by this, and inspired to be more of who God has created me to be, the woman who E married, the earthly creature designed for eternity.

little fpa: unplugged

2010-12-22T11:18:00.001-05:00

I’ve been driving my husband NUTS the past week and a half with all the holiday preparations: baking, getting gifts shipped, creating/writing/mailing Christmas cards, wrapping, etc. etc. Last night he came home, cold and weary, and sighed, “I’m exhausted and worn out. Let’s go out to eat.” I said, “No, no, we have some perishable food to use before we leave town, and I want to make pumpkin bread for the girls at work, how about I just cook?” He insisted, and we bundled up to go out.

We walked across the street to our favorite Italian restaurant and sat down at the bar for some toasted focaccia, artisanal cheese, olives and seafood pasta. I enjoyed a big glass of red wine, and for dessert, already feeling fat and happy, he ordered a hot bourbon for himself, amaretto for me.

After dinner we walked home and I threw together the pumpkin bread while chatting on the phone with my mother. He went upstairs to lie down on the bed and play on the computer. After the bread was in the oven, I went upstairs to see what he was up to.

Next thing I know, it’s 7:45 a.m. I sleepily rubbed my mascara-stained eyes and murmured, “Whaaaaa happened??”

Eric grinned and replied, “It was a very, VERY silent night.”

caspita!

2010-12-14T09:10:00.002-05:00

There is an old Italian woman inside of me who wants to wag her finger at every girl walking to work in the morning with wet hair and holler, "For the love of the Madonna, put on a hat before you catch pneumonia!"

the weather outside

2010-12-13T21:07:00.004-05:00

I was humming "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" on my way home from work today, mostly because I couldn't help but say to myself, "The weather outside is frightful." And once you say that, you can't help but to start humming that old, familiar Christmas song.

Frightful indeed - windy, blustery, dark, cold, cold, cold.

I don't mind this weather, so long as it's snowing. It's flurried so far, but nothing more than that.

As I rounded the corner to my house this afternoon, I was still humming and all of a sudden I realized that the snow was coming down in wet flurries. I looked up and was so surprised that I squealed, "Oh, but it is!"

I got a funny look from a guy locking his bike up outside of the gym, but who cares. I sang "Let It Snow" all the way home, and by golly, it did - and the forecast didn't even call for it.

I consider that quite an accomplishment.

the real deal

2010-12-08T14:04:00.006-05:00

I'm really doing it.

Logo...

Here's me proudly posing with my official, sealed Certificate of Organization from the DCRA!

Here are some cupcakes I made for a friend's Christmas party last weekend - red velvet cupcakes with light blue Swiss meringue buttercream to complement the snowmen cupcake liners my mom sent me.

My work-in-progress Web site is now up, too! www.littlebirdcupcakes.com

Stay tuned - much more to come. :)

poster puppy for legalizing marijuana

2010-11-04T16:25:00.000-04:00

chicken soup for my soul. and my cold.

2010-10-29T10:16:00.004-04:00

I felt like I was coming down with something, but shrugged it off as allergies for a few days. But lo and behold, just a few short days before the marathon, I find myself with a veritable cold. I called my mother last night to ask for her chicken soup recipe, which she swears (and I along with her) cures the common cold. I texted her, asking her to call me so I could transcribe the recipe. A few minutes later, my phone rang.

"Hey Mom. Can I call you back? I'm walking home from work and I want to make sure I write this down."

"Well now Francine," she rebutted. "There's nothing to write down. You put a chicken in a pot of water and you boil it for two hours. There's really not much more to it."

This is extremely typical of my mother; she doesn't use recipes, and she swears that there is nothing complicated to what she does.

A little more probing and a few more text messages along the way and I learned that there is ceratinly more to it; although not much.

And now I bring you - Kathy Previte's Chicken Soup "Recipe"

Ingredients:
One whole chicken
Chicken stock*
Salt
A bag of baby carrots
A couple of onions
Some celery
"Whatever other vegetable you feel like throwing in there"
*you don't have to use stock; Mom actually told me to use water, but then I asked her if I could use chicken stock, and she replied, "Oh yeah, I usually use half stock and half water." You see what I mean?

Place the whole chicken in a large stockpot and cover with the chicken stock and/or water. Generously salt the water ("Like you're salting the water for pasta," Mom says).

As the pot comes to a boil, throw in your vegetables. I didn't cut the baby carrots at all, just threw them in there; I quartered small roasting potatoes, quartered a few onions and roughly chopped some celery.

