November Favorites

Sunrise, Thanksgiving Day

I disappeared for awhile, to unpack, see friends and celebrate Thanksgiving with A's family. I also got sick. But I'm back, mostly. Some of A's family is still in town, but all the festivities are done and it's slowly back to the real world. Or, rather, the real world of the holidays. This year, I'm loving the chilly weather, long nights, and putting the fireplace to use. Here are some favorite things from November!

Reading: The Night Circus My sweet friend Ashley let me borrow this and it's been fantastic. I already can't wait for the eventual movie.
Wearing: This zip-front sweater, in Grey. It's a glorified sweatshirt. The softest sweatshirt ever. Clearly we're in no danger of this becoming a fashion blog.
Eating: Spicy Roasted Broccoli with Almonds from The Sprouted Kitchen. I made this as a side for one of the meals we shared with A's family this past week. And I then proceeded to eat it for the next three days. So good!
Seeing: The Mississippi Museum of Art has some pretty great exhibitions right now, I visited earlier this month and enjoyed it so much. Also, the Palette Cafe serves bangin' Cuban Black Bean Soup.
Hearing: A History of the World in 100 Objects audiobook. Such an interesting listen! I'm still not done with it, I think I'm going to save the second half for our holiday road trips.

Unpacking. Sort of.

When you pack and move and then unpack with another person, you learn so much about them. For example, A is the kind of guy who works for hours on a task until it's completed. I'm the kind of gal who is easily distracted. That's a nice way of saying "I'd rather do almost anything than unpack."

But, we're getting it done! I mean, mostly, A is getting it done. But I'm helping. I'm also watching Parks and Recreation on Netflix. Are you? Why not? Oh, you already watched it? Good.

Magic Sauce

No new photos of the house yet, we've been busy! But, I have some photos I took before the move (and at other people's houses and events) that I'll share.

Magic Sauce, cooking

 I made this sauce recently, and it's amazingly simple and good. I like to stir it into veggies, or put a little in rice. I also use it in eggs sometimes. The key is to not overdo it, it's basically a flavored oil so a little will go a very long way. I keep it in a cruet so it's easy to just use a few drops. Heidi also suggests you use it as a cooking medium. I haven't tried that, but I'm sure it'd be great!

Lemon juice!

Bowl of black beans and quinoa topped with an egg and Magic Sauce

*These photos remind me that I now live in a place with way more natural light. I'll show you soon!

Morning Routines

Over the past year I've tried to develop a morning routine for myself that helps me kick off the day feeling comfortable and calm. That was laughably impossible when I was in school, but now that I'm not I think it's been nice to get into a different groove.

Morning fog

Anderson works nights (only 3 nights a week, and he's off the rest of the week), so once he comes home June follows him to the bedroom to sleep at his feet. That means Bailey is the only woofer around in the mornings, and she soaks up lots of love. Now that it's cooling off, we leave our windows open and she watches all morning long.

Bailey's day gazing

I drink coffee or tea, read a book or a magazine and eat some breakfast. In the warmer months it's iced coffee, fresh fruit or a veggie omelet. Now that it's cooling down, it's tea or hot coffee, steel cut oats or some kind of an egg. (never just Skittles)

Such a good book, very necessary coffee

All in all, mornings have slowly become my favorite part of the day. Like pushing reset on my brain and getting ready for whatever comes.