Just a Minute: July

traveling...We went on a few weekend trips this month. The first was down to Indianapolis, so that Nathan could play in a soccer tournament. Luckily, his team didn't do all that well on Sunday, so we were able to get back on the road long before the last team headed onto the pitch. While in Indy, I hung out with one of my favorite longtime friends who is 8-months along and helped entertain her son and met another good friend for lunch so I could meet her 6-month-old. Last weekend we headed to Texas. In July. A big group of family including my sisters, parents, a great uncle and 2nd and 3rd cousins, mosquitoes that blanketed you the moment you stepped outside, and a smack* of jellyfish all met at the beach for a long weekend. Against all the odds, (and despite sleeping on a pullout couch in the main room, where all the people and mosquitoes gathered), it was a good time. 

*Did you know a herd of jellyfish is called a smack? Me neither. I had to look it up. Also, just so you know, a group of flies are a business.

 

planning…This weekend I mentioned to Nathan that I'd like to start trying to eat less meat and up my vegetable intake (he's really good at eating tons of vegetables...of course he just eats tons in general). I just have a hard time thinking of good go-to meals that don't always include meat in them. I mentioned that I might get a couple of good cookbooks for inspiration. I have read some really good things about these two, so I've put in an order on Amazon.

reading…Just finished Treasure Island!!! The main character really reminded me of the narrating character, Ignatius, from A Confederacy of Dunces though she was a bit more likeable. I always have trouble with satires because the narrating characters are such blissfully awful people that they start to make me nervous that I am equally blissfully awful. It did have some moments that actually made me laugh out loud, and I am a tough nut when it comes to actual audible laughing while reading.

listening to…I just discovered Poliça and Of Monsters and Men, and I am basically listening to both of them on a continuous loop. Check out Lay Your Cards Out and Wandering Star by Poliça and Little Talks and King and Lionheart from Of Monsters and Men.



making...Bought some radishes from the farmer's market last weekend and decided to pickle them at about 7 pm on Sunday night. When the muse takes you, you just have to give in. Had to wait 24 hours until they were officially pickled, but they were pretty tasty last night. I think they'd be the perfect topping to a barbeque pork sandwich. I used a jalapeno in this recipe, and if I made it again, I'd add a second.

baking...This grilled flatbread recipe from Tartine was in a recent Bon Appetit magazine I read, and I've had it on my mind for awhile. I made the dough yesterday, and I'm planning to grill it tonight. My thought is to use some of the somewhat shriveled apricots and plums we have in our crisper, kale, and caramelized onions along with a leftover from Sunday night fig, mint, and basil sauce (from this dish) on top. We'll see how it turns out. Honestly, the sauce is so tasty I'd probably happily eat cardboard coated in it.

One of Each, Please

I absolutely love this! A New York designer started a curated project where fifty designers created prints around the fifty states' mottoes. A few of my favorites...

New Mexico by Jon Ashcroft

 

Florida by Two Arms

Wyoming by Seth Neilson

Apricot Quinoa

A week or two ago I promised to post the recipe for my most recent salad experiment. It's a fruit-infused quinoa salad, which is perfect for a picnic. It makes a very large bowl, so I would consider halving it if I were only making it as a side dish for a regular family meal.

These are the leftovers several days after taking this to a picnic for 15.

Apricot Quinoa

1 c. cooked quinoa
1 c. wheatberry (aka whole wheat) If you forget to prepare this ahead of time like I did, (it needs to soak overnight) then you can always substitute in barley instead.
5 small fresh apricots, diced (you can use dried apricots instead)
1/2 c. dried cherries
1/2 c. dried cranberries
3/4 c. sliced almonds, toasted
1/4 c. olive oil
Juice of 2 oranges
2 T. white balsamic (I used grapefruit balsamic which is amazing, but not required.)
salt and pepper to taste

Except for the quinoa and barley measurements, everything is most definitely an estimate because I just sort of threw in a bit at a time and mixed as I went. Feel free to add more or less depending on your preferences. I would also have thrown in some dried blueberries if I'd had them on hand. This was really tasty as a cool breakfast on those 100+ degree mornings. Also, I recommend making it a day ahead because the dried cherries and cranberries soak up some of the moisture and become deliciously plump overnight.

Fancy Headbands

Use a vintage necktie, lace scraps, ribbon, or embroidered fabric to make fancy headbands. Photo tutorial below.