After the soup starts to boil, cover it and turn the heating element down so it simmers. Let it go for about an hour and a half to two hours. At this point the chicken meat should be falling off the bones. Remove the chicken, debone it and tear the meat into small pieces, returning the meat to the pot. Voila. Chicken soup to cure your ailments.

By the way,the other half of this equation is pastina - teeney tiny little pasta. Not "small bows," or ditalini, but something that you'll somtimes find is called "acini de pepe." It's the tiniest pasta you ever did see, and Italian mothers swear that it heals you. Whenever I would get a stomachache as a child, it was a bowl of pastini with a little bit of butter. When you have a cold, it's pastini in the bottom of your soup bowl with a generous helping of chicken broth over top. Allergies? Pastini with some strong herbs. It works magic. In fact, the first time I got sick as a married girl, I had my husband hunt the District of Columbia for pastini because I plaintively whined, "It's the only thing that will make me feel better."

i heart fall

2010-10-20T10:26:00.000-04:00

Daily Wrap-up

2010-10-13T10:41:00.003-04:00

No need to scour the New York Times for what's good to read today. I just did it for you.

*Note: if you're looking for the latest in politics & policy, I do apologize. I just returned from Austin and thoroughly enjoyed my reprieve from the DC static. I can't bring myself to pull up Politico for at least a few more days.

Jose Andres, innovative as ever

vegan cupcakes busting through the stereotypes

Do marathons ruin your knees?

whole grain pasta making a comeback

Ann Coulter tries to get a new image

Update, as of 10:44 a.m. on 10/13/10: 14 rescued!!

Judy's Birthday!

2010-09-24T11:09:00.006-04:00

Judy's birthday was actually at the end of July. Epic fail on my part to post the photos from her birthday celebration until now.

Judy (my dear mother-in-law) spent part of her life growing up in Harrisonburg, Virginia. For her birthday she wanted to revisit the home of her youth, so she and George (my father-in-law) planned a fun little trip for themselves. Eric and I took off work Thursday and Friday to spend time with them in Harrisonburg.

A few photos from her celebration....

We took Judy to eat at the Joshua Wilton House, a historic home that is now a charming bed & breakfast and restaurant in Harrisonburg.

The birthday girl with her birthday "cake" - creme brulee.

Eric at the plate.

Showing a little more restraint than my husband.

One of the homes that Judy and her family lived in when she was young.

Eric and I before the drive back to DC.

Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-03T14:17:00.008-04:00

alternate title: If I beg and scream, will you promise not to leave me, Summer?

Growing up in Florida, Labor Day generally meant nothing more than a long weekend shortly after the beginning of school. It wasn't quite enough time in school to constitute a vacation, but it was a good benchmark for teachers to divide the time between homework that involved parents signing papers and homework that involved actual work at home.

But now that I'm living in the Northeast, I'm learning that there is a definite seasonal change that takes place as Labor Day weekend approaches; it is the true divider between summer and fall. Kiddos are going back to school, the tourists are thinning out and even though it's still hot as hell, a few rogue leaves are starting to turn and fall.

Oh, Summer....

stone fruit - I never even knew that apricots, peaches and cherries made up a category called stone fruit, but now I do and good heavens, do I love them.

homemade ice cream - not a luxury, but a necessity.

picnics - namely, picnic food. cold salads, cold soups, cold sandwiches.

bare legs, open toes, strapless shoulders

the color green - on the grass and in the trees.

the color brown - on my shoulders and my nose.

the color white - relegated to snowy ground from here until Memorial Day

cotton (was my shirt)

linen (were my pants)

straw (was my bag)

cork (were my shoes)

Sigh. I'll be right here waiting for you next year, Summer.

oh dear heavens.

2010-09-02T15:47:00.003-04:00

I want these. Right. Now.
I love that they're not knee-high boots. Knee-high boots are over-the-knee boots for this petite gal. And over-the-knee boots make the petite gal appear even shorter than God made her.

she sings. she dances. she tweets.

2010-09-01T10:32:00.003-04:00

I'm now on Twitter.

@littlefpa

The scientific society for which I work is making fledgling efforts into social marketing. I'm trying to nose my way into a new position developed around these efforts, and though I consider myself generally pretty savvy as far as modern communication/marketing goes, I've been a slow adopter with Twitter.

So here I go. And should I make a cringe-worthy Twitterverse gaffe, please be kind and point it out to me.

But just don't do the Twitter equivalent of pointing and laughing by tagging me when you correct me.

frugality is not my spiritual gift.

2010-09-01T10:27:00.003-04:00

But did you know that if you purchase Fage Greek yogurt by the 16 oz container rather than in the individual-sized 6 oz cartons you save $0.12 on the unit price? I didn't think that it seemed like much, until I realized that I was spending a good $10 a week on Greek yogurt! $10 for yogurt. That just seems really obnoxious Especially when I consider that one of those little cartons goes down pretty quickly. $2 worth of yogurt in 90 seconds.

