Adios Microwave!

Let me start off by saying I love being in my kitchen, cooking and baking. I will love it even more once we start re-doing our kitchen, which is a little lopsided. The cabinet doors are all a little crooked. Some of the drawers require a little encouragement to open and close without sliding off their tracks. The genius who put the kitchen together in the first place opted for white counter tops, which show absolutely everything. Every speck of dust, every drip. Everything. I can't wait for those to go.

We just recently (a few days before Thanksgiving week) got some lovely new appliances, which I have been loving! A new French Door refrigerator (it has a water dispenser in the door! I love it!), new stove (that has a window on the door, AND an oven light! My old stove was really not fancy), and a new dishwasher that is SO quiet that I sometimes wonder if I remembered to turn it on. 

But the one appliance we didn't get? A new microwave. As a matter of fact, we ended up donating our microwave to Goodwill. I never used the darn thing except to make the occasional batch of popcorn or to melt some butter, and you know what? I don't miss it! It freed up a huge amount of counter space, and it prompted me to look up a YouTube video on how to make popcorn on the stove top. 

Let me say, it's totally delicious! I just grab a little saucepan and melt a little butter while the popcorn is popping. You can even get fancy if you want and add some taco seasoning to your popcorn for a little extra flavor. Powdered Ranch dressing mix is pretty tasty, too.

All this to say: I don't miss our microwave at all!

Have you ever considered getting rid of yours? Tell me about it!

Pretty Cheap...

I'm just going to go ahead and tell you the title is totally a pun. This is a post about cheap makeup that's also awesome. Get it? Pretty Cheap. Pretty. Cheap. My co-worker Paul would be laughing right now if he were reading this. He loves a good pun as much as I do.

If you know me, you know I LOVE Target. I think it's great. Maybe it's the fact that I grew up in Canada, where the shopping options are kind of limited, especially if you didn't want to pay a fortune. I love the fact that Target has cute clothes that last a long time, fun home decor stuff, and that their store brand products are pretty darn great.

I had never tried their E.L.F. brand beauty products (eyes, lips, face) until a couple of weeks back when Kevin and I were in Target and this caught my eye:

I love Essie nail polish - they have such cute colors - but at $7 a pop, it's a little pricey. So when I saw this cute little set of 14 nail polishes for $10, I grabbed one. At about 70 cents a bottle, the polish is really nice, the variety of colors is great, and they even have a few glitter polishes in there. 

Anyhow, I was in Target last night picking up a couple things, and popped by the beauty area. I love a nice bright red lipstick, but haven't really been able to find a nice shade that doesn't come off whenever I sip my tea, or eat something, or have it end up on my teeth when I talk (very attractive...). Anyhow, I picked up the E.L.F. Matte Lip Color in Rich Red (below, far right) for $1, and it is fantastic. It goes on smoothly, you don't need a lot, and after a few minutes, it's set! I applied it this morning at around 7:00 and after kissing Kevin on my way out the door, a cup of coffee, two clementines, a few ginger cookies, a bowl of soup, a ginger ale, and a whole lot of talking, it was still in place. The color is awfully pretty, too - just a nice red, not too blue, not too orange. I did apply a few dabs of Smith's Strawberry lip balm mid-morning and mid-afternoon, but it's pretty dry in my office, so you probably won't have that problem. 

So if you're out shopping for Christmas and find yourself at Target, grab a couple of these! So pretty, and so worth the $1 price tag!

Struggling...

Some days you get up and basically cruise through the day like an 80's rock star wearing a leather jacket with a popped collar. Other days you just sort of make it through. 

Today was not an 80's rock star kind of day. I was struggling today in a BIG way.

Kevin and I got back Saturday from being on a fantastic week-long cruise. We had so much fun, and really got a chance to relax (the couples massage really helped....warm vanilla oil, hot stones....what's not to love?). Since we got back though, I've been in a funk. Maybe it's the fact that we were gone for a whole week. Or maybe it's the fact that it was relatively fall-like when we left, but came back to decidedly winter-y temperatures. Maybe it's because it felt like summer everywhere we went, and all of a sudden we were home putting up the Christmas tree. What?

Maybe it's the fact that the minute we got Ruby home from Kevin's parents house, she turned into a total basket case. She was trembling, and when we put her inside to unload the luggage from our car, she bolted and made a very impressive attempt at running away. Picture me sprinting down the street in our neighborhood yelling after her, totally panicked that a car would hit her when she got to the main road. I did catch her, and hauled her unwillingly into the car that Kevin had come after us in. I spent the rest of the evening worrying about her, and trying to coax her to eat french fries from our drive-through Wendy's dinner. Yes, trying to feed them to her. It took a good half hour before she'd even look at the people-food I was begging her to eat. 

All day today I just felt like I was suffering from a huge case of post-vacation depression. What do you mean I have to get up before 6am? Why is there not a fluffy stack of pancakes sitting at the breakfast table waiting for me? 32 degrees outside? Surely you must be joking. Why is our delightful waiter not anticipating my arrival to the dinner table with my preferred wine, and several plates of fresh steamed lobster? I'll have the chocolate melting cake for dessert. What? Make it myself? What is going on? WHERE IS MY PINA COLADA?

On the bright side, I'm starting to get excited about Christmas. Our tree is up and looking lovely (note to self: water Christmas tree so it doesn't look like Charlie Brown's by December 25th), and we had our first glass of eggnog last night (added a little splash of bourbon, and a little sprinkling of nutmeg and cinnamon). Kevin wasn't a huge fan, which just means one thing: more for me. 

Now time to buckle down and get our shopping done!

My Husband

I hope I never lose this feeling of wonder that Kevin is my husband, and that he loves me so much. It's amazing to think how much has happened since we got married, and this coming Tuesday marks our second wedding anniversary. I still remember everything so clearly, from the way he looked when I met him, to how he looked when I married him. I remember the little butterflies I felt when I was getting ready for our first date, and I remember how quickly I felt at ease as we wandered around the Marietta square, eating ice cream (chocolate for me, rainbow sherbet for him) and talking about Quentin Tarantino movies. I remember how quickly I fell in love with him, and how in awe I was of God for being so faithful to me, for hearing my prayers, and for everything that happened in His perfect plan so that Kevin and I found each other.

I'm so grateful for his love for me, and for how strong and kind he is. He challenges me, makes me want to be better, and makes me want to be the best wife I can. He protects me and fights for me. He comforts and encourages me. He makes me laugh every single day, sometimes to the point that I'm afraid I might pee a little from laughing so much.

My husband is the best.

Happy almost-Anniversary Kev!

Big Girl Problems

Do you ever find yourself going about your day, performing some perfectly normal task, when all of a sudden, you realize you're [insert your age here]?

I had that moment the other day. I was in the kitchen in the evening, and I was cleaning up and thinking about a nice dark smoky blue color for our kitchen when we re-do it soon. All of a sudden, I realized "I have a kitchen", which was quickly followed up with the thought "I have a house". I have a house. Kevin and I have a house that we own, and we live in it, and it's ours. