What I do for fun.

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3.31.2012

For the past week I've taken a little break from writing, whether from boredom or lack of inspiration I'm not sure. But I've instead used my time to continue doing what I've done for a long time: researching and sifting through the archives of other blogs.  I'm so inspired by what people choose to write, photograph, design, create, bake, cook, even where they choose to travel and eat. It's a window into their lives and creative thought process. I vacillate between jealousy and awe, defeat and motivation.  Anyways, enough of my deep thoughts.  I'm going to continue to share with you the things I have stumbled upon.  Enjoy.  


Absolutely beautiful, from Australia. Oh, how I wish I had taken these photos. 



Not a blog per-say, but immensely helpful.  If only I had a plot of land I could dig up and destroy. 
 






Food frenzy.

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3.30.2012












1. Beacon Food Forest. Craziness.
2. Recipe tote bag. Handy-dandy.
3. April (Near) Paris. Brunch. Bon Appetit.

Pink & Triangles.

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3.29.2012




Jedis, ewoks, & wookies.

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3.26.2012


Edible luxuries.

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3.20.2012



I started my day with a french macaroon so divine I have no words to describe it. I chose a raspberry one. It proved to be a good decision after a several minute stress-filled debate hovering over this very box. How is one to choose between delicious and delicious? I ended my day with vegetarian refried beans and tortilla chips. Full circle? I think so. 




Chocolate Chip Cookies with Orange Zest.

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3.19.2012

The scent of freshly mown grass filtered its way through my air conditioning system as I drove past the UW athletic fields this morning.  Though cold outside (snow having fallen in many neighborhoods around the Puget Sound last night), this scent triggered in my mind two hope-filled things: spring. and baseball. Oh sweet joy. 


Bolstered by this fragrant reminder, I made my way to University Village to spend my extended weekend wandering the eye-candy laden stalls of Anthropologie, indulging in the pre-prepared goodness of Pasta & Co., snacking on frozen yogurt from Menchies, and caking the tops of my hands with testers from Sephora (before ultimately purchasing this).  Basically Pinterest come to life before my eyes. 




I know you're jealous, but don't worry, I have something else to share with you this monday. Chocolate Chip Cookies, from the delightful and approachable cookbook In the Small Kitchen


Now I have to admit that we just purchased three more boxes of Girl Scout cookies from a lone girl scout outside of QFC last night, just ten minutes before the sale of cookies would end for the 2012 year. So what did I choose to do this afternoon? Bake cookies. Naturally. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Orange Zest. 
Adapted from In the Small Kitchen


Ingredients: 


2/3 cup white sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar 
2 sticks of butter (room temperature) 
1 egg
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt 
1-2 tbls. orange zest
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips


Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 


1. Combine sugars and butter in a large bowl (and when I say large, I mean large... these ingredients conspire together to escape).  Mix with a hand mixer until creamy. Try to eliminate as many clumps of butter as possible.  


2. Mix in egg, and blend until light and fluffy. 


3. Gradually add in flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring until completely combined.
Add in chocolate chips & orange zest. 

4. Form by hand into balls about the size of a ping-pong ball.  Space on cookie sheet about 2 in. apart. 


5. Bake 6-8 minutes, rotating if you have a fickle oven like myself. 


While they bake treat yourself to the orange used for zesting.  You'll feel better about your choice later to eat several cookies. 



Sunday satisfaction and baked potato soup.

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3.18.2012

Happy day-after St. Patrick's day my dear friends.  


The past few days I have been very aware of those small things which bring us real & simple satisfaction. I find lists themselves satisfying, so that is how I choose to share my thoughts with you today. The list that follows is by no means exhaustive, but is representative of my life as of late. 

  1. Indulging, slowly savoring a new issue of Vogue.
  2. Reading the Shape Issue of Vogue while eating BBQ potato chips. 
  3. Slicing the tops from strawberries. 
  4. Enjoying the cool breeze that slips through the bathroom window, in an otherwise stuffy apartment. 
  5. Recognizing holidays in some appropriate fashion. We got our Irish on yesterday with some Guinness served in chilled mason jars and baked potato soup (the recipe for which you'll find below).
  6. Mashing potatoes for aforementioned soup.
  7. Washing the day away with these bad boys. 
  8. Boasting first place in my in-law's annual march madness bracket competition. (Considering I know nothing about college basketball).
  9. Discovering Joy the Baker tweeted about my shoes.
  10. Knowing I have dear friends who share in my daydreams. 
Baked Potato Soup (a healthier version of a historically heavy soup)A recipe from my mother... origin unknown to me.Serves 8.Ingredients:4 baking potatoes (or three large potatoes)6 cups milk (preferably low-fat)2/3 cup flourGreen onions3/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese2/3 cup reduced-fat sour creamsalt & pepper
Bake potatoes at 400 degrees for about an hour, or in the microwave (4 minutes per potato).  Scoop out the insides of the potatoes into a large bowl and coarsely mash. Place flour in a large stockpot, gradually add milk, stirring (or whisking) until mixed. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until flour-milk mixture is thick. Stir in mashed potatoes, and add cheddar cheese and salt & pepper, stirring until cheese is melted. Reduce heat and add in sour-cream and green onions. Serve while warm. May add more sour cream, green onions, and cheddar cheese.  I highly recommend doing this. Also, bacon is a good and acceptable topping.      