Cheers to the big container! It's just a shame it takes up such valuable wine/beer/Mexican martini space in the fridge.

fungus and beyond.

2010-08-23T10:15:00.002-04:00

KGW sent me this post this morning: The Mushrooms Are Up in Colorado!

It's baffling that fungus can cause such a stir; truffles, for example. Or really good bleu cheese.

It sort of speaks to the brilliance of God's creative hand, that a form of decay can actually be something so highly revered.

MIA

2010-08-18T13:40:00.004-04:00

I have a lot of subject matter I could potentially blog about, but I'm too busy training for a marathon. And when I'm not training, I'm sleeping. Or eating. Because all this running has made me one serious chowhound.

But don't sit around and wait for me to post (if anyone is actually reading this anyway).

Check this out (thanks to the office mate). Make sure you use the bathroom first, because you just might piss your pants.

Miss Universe National Costumes - Part 1
Miss Universe National Costumes - Part 2

for 3 days, the temp has soared to 100

2010-07-08T15:24:00.003-04:00

ebay excessiveness

2010-06-30T16:36:00.006-04:00

The front desk of our building kept sending us package notifications. E finally went to collect them this morning. This is what he came back with.

Seriously?

E. You're kidding, right?

Wait, where are you going to put those boxes? What is IN those boxes? And where in the world is the stuff inside those boxes getting stashed?

I'm putting a parental lock on his eBay account.

In all seriousness - apparently he has a pretty cool art project in the hopper. I'll be sure to post once he's finished with his, uh, installation.

oh, anthro

2010-06-29T10:43:00.004-04:00

Dear Anthropologie,
I love everything about you.

Absolutely.

Everything.

About.

You.

Sigh.

Love,

previte lampoon vacation - part two!

2010-06-14T20:44:00.024-04:00

The adventures continued through the weekend!

Saturday morning started off well enough - Mom kicked my butt at the gym, but made up for it by creating the most delectable breakfast of bagels, cream cheese and lox at our apartment. Eric made his famous brew (I don't know how he does it, but even my mother, who prefers espresso over brewed coffee, drank almost an entire pot of the coffee Eric made by herself!) Our lovely breakfast on the porch was followed by a brief, shall we say, adventure. Photo of that to come - but suffice it to say that we spent a lovely few hours on the front patio sunning ourselves while waiting for a locksmith. Good thing we had a power breakfast and coffee! Nothing like a proper meal to prepare you for the day, right?

We rested most of Saturday afternoon - we took a walk down 14th street to patronize a few of our favorite stores - Garden District, Home Rule and Cork Wine Market. Naps and showers followed.

Saturday night the Celebration of Rose continued with a meal at one of our favorite restaurants in the neighborhood - an Italian place called Posto. It's great because Posto is right across the street from our apartment. Too much dining and imbibing? No problem! All you have to do is cross the street without getting hit by a car and you're golden.

Rose was a bit startled at the portion size. Or perhaps she forgot what she ordered? Or maybe she envisioned it differently. Regardless, here is her famed (feigned?) look of shock when food is presented.

Pizza canales - fresh tomato, arugula, mozzarella and prosciutto.

Roast chicken. Juicy.

After dinner, our favorite bartender came over and offered a round of limoncello, on the house. Eric was much obliged.

Rose never drinks. Ever. I've never seen her drink anything but coffee and water. But that syrupy, lemon-yellow liquer sure tickled her fancy. She finished hers before I did. Pretty much the entire glass.

Mom and I thought it was pretty funny. Of course, after limoncello there's a lot that's funny.

Group shot! Note Rose's tilted head and far-away smile. She looks so content, doesn't she?

We exited Posto to find the Pride Week parade in all its glory. Mom and Rose actually navigated themselves through the parade on their way to the restaurant. Rose insisted Mom walk on the other side of the sidewalk, lest anyone think that they were "together." All in all, she handled it really well. She seemed to be supremely entertained by the whole idea.

Needless to say, we all went down a bit early that evening. We followed up a great sleep with a big breakfast on the hotel terrace. Eric entertained Rose with stories at the breakfast table. Rosie, on the other hand, couldn't stop talking about how well she slept!

"I woke up in my clothes, with my glasses on my face, in the same position that I fell asleep in! I haven't slept that well in years!" Eric doesn't seem to be as perplexed or surprised as she is.

Feeding the birds.

On the way to the Dupont Farmer's Market, we stopped to enjoy Steve and Phil's garden.