Cut piece of tie long enough to go 2/3 around your head (mine was 15 1/2 inches).
Tie elastic cord into figure 8 measuring approx. 7 1/4 in. (I colored my elastic cord with permanent marker to match.)
Fold in ends of tie and position cord. Pin and (carefully!) try on. Adjust cord if needed. Sew.

Lessons from Our New Kitten

Beside being the most adorable entertainment you could possibly imagine (seriously, she is constantly tumbling!) our kitten has illustrated some important life lessons.

First, don't give a shit if someone dislikes you. That's clearly their problem, not yours! Try a bit to win them over and then go have fun without them. Peut-être has not had a warm reception from Maybe. It took him a long time to stop hissing and warm up to her (although I would still only call it lukewarm), but even when he was acting his worst, hissing and swatting, she'd sidle up to him or pounce on his tail, trying to make friends. Of course it really just instigated a huge cat freak out, but she was always shockingly unfazed. She'd watch it unfold, receive her smack, and then gallop off to spend 20 minutes in ecstasy playing with a ribbon or a bug or a button or a shadow. She was so confident that his dislike could not possibly have anything to do with her that she eventually won him over.

It's not worth it to feel sorry for yourself. Focus on the good stuff. We discovered that Peut-être's front paw was infected this weekend because she's been licking her wounds too much. The vet prescribed her penicillin and...a neck cone to wear for a week. This is the smallest size they make, but it's still awfully heavy for a kitten. At first she alternated between dragging it around face down on the floor and walking everywhere backward, though now she can do sort of a camel style lope across the room because every other step the bottom edge bounces off the floor. It keeps her from playing, it's uncomfortable, and very unwieldy. Needless to say, she was not very happy with it. However, she can't help being happy. You snuggle up to her, and she still just purrs and purrs. Sure, one part of her life is not going all that great right now, but she's still able to find big moments of contentment.

I'm sure there's lots to be said about her ability to see everything as a game or her constant activity as motivation to work out more, but I'm going to leave it at these two big ones. I want to learn from her example to worry less about what people think and to stop feeling sorry for myself when one part of my life is not going my way.

Just a Minute: June Edition

late...I completely forgot about this month's installment until yesterday. Oh well, better late than never.

reading…This past weekend I finished about four books. It's too hot to be outside much, so I spent a lot of time snuggling with the cat and kitten and reading, reading, reading. I finished Fly Away Home and Certain Girls quickly because Jennifer Weiner's books are always quick reads for me. Then I devoured two amazing young adult books that were both advance copies I got back in May, Seraphina and Unspoken. Seraphina had dragons, but in a really original way, and Unspoken had a unique take on sorcerers. Both are aimed a bit more toward girls (they get a touch too emotional/romantic than a boy reader would probably prefer), both are obviously fantasy, and both left me really annoyed that I'm going to have to wait an unspecified amount of time to read more in their series!

sweating...It is entirely too hot around here! We are all draped across furniture trying to soak up the slightest breeze.

 
surprising...Nathan's birthday was Tuesday, and I managed to get him a very difficult to find bottle of whiskey with the help of a friend of my sister's! He was pretty thrilled, which made it worth the trouble of asking big favors from strangers.

The best is yet to come...

listening…of course there's this, but I've also been listening to The Tallest Man on Earth, and, somewhat against my will, I really like Home by Phillip Phillips (Disappointed to realize that this song was not a new release from Mumford & Sons, but was, rather, an American Idol winner with a ridiculous name.)

creating…I have a brilliant idea for what I'm making Nathan for our 2nd wedding anniversary. Luckily, I realized that the traditional year two gift is cotton early enough that I could tackle an embroidery project with enough time to actually get it done by September 6. I'll keep you updated on progress, but for now, here's a sneak peek-->

making...I invented a quinoa salad using one we used to get from the grocery store as my inspiration. I'll be posting the recipe later this month because it's definitely a keeper.

baking…I made the brownies I mentioned last month again, this time for the fourth of July. This time I made them in ramekins for individual servings. It really worked great; I definitely recommend it. If you used small ones for every serving it would probably take 14. Baking time remains about the same, if not 5-10 minutes longer.

Because I Need Yet Another New Project

Have you heard of Kickstarter? It's a great concept that allows regular folk like you and me to support the innovation of other regular folk like you and me. It's a funding platform where people can outline their project and funding needs. Most offer different pledge levels, and depending on which one you choose, you can end up with the product they're hoping to create.

