Weekend in Review

A was out of town this weekend, and I had lots of boring projects to finish up and work to do. So, not as many photos, but there was plenty of fun and quiet time to be had. Not shown: a lovely breakfast with best friends, June's first wilderness walk (no dead wildlife), an Oscars party featuring "Bold Lips and Bright Ties" (so cheesy and so much fun), the best carnitas ever (paired with adelightful conversation with a friend), lots of quiet time reading by the open windows. Sometimes, a weekend at home all alone is just what the doctor ordered.

Nap time

 I'll never understand people who say their dogs won't nap with them. June would never pass up a chance to sleep on the bed.

Saturday dinner

On Saturday I realized we hadn't grocery or market shopped in a while,  and I had some congestion so I thought, let's try some spicy kind of soup: green curry paste, vegetable broth, garlic and a little salt. Simmer, then toss in a giant handful of spinach and some cubed tofu. You could add lots of other stuff, I was working with what we had. Then topped with some chili oil. So spicy, but so good.

Squeaky Clean

 I have quite a few trips coming up, and I'll be flying for all of them. And I really hate packing liquids, but I alawys bite the bullet and just shove a tiny bottle of face wash into a Ziploc (I've already got bar shampoo, body wash and conditioner). So, I was delighted to find an Etsy shop that specialized in artisan soaps. I was even more delighted that the shop featured so many sensitive skin options!

I ordered the Calendula bar, the White Clay bar and a giant sampler pack. Then, I'll just pack this shampoo bar and this conditioner bar and giggle my way through security. But not too loudly, because that look suspicious.

A Mantra

I've been feeling a little down these past few days, and there's nothing like an anecdote to cheer me up! How about an anecdote from yoga class? A yogacdote!

Yoga class (with the exception of hot yoga, which is a very different bird all together) doesn't really have an agenda. My teacher will say to us "and now, if it's available to you, raise both knees to your elbows." And so I can do this (I can't do this) or I can just chill out and wait to transition to another pose, which I can do. If it is available to me.

I think I'll adopt this into my daily life, especially on days when I'm working on projects at home. First, I will wake up and get coffee. Then, if it is available to me, I will open my email and pursue the tasks. If it is available to me.

The truth here is that, really, everything will be available to you eventually. Yes, even Baksana. Fucking Baksana.

Quinoa Salad with Spinach and Black Beans

I posted a picture of this dish yesterday my Saturday lunch, and got a question about the recipe. This is kind of hilarious because it's definitely a less than beautiful meal! While I'd love to be the kind of person who writes down every detail as she throws together a lunch, I'm just not. But, I will do my best!

I had plans to meet a friend for lunch Saturday afternoon, but she was in an accident (she is perfectly fine, as is her car, but was tied up for about two hours). So, with A off to see friends, I had the apartment to myself. We had some leftover black beans, some quickly wilting spinach and had just picked up a bulk bag of quinoa. And this little ditty was born:

1/2 cup quinoa
1 cup vegetable broth
Some minced garlic (I used about 2 cloves)
1/2 minced onion
Several handfuls of spinach
1/4 cup of cooked black beans
Cumin
Salt
Chili powder

Cook your onion and garlic, you can use oil and saute. I use a dry non-stick pan because I want some sear. Add in the broth and rinsed quinoa, bring to boil then settle to a simmer. Cook 10 minutes, add in spinach. Let cook 5 more minutes. Let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with fork and stir in black beans and spices.

I topped mine with an egg and plenty of Tapatio. It's good without the egg, I just needed to clear out some fridge space. It does need lots of Tapatio. As a brief side note: I love Tapatio. I don't hate other hot sauces, except for one little concoction that starts with a T and rhymes with Babasco. I know some people get pretty bent out of shape about this topic, so listen up. Follow your heart, and douse this little meal in whatever peps up your step.

A Find

Friends, I'm not sure if you're fans of Indian food. I am. I have never met an Indian dish I didn't love, and I've gotten fairly good at recreating some favorites at home and adding some Indian touches to dishes. However, every time I try to make Korma, I fail. It's not really that difficult, I've just never nailed the spices. And now, I never will. I've discovered a delicious jarred Korma sauce. I mixed this up tonight with tofu, spinach and some potatos. Pretty sure that's not how traditional Korma is done but who cares.


While you're at the site, check out the whole company. Now go buy some of their Greek Feta Vinagarette.

The company as a whole has an interesting mission, and I find the whole concept pretty endearing, and we ordered two seed collections (tomatoes and herbs). Our tiny apartment and patio can only hold so much, but our herbs tend to grow pretty well on our windowsills. And June likes nothing more than sticking her head in a giant mint plant. I'll be sure to update on how these little guys turn out.