Thanks, Steve & Phil!

Rose is the same as she always has been - she stops to talk to everyone. Even the dogs. And of course, she was caught proselytizing while handing out a contribution in Dupont Circle.

The Dupont Circle Farmer's Market, open Sunday mornings.

See the squash....

Smellllll the squash.

There was a group of kindergarteners at the market showing off the baby chicks they raised as a class project. After they had you good and hooked based on the fluffy baby chickens and their own cute little faces, they asked, "Would you like to sign a pe-ti-tion?" (as though they had to sound the word out each time they said it). Something about changing the city laws so farm animals can be kept within District lines. Uh, no thanks kiddo. That's what Virginia is for.

We picked up several goodies at the market - cherry pastry for Rosie to take back to Pop, sunflower bread, sheep's milk cheese, fresh tomatoes and basil (which came into play for an amazing Caprese salad later).

Next stop: the National Mall, for a brief look at the Capitol and a stop by the American History Museum (one of my personal favorites).

(Taken from Mom's iPhone. She thought the Metro was pretty)

(blurry, taken from Mom's phone - but wanted to showcase that this is me telling Eric how to get to where we're going. Yes, I know the Metro that well. But I'm not boastful about it at all. ahem)

On one side you have the Capitol....

...and on the other side you have Ole Abe, just past the Monument. Tiny Abe. Big Aunt Ro.

Desert Rose, meet Florida Rose.

The Star-Bangled Banner exhibit, where the actual flag that inspired the song is kept.

After a leisurely Sunday afternoon, snacking on our Farmer's Market goodies and watching the World Cup (Rosie really got into it!), we headed to church. Cousin Melissa lives nearby in Northern Virginia, so she and her boyfriend Jared came to have dinner with us in Chinatown after church. Rosie and Eric split mini hamburgers. Rose loooves those burgers!

The next day it was time to pack up and head out. Mom made sure she kicked my butt at the gym one more time before leaving town. Thanks, Mom. I could barely carry my coffee thermos to work this morning.

Posing and looking pretty outside the apartment on the way out! These ladies are so travel savvy - they took a cab to the airport and managed to snag seats on an earlier flight. I'm so proud of my little travelers.

I'm ready for them to come back now. So is Eric. Three Previte ladies in the house means lots of good food and lots of hugs and affirmation. And for good reason - E took such good care of us. So good in fact, that when Mom and Rose got back to Tampa, they had to try and remember what it was like to open a door for themselves! Eric spoiled them with his gentleman ways.

Come back Mom and Ro! But bring Poppy this time.

previte lampoon vacation - part one

2010-06-12T09:35:00.018-04:00

The Previte Lampoon Vacation descended on Washington, DC on Thursday morning, June 10. Aunt Rosie decided she would like to celebrate her 87th birthday with Eric (whom she calls Clyde - why, we have no clue) and Francine in the big city. Mom came too.

The ladies managed to navigate themselves from the airport to the hotel all by themselves just fine, taking a cab. Mom brought $100 worth of $2 bills with her to DC - the cab driver didn't quite know what to make of that.

Thursday evening we took Rosie out for her birthday dinner. She declaritively stated that she wanted a hamburger on her birthday. Hamburger at the rooftop restaurant at the new W Hotel on 15th street it was! Eric coordinated with the restaurant staff to bring Rose some birthday cake - sour cherry cheesecake with sour cherry sorbet and a "candle" - which turned out to be a firecracker! Patrons at nearby tables joined in singing "Happy Birthday."

After dinner we went for a nice long walk, and walked past the White House. Rose asked every single security guard and policeman that we passed if they were the one who could take her in to see President Obama ("Oh, come on - I'm just an old grandma. Can't you take me into see him? It is my birthday after all!). She just really felt like he needed some comfort because everyone is against him, and surely a hug from her and a few sweet words would make him feel better.

The next day it was a trip to the retirement home to leave treats for Pete, and then a shopping trip to Georgetown. We decided to lay low and make pasta at home for dinner. Rose, who had been eyeing the gelateria down the street since she first came to the apartment, rallied us all for a walk around the block and gelato. I think her choice was quite appropriate - Sicilian almond.

Mom has been worse than a teenager with Twitter - she updates Pop constantly via text message. I told her to tell him that if he wanted to be here he should have booked a flight. Next time, yes?

More to come....