Recently, I've come across some outstanding ideas that were featured there...

I finally committed when I discovered Inkodye, the photo sensitive ink that will let you dye cloth through photosynthesis! They've even developed an app that will let you turn your Instagram pics into negatives to be used on fabric. This project hasn't met its funding goal yet, so it may not end up being a reality (Kickstarter has an all or nothing policy...that means that if the funding goal is not met, you get your money back and the project doesn't go forward.)

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Another project I'm supporting which has reached its funding goal (by over 650%!), is men's dress shirts using space technology that helps keep you cool and dry. Couldn't pass this up since I know how much Nathan hates wearing dress shirts in the summer because of the sweat factor. Plus the company is called Ministry of Supply which sounded very Harry Potter-esqe to me. Made in the US too. I was sold...Happy Birthday, Nathan.

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Beware, it's kind of like a more current version of the infomercial. At least, it leaves me with the same "I need that" feeling as I get when accidentally landing on a channel touting the latest Oxyclean or Bare Escentuals product. And the feel good model of supporting people in making their innovative dreams come true is just more incentive.

All the Livelong Day

We thrilled to hear his story about the time he had hiccups for four days straight. He tried everything to get rid of them, he said. Every suggestion people had. Eating cabbage, standing on his head, drinking water upside down, walking backwards on a railroad track, everything. Eventually, they went away. Now, he said, he drank pickle juice to keep them away. Eww, we squealed.

She would always let us pick what special dessert we wanted her to make. We always chose strawberry pie. She used huge strawberries whole, and her pie crusts were delicious.

His truck cab was filled with candy. Moderately disappointing to an 8-year-old, however, because every single kind was sugarless. Those pastel discs still remind me of climbing all over the front seat of his truck.

She kept the door to her bedroom closed tightly. The one place in the house we were not allowed to venture-it was a great mystery. When we eventually saw her room after she died, the stacks of organized excess that she kept hidden did not come close to measuring up to the explanations in our imaginations.

His prickly chin would press into your forehead as you hugged him goodnight. He seemed moved when we'd chorus, "Goodnight. I love you, grandpa."

She pulled out some of the old clothes she'd kept for us to dress up in. We put on her fancy hats and dresses from the 50's and 60's, and she'd give us accessories to match-gloves, purses, and jewelry. We'd ask if we look beautiful, and she'd assure us that we did.

He and my grandma had had separate bedrooms for ages. But why, we'd ask? I snore like a locomotive he'd say. His room smelled of shaving cream, cedar, and just a hint of smoke. His was a bit cluttered, and there were piles of letters requesting funds to fight cancer, help children with leukemia, take care of aging firemen, etc. He gave to every one.

In the big grassy lot next to the house, we'd run imaginary bases, creating ghost runners to take our place so we could have another kick or one more swing of the bat. With only two players, we bored of the games quickly. We spent more time making up rules and planning the newest game than we actually did playing it.

That same grassy lot eventually held a lifetime's belongings spread out for people to pick through and bid on next to the small house where my dad grew up. In that one weekend, my father let go of the flotsam and jetsam of his parents' lives, the path he walked to school, and the one he wore into the carpet of his childhood home. He had few strong ties to his hometown anymore and it was unlikely we'd ever be back again. He said goodbye, and he let go so gently and quietly that, as small children, we didn't realize the extent of that goodbye then.

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Hello, Baby!

Look who's coming to live at our house in a week or two!

After a grueling search for a club chair to replace the fraternity house love seat formerly in our living room, (which we sent home with my parents after Memorial Day weekend,) I finally settled on the Brooklyn Club Chair from Pottery Barn.

It's definitely an investment, but it is absolutely lovely and so, so comfy. (That leather is like buttah. I cannot even tell you how excited I am to curl up in there with a book!) I have been researching everywhere from Craigslist to local antique dealers, but finally settled on a new, old-looking chair instead of an old, new-looking chair because of its sturdiness and reasonable price (believe it or not, leather club chairs are hella expensive, no matter their age).

This chair has good bones, which is important in all furniture purchases because then you know they will never go out of style, and it will always be worth it to just recover them instead of having to buy a whole new chair again.

In her defense, the fraternity house love seat also had good bones (Is that just asking for someone to make a lewd joke?), which was why I recovered her, and why she stayed in our house almost 10 years after we graduated, but she had way too many cushions and Nathan couldn't deal with straightening them anymore.

Great Song

First heard this at the end of Suits last night. I've been listening to it all day.