Weekend in Review

My weekend: photo playtime with a favorite photographer friend, bar hopping, surprise sleepover, woofer fun, alone time on the patio, naptime, and it being sunny enough for me to get a little color on this pale, pale flesh. Not pictured: a blueberry cake doughnut that changed my Sunday, me going out for an afternoon beer right after a workout, June refusing to leave her new dog bed for 4 hours, me burning a dear friend while trying to roast marshmallows, and four naps.

A haunted haunt

A likes his beer like his women: Irish and Cold

Saturday lunch time (quinoa, spinach and black beans with an egg)

"Come, nap along with me."

Acquired. (Thanks, Alice, for the rose colored lenses!)

Friday Tunes

The Black Keys, Tighten Up. Not my favorite song from them, but definitely my favorite video of theirs. This is probably the song from The Black Keys you've heard on the radio, the whole album is well-worth checking out. Then go listen to their other albums. Then sing along in your car. Then sing along out in public. Then sing along in Anthropologie, which will cause their 17 year old employee to say "I never knew who this was, we play weird music." At least it's no longer "A Yuppie Christmas" in that place.

Our weekend has really already started, since we're both off work today. The weekend consists of: big apartment project, haunt hunting, sorbet making, a racquetball rematch, a birthday celebration and sitting by the reservoir with at least two woofers. A pointed out to me that between the two of us, we'll be meeting people for drinks five times this weekend. And I'm hoping to nap at least six times.

Loving Lately

I bought a water Bobble yesterday, and I'm completely obsessed with it. The colored portion is a filter, and the bottle is clear, BPA free plastic. I had been devoted to my CamelBak water bottle for a very long time, but my dog made it into her chew toy. No, I cried, not the wedding water bottle. Because melodrama is good for us all.

These bad boys are available in three sizes, I picked mine up at Vitamin Shoppe (where I went to purchase Iron supplements, long story). I think they're also sold at Target and Macy's. Probably all over! I got the largest sized green one, and am considering the pink one for a gift for a very special friend whose New Year's resolution was to drink more water. Isn't that the most wholesome resolution ever? No losing 10 lbs, no saving a specific amount. She just wants to drink more water!

My only warning: The directions say to use the filter once on a full bottle of water before drinking. Do this twice. Just in case.

Games and Pastries

A and I don't really celebrate Valentine's per se. I like to celebrate platonically, by sending valentines and sweets to people. But, let's face it, if A and I ever tried to do go to a crowded, fancy dinner wearing finery, we'd only ruin it by laughing at each other. I would certainly choose that time to spill red wine on myself.* So, instead, we rarely have even spent the day together. We did get to spend time together last night, we played Mastermind** and ate sopapillas***. We also got a chance to briefly catch up with a few friends throughout the day. All in all, a good time was had.

Best game ever. (I won) Why is the table so dirty?

*Times I've spilled red wine on myself: my past three birthdays, the past two Christmases, Thanksgiving, Easter, A's birthday, our wedding and our wedding reception (on separate nights, in separate dresses). If I'm out on a fun Tuesday night? I'll never spill my wine. My hands can't handle holidays or celebrations.

**We bought this on a whim and can't stop playing. It's currently 5:00 am and I'm considering shaking A awake just to play. Lightly considering, but still.

***We honeymooned in the Southwest, and spent three days in New Mexico where we ate sopapillas that changed our (my) lives (life). Since then, I've been disappointed by the offerings here. Brittle, thin, topped with whip cream and chocolate sauce? No, friends. Served with caramel sauce and pecan ice cream? Get out of my face with that mess. Pillowy, hot, served with a pot of honey. Yes, please. Some people like to dust them with sugar and cinnamon, which is fine but I think it messes with the texture too much. I tried to get a photo but it went like this:
D: I want to take a photo, these are so pretty. And the honeypot is so cute.
A: It's kind of dark in here, and they aren't that photogenic.
D: Turn on the lamp, hold the plate, use the honey dipper. Lower, put it in the frame. It's too dark, so turn on that light too, now keep your face in the frame. DONOTMOVETHEHONEYDIPPER.
A: Um.
D: The honeypot is really cute, right?

Valentine, Valentine, Won't You Be Mine?

Wedding laughs

To sweet Anderson: who wears flip flops everywhere, makes a perfect raspberry cheesecake, always tips bar musicians, calls dogs "snouters", doesn't know the difference between a cardigan and a camisole, thinks Family Guy is sexist, always drives, kills wasps humanely, can turn a piece of wood into art, knits with his grandmother, and is an all-around wonderful human being.