(peppers from our garden!!)

fond fire king memories

2010-06-10T14:15:00.004-04:00

My Aunt Rose and my Aunt Mary lived together in a house in Shaker Heights for years and years and years - their father (my grandfather) left it to them, since they were the two daughters (out of four) who hadn't married. In the 60s Mary got the itch to redecorate - and it was the only time the apartment was ever decorated for the rest of its existence (it has, sadly, since been sold - Mary died, Rose moved to Florida and who knows the fate of it now). Anyhow - it was as though the entire apartment was frozen in time. Green shag carpet, strands of beads hanging from almost every window and exterior door, blue velvet chairs, little blue and green soaps in the bathroom (to accent the big blue tub), Mary's room completely done in red with mirrors on the walls, and the kitchen - the kitchen was entirely pink. Pale pink tinted cabinets, pink countertops, all the appliances were pale pink, the beads in front of the kitchen window were pink, the chairs were pink, the Fire king* dishes were all pink. It was positively spectacular - and as a little girl, it was my dream kitchen.

Anyhow, this little trip down memory lane was brought to you by Christina, who sent me this link from Apartment Therapy's the kitchn's small kitchen tour in Chicago. You can check out the post here: (click here).

*an example of Fire King:

for morgan

2010-06-05T10:56:00.005-04:00

I begged KGW to send me this cookbook after coveting it at Linzy's house, and she happily obliged (gosh, it's great to have a friend in the cookbook publishing industry). Some of the ingredients are sort of kooky and beyond my realm of understanding, but for the most part it's a super creative cookbook with tasty, healthy vegan recipes.

Morgs asked if I had a tapenade recipe, a la our favorite restaurant in Salerno, Italy. I sheepishly confessed that I cheat...and go to Whole Foods and pick up whatever they have freshly prepared at the hot bar. But I quickly thumbed through Veganomicon and found a few recipes that may interest her - Sweet Basil Pesto Tapenade, and Olive Hummus. I can't vouch for these recipes since I haven't made them yet, but I'm sure they're great (Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero are brilliant - their vegan cupcakes cookbook changed my life). I'm also including a recipe for Walnut-Mushroom "Pate" - it's out of this world. I made it for a church picnic, and at first people were a bit skeptical, but it was gone in 10 minutes.

Enjoy Morgs - I know it's not exactly what you're looking for to bring back the Salerno experience, but have fun experimenting, and let me know what you think!

Sweet Basil Pesto Tapenade

Serves 6 to 8

Time: 10 minutes

3 cups tightly packed fresh basil leaves

1 cup walnut pieces or halves

2-4 cloves garlic (roasted garlic is great here!)

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup walnut oil (or just more olive oil)

1/3 cup pure maple syrup

1 teaspoon grated fresh lemon zest

1 1/2 teaspoons salt, or to taste

Black pepper

Chop the basil, walnuts and garlic in a food processor until chunky. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the processor bowl frequently. Add the oils, maple syrup and lemon zest, and process until thick and creamy. Season with salt and pepper. Store in a glass jar with a thin layer of olive oil on the surface, and keep refrigerated until read to serve.

Olive Hummus

Serves 4

Time: 10 minutes, plus 30 minutes chill time

2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1/3 cup olive oil

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

3 tablespoons sesame tahini

2-3 cloves garlic, crushed

1/4 cup black or green olives

1/4 cup water, more or less for desired thickness

Pinch of ground cumin or ground coriander (optional)

Salt and pepper

Paprika (prefarably Hungarian smoked paprika, if you can find it)

Place half the chickpeas and olive oil in a blender or food processor. Pulse several times, stopping to stir with a rubber spatula. When the mixture is almost pureed and creamy, add the remaining chickpeas and oil, lemon juice, tahini, garlic, cumin and a little salt. Pulse, stopping to stir several times, until the mixture is very creamy. Pulse in the olives. Season with salt and pepper; add more lemon juice to taste if necessary. Transfer to an airtight container and chill for 30 minutes before serving.

Walnut-Mushroom "Pate"

Makes more than 2 1/2 cups

Time: 30 minutes, plus chilling time

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup diced yellow onion

3 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried tarragon

1/4 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 pound cremini mushrooms, chopped

1 cup lightly toasted walnuts

3/4 cup cooked cannellini beans (I just used canned beans - rinsed and drained)

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Up to 1/4 cup cold vegetable broth

Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 3 to 5 minutes until translucent, then add the garlic, thyme, tarragon, salt and pepper, and cook for another minute. Next, add the mushrooms and cook for 7 to 10 minutes until they are very soft, lowering the heat if necessary to prevent them from burning.

While the mushrooms are cooking, place the walnuts in a food processor or blender and process until very fine.