How to Cook Without a Recipe

Some people think that it takes some sort of talent to be able to make a meal without going by a recipe, but I'm going to tell you the secret. It doesn't take talent at all. The key to throwing a dish together without a recipe is starting out small.

First, start by using recipes. That's how you learn amounts of ingredients to use in the future, things that go well together, and flavors that meld. Using recipes helps you learn what 2 tablespoons of olive oil look like in a pan and how much salt it takes to flavor a dish.

Read up and research. You can find a recipe for anything and everything online. And even better, you can read up on all of the hints from other bakers and cooks who have already used that recipe. Often these hints and suggestions come in handy on other recipes down the road.

Notice and remember interesting and unexpected complementary flavors in recipes and at restaurants (mango & chili, nutmeg & cheese, balsamic & dijon, ginger & lemon, bacon & well, everything). These are the touches that will make your meals taste extra special.

Go off recipe. When you make something, make notes about what you liked and what you didn't like. The next time, leave out the red pepper flakes or add extra lemon juice.

Experiment! This advice might be intimidating, but tasting as you go means that you can control how the dish turns out. And if it bombs, it's honestly not a big deal. Don't experiment before important events or when you're having guests, of course. You want this to be fun, not stressful! Again, be sure to make notes or even write whole new recipes so you remember for the next time.

Talk to others. Ask about ingredients you've never used, talk to people about their favorite techniques, ingredients, or dishes, and ask for advice on things you've had trouble doing.

All photos from my instagram @hannakinsey.

Conversation #12

I can see it.

Me: The ladies at work were telling me that in our wedding picture, you look like Jake Gyllenhaal. They said maybe I shouldn't tell you so you don't get a big head about it, but I told them you wouldn't know who he was anyway.
Him: I know who he is. He was in Spiderman. The short guy.
Me: Nope. Not even close.

Jake Gyllenhaal photo from Wikipedia/Our wedding photo by Shyla

Don't Worry, I Washed Them

When I get new clothing, just like when I was little, I tend to wear it pretty often. I just realized today that I've worn the new pair of pants I have on today 4 times in the last 8 days! To think I wasn't sure if I would keep them because they're a lot more fitted than I normally wear.

Tippi Sweater in Linen, Deep Cinnamon, J.Crew
Waverly Chino, Midnight, J.Crew
Limousine Flat, Dark Pewter, American Eagle
Kinsey Necklace, HannaKinsey, Etsy
Earrings, Target, 5 years ago

Ingredients You Probably Don't Have in Your Kitchen But Should

Almonds
Not only are they great to snack on when you just need something crunchy, but they're a tasty addition to pretty much any baked good. Plus, sometimes you can even grind it up really well and add it to flour if you're running a little short for your recipe.

Capers
Capers come in a pickling solution, so they keep practically forever in the refrigerator. Do not make Chicken Picatta without them, and they add a great zing to pasta or potato salads.

Cream
Not only do you never know when you might need to whip up a chocolate ganache, but there's really no substitute for being able to add cream to pasta sauce for an amazing depth of flavor. An unopened carton can last a surprisingly long time (I've managed to keep it for a month at least before, though don't count on that during the summer.)

Dark Chocolate Chips
Like with the cream above, you never know when you might need to whip up a quick batch of ganache to use as frosting, cookie or ice cream topping, or truffle center, not to mention nothing is better in chocolate chip cookies than Ghiradelli's 60% cocoa chocolate chips. Nathan also eats these frozen by the handful, so I try to have them on hand for a quick chocolate fix.

Kosher Salt
Especially during grilling season, I prefer this to sprinkle on grilling meat or seafood because the bigger flakes adhere better and last through the whole cooking process better.

Lemongrass
You really can't make any sauces taste authentically Thai without lemongrass. It also adds a really nice flavor to stir fry, and don't even think about Tom Yum Soup without it. Usually you can find it in the produce section of the grocery store, but luckily we can get it already chopped and frozen from a local Asian grocery store.

Lemons/Limes
Fresh lemon or lime juice is much more flavorful than bottled. There are a ton of ways to use slices, zest, or the juice of lemon or lime. Just to name a few, we throw them in with fish and vegetables on the grill, add them to pitchers of water when we're sitting outside on a hot day, use lemons in Chicken Picatta, and limes with black beans or mango salsa. They keep very well in the fridge so you really just need to use them within a week or two of buying them. (I do have bottled juice as well, but only as a backup if I need more than I can get from the fresh lemons or limes I have on hand except when it comes to lemonade-just use bottled juice and throw in some lemon slices.)