Here's a cover of your favorite Marley song:

Weekend in Review

Not many photos from this weekend, we spent Friday night in with wine, pizza and Casablanca. I forgot my camera to our Saturday excursions to a mini-party and a charity art auction. We'll be filling our walls soon! And then we spent Sunday cleaning, organizing. On the photo end of things:

The cutest nephew ever (his cup matches our pillow)

The cutest babysitter ever

Happy Valentine's Day, friends! Here's hoping your day is filled with sweets, friendly people and plenty of red cardigans. Oh, and puppy snouts!

Friday Tunes

In honor of Valentine's, here's a favorite love song of mine. I'll admit, it's easy to think Tom Waits' voice is too harsh and scary to sound like anything close to love, but this song has some serious heart. Plus, I always remember old concert footage where Waits talks about this song and writing it for his wife. He cries openly during the entire story and song. At the end, he said "Love her so much it pours out of my eyeballs." Sappy? Probably. Beautiful? You know it!

"I'm gonna love you/til the wheels come off." Really lovely stuff. I originally thought this or Never Let Go would be the song my husband and I had our first dance too, but he was less than enthused by both choices.

On deck for the weekend: Cleaning, racquetball with A (he will beat me mercilessly), a little work, attempting to bake a king cake for a small get together. Notice, no Valentine's plans are on deck. We don't really celebrate as a couple, but we do have some goodies to pop in the mail for some of our favorite people!

Making a habit

I'm loving this perfect sentiment I found from Parker Fitzgerald. I try to bear it in mind, and even went so far as to make it my iPhone wallpaper. That's how you know it's serious, folks. Has it made a difference? I'm not sure. Maybe in the sense that I think more intentionally about criticisms I make and ones that I hear.

Instantly Delicious

This winter more than any other, I've craved soups. I'd love to be making big, freezable batches of lentil soup, veggie soup, chili verde etc. But, with mine and A's schedules, there's been very little time to pause for home-cooked meals. I was on the hunt for something fast, warm and simple when I ran across Edward and Sons Instant Miso-Cup soups.**

Miso Cup varieties

They offer a few varieties, I've only tried the Golden Vegetable and the Traditional Tofu varieties. You heat up 8 oz. of water and stir in the powder. Let it sit a minute and it makes a really nice, warm soup without a giant dose of sodium, fat or preservatives. The ingredient list is pretty wholesome and it's completely organic and ethically sourced materials. They come in little double use packets, and I've been packing them for lunch along with whatever leafy greens we have in the fridge.

**A search on the internet reveals a million posts about how much you don't need instant miso soup, because it's so easy to whip up at home. I mean, all you need is miso paste, dashi granules, wakame or nori and 30-45 minutes. You all have that stuff lying around, right? Oh, you don't? You're killin' me, Smalls.

Sewing

I received a sewing machine for Christmas from my lovely in-laws and I'm steadily easing into projects as I find time. This weekend I stopped by Premier Fabrics to pick up some new fabrics to play with. If you're in the area, stop by, they print all the fabrics in house and make some lovely choices.

Future couch pillow, cut

Projects a'plenty

Pin that pillow!

 I also ordered some of this fabric to make a long pillow for the couch to go with the coral pillows. It's more of a deep red than a pink. I think put together with our deep browns in the living room these will look right at home.

Weekend in Review

Weekends should always feature plenty of napping, coffee, reading and chatting. This weekend had all that and even some extras. We started to see some serious sunshine, which lifted the whole mood of the city. It seemed like more people were out getting coffee, shopping, eating out and generally enjoying themselves. Maybe we're all ready to kiss winter goodbye.

Not shown: The start of a few serious sewing projects, a mending of fences, a spontaneous friends-and-their dogs-filled Super Bowl/Puppy Bowl party and the 7 naps I took this weekend.

Perfect morning light in my favorite corner

 

 Pajama playtime

 

 

 

 

 

Early riser coffee.

Return+Friday Tunes

First, the music. I've been listening to this little ditty frequently this week to chase some serious blues away. I dare you to try to not dance a little.

Now for a little image catch up. What HAVE we been up to for the past week and 1/2?

Not spending enough time here

Lots of driving

A planted our window herbs, hoping for spring soon

Found time for a stop at our favorite gyro place

Letting our dog cheer us up

Making homemade teriyaki

More driving

First piece of king cake!

Regular posting headed your way on Monday. For the weekend, my mom is visiting and A and I are both trying to catch up on some serious sleep debt.