Add the cooked mushroom mixture to the walnuts in the food processor, along with the balsamic vinegar, beans, and remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Process until smooth, adding the vegetable broth 1 tablespoon at a time as needed. Continue to puree the ingredients until the pate resembles a smooth, thick and spreadable paste. Scrape mixture into an airtight container and chill for at least an hour before serving, to allow the flavors to meld.

urban garden

2010-05-28T19:11:00.010-04:00

Our little tree. Completely tipped over by snow during the winter, but alive and thriving now. Too bad about all the little flies that love to swarm around it. We keep its branches trimmed back, and that seems to help.

Mexican feathergrass. We have a few of these guys. You can see the old, dead stuff underneath - and all that new spry, green growth on top. We can't believe these guys survived the winter.

Our basil plant. More like a little basil tree. Love this guy.

Our lettuce. Speckled in the middle, and I forget the variety of the guys on either side. Tasty though. Now that it's hot and just about June, we need to finish up these guys and get them out of the ground before they're too bitter. We're thinking we'll put cucumber in its place. Apparently it's really easy to grow - something to stroke the ego.

Box on the left - rosemary, oregano, chives, cilantro, parsley and fennel. The parsley is doing really well. Rosemary needs a boost.

Not pictured -- lavender and our two hot pepper plants. Some sort of little creature keeps eating the buds off of those pepper plants. I hope it burns his little butt.

Citified.

baby!

2010-05-28T19:02:00.005-04:00

Who doesn't love a squishy baby?

With the most perfect little mouth?

Especially when she snuggles with your husband.

And particularly when she shares part of your genetic coding.

My baby niece. Perfection in 10 pounds.

quite possibly the funniest commercial i have ever seen

2010-05-17T15:28:00.002-04:00

esquire's funny facts about women

2010-05-07T14:33:00.002-04:00

I've had a good time giggling over this one today:

Esquire Magazine's Funny Facts About Women

A few that I thought were cute:

No. 509: Don't ask why we're afraid of insects. Just kill the damn bug, already. —Maura E. McGill, 29, New York

No. 201: We get perverse joy from eating off of your plate. It's like our version of pissing on the hydrant. —Sarah June Renschler, 30, New York

No. 161: We don't want to change outfits again any more than you want to wait for us to change outfits again, so tell us we look fabulous and let's go. —Charlotte Peach, 24, London

No. 190: We're not eating during the date because we ate before. You ought to see what we eat when you're not around. —Katie Sanders, 20, Newton, Massachusetts

No. 584: The only thing we really want to hear about our ex-boyfriends is that they are doing something boring very far away. That is all we want to know about your ex-girlfriends, too. —Erin O'Neill, 24, Columbia, Missouri

No. 210: Even feminists want kitchens with stainless steel appliances. —Rachel Baron, 26, Chicago

Have any of your own?

Super cute article - good job, Esquire.

a little tidbit of info

2010-05-07T12:04:00.003-04:00

Poll Conducted by Women's Health:

"Is your current job your dream job?

No, but it pays the bills.
47% (2102 votes)

No, but it'll help get me my dream job.
17% (765 votes)

Yes, and I'm proud of it.
18% (789 votes)

Doesn't apply to me.
19% (848 votes)

Total votes: 4504"

I was surprised at how many women are working jobs they don't love to pay the bills (I cast a vote, and am part of that 47%). It's actually sort of comforting - more women aren't working (as deduced by the "doesn't apply to me" response) than are working their dream job.

See? If you hate your job (or maybe you don't hate it but you don't love it either), you're not alone. Besides, that's what hobbies are for, yes?

welcome home

2010-05-05T09:28:00.004-04:00

Eric arrived home last night from Vegas (yes, he really had business there, what, I can't tell you because apparently it stays in Vegas. Ok, sorry, bad joke). To welcome him home I made grilled swordfish steaks with a citrus basil pesto using basil from our plant (however I subbed walnuts for pine nuts because, well, pine nuts were $10 at Whole Foods and it was pine nuts or wine), whole wheat linguine and salad with a citrus-honey vinaigrette - made with lettuce and fennel from our garden!

Our little citified urban patio garden is doing really well (photos to come soon) - the cilantro plant, which was the runt when we first got her, is growing like the weed that she is. The fennel is super moody, but I'm doing all I can to appease him (water, grooming, etc). The lavender is blooming pretty little lavender-colored shoots and is so delicate and lovely. Our Mexican feathergrass survived the snow storms, miraculously enough, and they're sporiting all kinds of rich green new growth. But - there were signs of an intruder again last night. Grrrrr. This intruder seems to love the oregano. Maybe they're looking for the hard stuff and they got fooled.