Good Olive Oil
While it is not cheap, there are some things that justify using a really good olive oil. For one, any homemade salad dressing tastes much more amazing with good olive oil. My favorite is hojiblanca, which has a peppery bite to it. Yum!

Fresh Parsley
If you keep it either completely dry (wrapped in paper towels) or with the stems in water, parsley will stay fresh a few weeks. Fresh parsley really makes a difference in everything from lemon vinaigrette to pasta salads, chicken and fish dishes.

Pine nuts
Pine nuts can be pretty expensive, but you don't have to use a lot in any dish. One cup of pine nuts can go a very long way (I store unused pine nuts in the freezer). First of all, you absolutely cannot beat the taste of fresh pesto. There has never been a jar of pesto that tastes even half as good as homemade. It's really easy, and you can freeze it into multiple containers so you have enough for just one meal at a time. (Freezing the pesto doesn't change the taste at all.) Also, pine nuts are really great as a substitute for regular nuts in cookies or toasted and thrown in a salad.

Shallots
There are two dishes we make relatively often that require shallots. One I've mentioned recently, and the other is a citrus salad with a warm vinaigrette from the In the Kitchen with Rosie cookbook. Even if you don't have a go-to recipe that calls for shallots, however, I find myself using them when I make fish or even vegetables like spinach or green beans. They have a slightly sweeter, more delicate flavor than an onion. That difference is really noticable, which is why I don't just use onions instead every time.

Sparkling Water in cans
I've started drinking La Croix instead of soda for those times when I just really need the fizzy burn, and I've noticed how handy it is to have sparkling water on hand for other things. Flavored or unflavored, you can use it to make pretty much every mixed drink tastier. Plus it keeps for practically forever as long as it's unopened. Sometimes I substitute this in for the water in lemonade, and it's delicious. But best yet, Pimm's Cup is my current summer afternoon adult beverage of choice, and you can't make it without it.

Images (via flickr) from left to right, beginning in top left corner:

Roasted California Almonds; Capers; cream is good; Blueberry Papaya Cucumber Juice and Chocolate Cake with Ganache;
kosher salt; Olive oil, lemon, both Golden; Lemongrass Stalks; Olive Oil;
Parsley; Toasted Pine Nuts; Mixed Shallots; La Croix

Happy 200th!

balloons by Brandi Sims

Today is my 200th post! Not bad for just over two years of blogging. Thanks for reading and commenting and/or emailing, everyone! My next goal is to post 100 times this year! Last year I had 88 posts, so that should be pretty easy to attain.

Office decorated? Check.

You may remember back in March (Really? That long ago?!) when I was trying to decide what to hang on my office wall. The frames and photos arrived, and I finally got building services to drill some holes in the wall for me. I was a lunch break purchase of an electric drill away from doing it myself.

I added part of an unfinished vintage quilt to my wall, a few new frames for some of my art, and an antique lamp I just bought this weekend, and now I feel like it is finally done. Balanced, colorful, and just a little bit cluttered...just like home.

Get You Through It Mix

 image via the drop

This play list will get you through your next workout or your next bad day. Especially good for pepping you up for projects that you really really don't want to do.

This is the New Year                                              Ian Axel

The Book of Morris Johnson                                    Zee Avi

Such Great Heights                                The Postal Service

Titanium                                            David Guetta feat. Sia

Invincible                                                                OK Go

Stronger                                                          Kanye West

Pursuit of Happiness                                                 Lissie

Shake it Out                                    Florence + the Machine

Mama Said Knock You Out                                   LL Cool J

White Knuckles                                                       OK Go

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)                    Kelly Clarkson

Bulletproof                                                            La Roux

1901                                                                      Phoenix

Dog Days are Over                          Florence + the Machine

Feeling Good                                                 Nina Simone

My Favorite Summer Cocktail

This vintage English cocktail is the most delicious, refreshing summer drink that, to my surprise, includes gin! What really makes this perfect is the cucumber, so don't leave it out.