Reality come true.

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3.16.2012

Tonight as I begin this, I wonder how many self-proclaimed bloggers have gone home to their computer and made a similar proud announcement...


Tonight I met my blogging idol: Joy the Baker.


She gave me a high-five. No big deal. I was super awkward. Tongue-tied, star-struck, giggling awkward.


In the company of dear friends and fellow Joy admirers it was a fun night, and perfectly calm.  Just what I needed.


Below is a week in my shoes (through the eyes of my iPhone). In a nutshell. And yes, my weeks are made up of a lot of chocolate and coffee.


Be jealous.








Walk baby, walk.

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3.13.2012



Eliott turns 1.

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3.12.2012

Eliott turned 1 on Sunday. The cupcakes and singing made him sad. The presents he quite enjoyed.


Priorities.


More of the festivities to come.

  


Volunteer Park Cafe.

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3.10.2012

Breakfast this morning at the Volunteer Park Cafe.  A tasty start to Mr. Eliott West's birthday weekend.  




Apartment tour.

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3.09.2012

My wedding decorations have officially become permanent additions to our home decor. I became personally attached to these items during the wedding season. Now they are daily reminders of love, life, and the things that make me tick. 



  1. Vases to remind me to buy fresh flowers. They refresh my soul and make me smile.
  2. Books to remind me to never stop reading and learning. 
  3. Music to remind me to be joyful.



Welcome to our home (however tiny).


Jump-roping poodles.

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3.07.2012

Not an answer in itself. But it's definitely a start... Yes. Yes, this does make things much better. 

[compliments of Maudelynn's Menagerie]

The Cookie Locator App.

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3.04.2012

I've been a tad MIA this past week. There are a few possible explanations, but the most probable cause for my recent absence can be summed up in two words. Hunger. Games. Finally jumped on the bandwagon, and let me tell you... it's a hard one to jump off of. 


I'm trying to resurface to normal life and I have a few noteworthy updates for you dear and beloved readers. 


This tuesday will be our second "Adult Introduction to Tennis" tennis lesson. My husband is clearly a ringer, out-swinging myself and the other four women in our class. Our instructor remained highly doubtful that he had never played tennis before. I coped with my inferior technique by focusing my energies on trying to make him feel as guilty as possible. In a loving way of course. At least neither of us hit the instructor with a rogue tennis ball... though one of mine nearly shattered a fluorescent light high up in the rafters. In all, it was nothing short of delightful.




In addition to swinging rackets, we decided this weekend called for a day-trip of sorts. Involving a ferry and a Scandinavian fishing village. The amusements of Poulsbo included an bakery full of beckoning doughnuts and cream-filled pastries (that I am quite certain the large Scandinavian baker sampled with frequency, given his viking size), clam chowder and crab cakes, a Royal Albert white-dogwood china teacup, and perhaps the most aggressive troop of Girl Scouts I have ever seen. To quote the viking baker: 


"It's one thing when they stay put... it's another when they start moving around."


Yes, that's right. The Girls Scouts functioned as portable cookie caravan. Eagerly carting their card-table cookie display, carrying signs resembling a cheerful picket-line, declaring the annual arrival of Girl Scout cookies. It's possible we ran across the street to catch up with them. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so transparent... made them work for the sale a bit.


These weren't the only Girl Scouts we encountered on our day-trip. We were approached by another traveling pack of cookie peddlers waiting in line for the Seattle ferry. Pulling their wagon of colorful boxes knocking on the windows of parked cars, asking the all too familiar question, "would you like to buy a box of Girl Scout cookies?". Sorry girls, you're three hours too late.


Perhaps these new aggressive tactics shouldn't come as a surprise considering I recently downloaded the newly designed "Girl Scout Cookie Locator" app onto my phone. Though I clearly didn't need it, as was evidenced yesterday. 





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