We're going to eat the rest of the lettuce this week (it's getting too warm for lettuce, and we don't want it to sprout flowers and grow bitter), and then plant some cucumber in its place. We hear cucumber gives even the blackest thumbed gardeners a sense of accomplishment because it's so easy to grow.

oh, the irony.

2010-05-04T09:49:00.002-04:00

This just in.

In Darwin Family, Evidence of Inbreeding's Ill Effects
from the New York Times

Hm.

homesick

2010-04-28T14:06:00.000-04:00

It started at the beginning of this month, when the days grew longer and the weather began to warm and the April showers were lovingly soaked up by the flowers planted by eager-for-spring Washingtonians. It reminded me of my hometown – a place in a perpetual state of spring and summer.

I think more than anything I miss the comfort of home --

navigating myself around my city without Google Maps;

being scolded for treating my shoes badly by the shoe repair man;

knowing the woman at the Y, the guy at the gas station, the cashiers at Publix, the pharmacist;

never worrying about who to go to if I need a seamstress, or a lawyer, or a specialist doctor, or an insurance claims adjuster, or someone who rents popcorn machines – because all of those individuals come with a personal referral and chances are, I went to school with them or babysat their kids or remember their grandparents;

passing palm trees, orange groves, bougainvillea and crepe myrtles at any point in the year.

I’m quick to defend where I am now and emphatically convince any listener how much I love it.

I’m just feeling a bit nostalgic…and missing-like.

More than anything, the people – girlfriends, families with fat babies and cute kids, overly-involved church staff, familiar waitresses/baristas, my family, the running group.

Ohhhh and Publix - the store, the community, the legacy of philanthropy, those veggie subs with provolone (!!!).

sage advice from one cubicle over

2010-04-28T09:23:00.003-04:00

--speaking to her pregnant sister on the phone...

"Of COURSE you're dog tired. A child is a parasite that feeds off of you and depletes you of all you have. Trust me - this is just the beginning."

terrain at styer's

2010-04-27T19:53:00.011-04:00

from the folks who brought you anthropologie and urban outfitters...

terrain - garden center, greenhouse cafe and landscaping services

914 Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills, PA 19342

610-459-2400
http://styers.shopterrain.com/

cherry blossoms

2010-04-27T19:38:00.007-04:00

final week of march, 2010

Easter weekend

2010-04-02T21:17:00.005-04:00

Peeps Show IV - the fourth annual presentation! Don't miss the Korean War Memorial - outstanding.

Liz Lambert -- truly unique in her vision. Here, one of her newest projects in San Antonio.

Easter breads from around the world - what they call pane di pasqua here (center middle) is what my family has always called biscotti. It's a big deal - big enough for my mother to spend a pretty penny to overnight some to the AT and I!

Very cool little outfit - perhaps for a separate work space, or a little guest home next to the house?

The Muses are both preparing and toting these to their Easter brunches - one in San Fran, one in DC - approximately three hours apart from each other. Trial run on the East Coast earlier this week for the co-workers was a raging success. (Here's a view of mine, pre-glaze - that's my hand, holding a meat thermometer trying to test the temperature of the middle roll).

The Bean and I are headed to Hill's Kitchen Saturday a.m. - I do love kitchen supply stores. On my list? Large icing tips, a kitchen scale and a chocolate thermometer, so I'm not using the meat thermometer (see above) that I married into to measure the temp of milk, water, chocolate, etc.

I stared at this photo for about four minutes today, trying to imagine how I could replicate such a beautiful scene in my own home. (PS - if you've never checked out her site, please do - it's an instant mood-lifter. Such a gift)

Registration opens Wednesday! Dare I?! Yes, I think I do indeed.

The AT and I are planning our trip to Terrain in Philly for sometime this month - from the folks that brought you Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters (two of my absolute faves!). I can't wait - it's going to be so exciting to give our little patio a spring-time makeover. It's truly our little, peaceful place of respite in the big, mad city.

Happy Easter!

cubicle-mate quote of the day

2010-03-29T12:52:00.002-04:00

As I eat my salad...

"Girl. Please. I need to ask you a serious question. And I'm not making fun of you or joking around. I'm serious. I know you want to be all healthy and stuff. But why you never eat anything good? I look over and you be eating lettuce and tofu. Girl, you petite. Please eat sumpdin that taste good."