Pimm's Cup

3/4 c. gin
1/4 c. Pimm's no. 1
1 lemon, cut into half slices
1 orange, cut into half slices
1/2 cucumber, cut into half slices
1 c. strawberries, cut into small chunks
2 large sprigs of mint, muddled

Add just before serving:
2 cans of sparkling lemon soda (I used La Croix Lemon and added a few tablespoons of sugar)


Add all to a pitcher and stir well. Let steep for an hour, and then add the sparkling lemon soda. Serve with ladle so that you get all of the fruit bits in your glass too. If you have any Pimm's Cup left over, cover the pitcher with plastic wrap and reuse it later in the week. Time only makes it better. Just add a bit more gin and lemon soda before your next pour.

Just a Minute: May Edition

exciting...My parents came in for Memorial weekend. This was the first time they've been up to Chicago in the summer, so I had all sorts of plans (and yes, I realize that many of them involved food). When they got in on Thursday night, we had some dinner, then I took them to Lickety Split for some custard. We went to the beach, then on to Chinatown for lunch, bubble teas, and some exotic grocery shopping on Friday and then on a sunset architectural cruise on the Chicago River downtown. Saturday, we headed to Lincoln Park for the farmer's market and then got some Thai banh mi sandwiches for lunch from Ba Le on the way home. Saturday night we went to Smoque for ribs and then headed to the Hideout for an evening of live bluegrass. On Sunday we had lunch at Glenn's diner, explored Architectural Artifacts (an architectural salvage place in Ravenswood), and then grilled out with all the neighbors that evening. On Monday, we had leftover ribs and fried chicken for breakfast before taking a walk to Andersonville in the morning before they headed out after lunch.

  
loving…Cut the Rope Experiments is free in the app store this week. I love that cute little creature. Go get this for your iPhone while you can. Not sure if it's available for Android, but if it is (or if the original Cut the Rope is), it is worth the money because they update and add 25 new levels every couple of months or so. Great puzzles with clever themes.

reading…The City of Dreaming Books, which is quite possibly the weirdest book I've read in a long time. I don't want to give anything away, but the blurbs on back describe it as a "kaleidoscopic vision" and "equal parts J.K. Rowling, Douglas Adams, and Shel Silverstein." Guess what? That's pretty accurate so far. Luckily, I'm a big fan of all three of those authors, so I'm enjoying it.
 
watching...the finale of House was truly great. I have rarely seen one that fit all the show characters so well and actually left me feeling like the show was wrapped up.

drinking…the Pimm's Cup. The perfect summery adult beverage. It actually convinced me to like gin, which was quite a feat! Stay tuned this week for my recipe.

making...new art to go above our fireplace. I'll be showing that off later this week or early next week.

image from the marion house book

baking...For the picnic on Sunday night, we made these Salty Caramel Brownies that I found on the marion house book ages ago, but hadn't gotten around to making. They are delish. I think they would be perfect made in individual small ramekins the day before and then topped with vanilla ice cream right before serving. Small because they are crazy rich and decadent. The great thing about these brownies is that they're so gooey, their consistency seems fresh out of the oven even when they're completely cool. DO NOT top with ice cream right out of the oven or you might as well just pour milk on top.

Why I Should Never Have a Reality Television Show

I very rarely win my fights with Nathan. No one needs to see that. Least of all me.

I say horrifying things that would make my audience hate me. For example, when I was in college studying abroad in Italy, I was flashed by a man in an alley in Florence one night. I was (justifiably) disturbed. However, I ACTUALLY COMPARED HIS UNWANTED SEXUAL EXHIBITION TO RAPE. Out loud. Yes, I was that girl. I shudder every time I remember those words being let out into the world. Can you imagine if they were actually on tape? And you know they would use that in promos.

I eat entirely too much for television. Not only do I actually eat sandwiches and whole plates of pasta, but I have *gasp* dessert. Sometimes at both lunch and dinner. Not usually at breakfast though.

According to Nathan, I criticize him. All. The. Time. So apparently, I'd look like one of those harpy wives bossing him around and always rolling my eyes and being sarcastic to him. I like imagining that I'm the victim here. I don't need video proof that it's the other way around.

I have been known to smack my cat. But guys, he totally deserved it. He was meowing, and meowing, and meowing, and meowing, and meowing. Still, that would not go over well with PETA, I'm sure.

My sassy gay friends are all 40+ and wouldn't dream of getting into screaming fights with me. They'd rather sit around in the backyard drinking wine and talking about NATO (or DWTS).

I wouldn't dream of paying someone to be my fashion stylist, wig stylist, cat stylist, makeup artist, nanny, cat walker, housekeeper, chauffeur, psychic, pet interpreter, groundskeeper, or husband wrangler (well, I'd consider paying someone to do that last one).