--my co-worker, who always has "sumpdin" to say.

like lady macbeth

2010-03-24T16:25:00.002-04:00

It was raining last night so the salmon I had planned on grilling outside on our little outdoor grill was instead grilled indoors on my beloved Dijion-colored Le Crueset grill pan. The recipe, already a catastrophic failure in and of itself (I love you Women’s Health Magazine but I dare say that you didn’t test that recipe before print), was only made worse by the disaster that became of my salmon in the grill pan – it fell apart into pieces, was devoid of any tender goodness, dry, etc. As if my self-flagellation for that insult to the culinary world wasn’t enough, it smells positively wretched in our little loft apartment – particularly the second floor, as I’m learning that smell rises along with heat. We tried everything – we burned candles, opened windows, left the door purposely ajar, blew our little bitty stationary fan into oblivion. I felt the watery-mouthed nausea from the putrid smell even as I was falling asleep last night because the sheets smelled like fish. Even today, regardless of what I attempt, I cannot rid the house of the stench. I woke up this morning and I still smelled fish. When I got out of the shower the towels smelled like fish. My shirt carries a faint residual smell that wafts when I move too quickly to grab something from the side of my desk. I’m certainly not looking forward to returning to it this evening.

I've had all day to stew about this and formulate my plan of attack:

Sprinkle baking soda on the upstairs carpet and give it a good vaccum.
Mop the floors – surely Pine-Sol can eradicate some of the stench.
Boil citrus rinds on the stove (thank you, KGW for that brilliant suggestion)
Bake my mini vegan lemon cupcakes (not just for the pleasant smell, but to renew my confidence in the kitchen as well)

I feel like Lady Macbeth and I could commiserate - she with her spot, me with my...salmon.

i may get fired for this.

2010-03-24T16:24:00.001-04:00

and I was just hired today.

I walked into the office-wide kitchen around noon to grab a fork and a napkin for my salad. There I encountered a colleague (can’t call her a peer – she’s far higher up than I), recently returned from maternity leave, washing out her breast pump with what appeared to be the communal sponge, and all accompanying components of said breast pump strewn out on the counter around her. Please note that coffee cups belonging to colleagues that are washed with that SAME sponge were seen laying nearby.

relics

2010-03-18T22:52:00.007-04:00

i drove our car today for the first time in a long time - the ad tycoon (AT) does most of the driving in our little family.

as i climbed into the driver's seat and waited for the motorized seat to inch itself forward, i took note of the items shoved into the pockets of the door:

-- two Halloween-sized, empty, crushed boxes once containing grape-flavored Nerd candy
-- one neatly folded but obviously used and discarded napkin from Seattle's Best Coffee
-- one empty travel-sized bottle of Excedrin Migraine - lid and bottle separated from each other
-- one half-full water bottle shaped like a flask
-- two laminated parking tickets (i guess they make those suckers weather-resistant these days), issued within four hours of each other

i'm not going to bother with a defense or an explanation - those few items say a whole lot all on their own.

on days like these...

2010-03-17T21:19:00.001-04:00

...i'd rather be biking.

or baking.

i'd much rather be on my little blue bike under a big blue sky.

or baking little cupcakes for big blue plates.

or maybe i'd just rather be on my bike.

obscura day?

2010-03-17T13:21:00.000-04:00

Pretty obscure.

Organized by Atlas Obscura
(sorry Atlas Obscura - i had to shrink your logo because it was too big for my little font. it warped a little. oops)

Not sure if we'll make it this year, but anatomical specimens from the Civil War?! I didn't even know that this museum existed. I'm a bad Washingtonian.

I kinda wish I lived in Palo Alto - their pneumatic tube looks really neat!

linkin' on up -- sweet escapes

2010-03-05T14:15:00.001-05:00

oh, to don a swimsuit!

one of my new favorites - the visual stimulation is such a pick-me-up.

Ace Hotel -- worth putting up with the hipsters for the goods: Stumptown Coffee, cool rooms, snarky text on walls and elevators and a reasonable price for 29th & Broadway.

Vegas? Why go to Vegas when you could go here?!

i had a dream about a baby elephant. i told my husband it was a sign from God that he must take me here. [he said God told him something different]

Yes, momofuku really is all it's cracked up to be

jello molds gross me out, but kgw swears a little booze and condensed milk (a la the jello mistress) make the 1950s jello mold a modern-day hit

seriously - too, too cute

cranky pants

2010-03-05T10:10:00.000-05:00

colleague: girl, what’s wrong wit' you? you not your perky self this morning.
me: that’s because i'm not.
colleague: well you know what, you got nobody but yourself to blame. if you woke up in a funk, you damn well know you should have gotten your ass up to go to aerobics with Buffy. you in a bad mood? it’s your own fault.

Tough love from the cynical, cranky co-worker...who naps at her desk.

ladies and gentlemen...

2010-03-04T13:52:00.000-05:00

....i bring to you the beginning of a new era.

hm. era sort of drips with self-importance.

let's just say that this is a new chapter.

welcome!