I am a terrible actress. When I was in fourth grade I managed to say my lone line in the class play as "Fish fly in the sky, birds swim in the sea." If someone told me I needed to reenact a conversation I'd had so they could get it on tape, it would be awkward and wooden and...wait, I guess that's not really a deal-breaker for those reality TV shows. Never mind.

New Fruit

I tried a new fruit this weekend. Now I can add the guayaba to my list. Had sort of a banana-y texture and flavor, but with a fruity element too. Kind of a passion fruit flavor, I think, (though I haven't tried a real passion fruit yet, so that's not scientific.)
 

Forgive the blurry photo. People were staring at
me taking this photo, and I felt self-concious. 
The little yellow things in the front are the guayaba.
They're about the size of golf balls, but really soft.

Lots of seeds, which I ate. It was a little odd, but not bad.

Well Said

 "I never saw the green light at the end of Daisy's dock or the parties on Gatsby's lawn, but they seem more vivid than things that I actually lived. If we are the sum of our experiences, as I believe we are, then books are a more important part of my life than my actual life. That's what I try to do with my own fiction. Fill the stories with imaginary people who will become more real to my readers than the people in their lives."

 George R.R. Martin

Excerpt from May 24, 2012 Rolling Stone Interview, "The Hand Behind the Throne" by Gavin Edwards

Image via Quizlet

Things I Am Really Embarrassed to Admit

I ate 1/3 of a watermelon for lunch last Thursday.

Sometimes Nathan and I talk to our cat about his "mommy" or "daddy," and we are REFERRING TO EACH OTHER.

The other day I watched a homeless woman being evicted from the vestibule of the building across the road. An hour later I checked our vestibule to make sure she hadn't moved into ours.

Once I hit my head on the dryer door so hard that I had to lay down on the floor for awhile until I was sure I wasn't going to pass out.

In my fourth grade spelling bee, I got out in the first round because of the word barracks.

I am guilty of rage tweeting. Over a burrito. (Was going to link to them, but I'm pretty sure I deleted them out of shame.)

I was heckled by a small child hanging out the window of his apartment building during a recent tennis lesson. He was right, my swing did suck.

Once, on a day when I worked from home, I didn't brush my teeth until just before lunchtime.

I have used the phrase "kids today" to complain, in all seriousness, about an intern.

I spent a crazy long time trying to figure out what was wrong with our DVD player before finally realizing that I was trying to play a BluRay disc.

I am knowingly and voluntarily a part of a pyramid scheme.

Recent Converstation #11

Me, whining: They cancelled my tennis lessons an hour before it was supposed to start because they don't have enough people.
Him: That stinks. Will they give your money back?
Me: Yeah, but I'm ticked because I was really looking forward to this. I was even going to accomplish a New Year's Resolution for once.
Him: Well, maybe you can take some lessons from Nathan McArdle.
Me: Really? You think? I'm kind of intimidated by him. Also, I heard his class is hard to get into. Can you pull some strings?
Him: Maybe.
Me: Do you think I can get a discount if I put out?
Him: Maybe.
Me: Maybe? Maybe? I'm sure you meant to say definitely.
Him: Yes. I did.

Martha, No. Just No.

It's usually a good idea to go to Martha for upcoming holiday inspiration. However, sometimes those craft gurus at Martha Stewart Living seem so intent on cranking out the projects that you wonder if there's ever a project they deem unfit for the web. Here are a few they've suggested for Mother's Day that I sincerely question.

The perfect gift if mom is working on a rag rug or if she is a Rastafarian
(but seriously, how crazy/cool would this look on someone wearing dreads? )

There is no mistaking this as a stylish fashion necklace.
It is clearly a woman wearing giant bouncy balls and pantyhose around her neck.
Fashion, Martha owes you an apology.

Severed baby limbs? You're welcome, Mom.

You won't find these in a mall, but you might find them hanging from your nearest lamp.
You should not, however, find them hanging from your mother's ears because that's just wrong.

What?! I am sure as hell not wearing a button around that says this
no matter what day of the year it is.
Why, Martha? Why?

New Use for an Old Thing, Vol. 2

Sugar Canister twine dispenser ($0.50, Goodwill)
I can't take credit for this cute idea; I originally saw it on Pinterest. I love that I can leave my twine out with some of my other crafting supplies (see below) because they look good.

Salt shaker as straight pin storage ($1, local thrift store)
When I found this old salt shaker, I didn't have a use for it yet; however, the easy to screw off lid made using it as a sewing pin holder a good choice. Whenever I need to use a handful of pins, I just turn it upside down and shake a few out.

Straw holder for washi tape ($8, eBay)
I had seen these straw holders used to store ribbon on Pinterest and loved the look. I have a giant box of ribbon though, and I realized that finding spools that were small enough to fit was actually going to prove to be unrealistic. With my sudden collection of varieties of washi tape, I knew I had the perfect storage place for them.

Desk lamp wall sconces ($15, eBay; new cord-$5, Home Depot)
We needed some extra light in the living room and in the bedroom, but we didn't have any table or floor space to spare. I had the thought to use a few old shop desk lamps as wall sconces. Once I rewired them, they were the perfect solution.

Toast stand mail holder ($3, hometown antique mall)
I needed a place to put all the paper odds and ends we save on our desk. The few paper bills we still pay, flyers for upcoming events, etc. now go in their little metal organizer and keep our desk top looking neat.






Picture frame mirror ($7, local junk store; mirror-$8, hardware store)
Buying a large mirror new can be very expensive. I found a shortcut by purchasing a large wooden picture frame and getting a piece of mirror glass cut to fit it at our local hardware store. (This strategy came in very handy when I was collecting mirrors for the mirror wall in the dining room.)

Comfort Food

Mmmmm...

    This is my absolute favorite meal. No matter what time
    of year, when I last had fish, or how much time I have to
    prepare dinner, I jump on the chance to have this for
    dinner. I've made it enough that's it's really fast to make
    now, but I will warn you that there are three steps which,
    on your first attempt, can make this seem time consuming.
    A good blender is a must. And the lemon vinaigrette is the
    best part, so DO NOT skip it.

    I think this recipe is originally from Giada, but I got it
    from my upstairs neighbor.

Orange Ruffy with Radicchio,
Cannelini Beans, and Lemon Vinaigrette

 Time: Approximately 30 minutes total
 Serves 2-4 people

Ingredients:
1-2 heads of radicchio*
3 shallots, finely chopped 
1 can* cannelini (white kidney) beans
1/3 c. fish broth or water


4 light fish filets (Orange Ruffy, talapia, etc.)
salt and pepper
flour
1-2 tablespoons butter
                       

            

           

       Vinaigrette:
             Juice and zest of 2 lemons
             2-3 garlic cloves 
             salt and pepper
             1/3 c. olive oil
             large handful of fresh parsley

 If you use a vegetable peeler for lemon peel (which I do), then you probably only need to do one lemon. Throw whole strips of peel, juice of two lemons, whole peeled garlic cloves, and 1/2  t. salt and 1/4 t. pepper into the blender and blend well. While blender is on, stream in olive oil. Stick a finger in and taste. Add more salt and pepper or lemon juice if needed. Throw in parsley and blend one final time. Set aside.

Thinly slice the radicchio. In hot pan, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add shallots, and cook
until translucent. Add radicchio. Stir occasionally. Cook until wilted with some browned edges.

While radicchio is cooking, pat filets dry. Salt and pepper both sides lightly. Coat well in flour. In another hot pan, add in a pat or two of butter and add two filets. Cook thoroughly, approximately 3 minutes on each side.

Add 1/3 c. fish broth or water (I've used both. The broth gives it a bit more flavor, but it's hard to find in the store. I made and froze broth-in 1/3 c. increments-that I made from crayfish shells, but when that ran out, I've just used water.) Add cannelini (white kidney) beans to radicchio, and cook until warmed through.

Layer plate with radicchio, fish, and then top with lemon vinaigrette. Really great with greens on the side, noodles, orzo or Israeli couscous.

*We really love the radicchio layer, so I usually use 2 small to medium heads of radicchio and 2 cans of beans with a splash more broth/water.

You Should Date an Illiterate Girl

Girl with Book by Imaekelley via flickr

 I love this piece, You Should Date an Illiterate Girl, by Charles Warnke on Thought Catalog.

"Don’t date a girl who reads because girls who read are the storytellers. You with the Joyce, you with the Nabokov, you with the Woolf. You there in the library, on the platform of the metro, you in the corner of the café, you in the window of your room. You, who make my life so god damned difficult. The girl who reads has spun out the account of her life and it is bursting with meaning. She insists that her narratives are rich, her supporting cast colorful, and her typeface bold."

Read the rest, here.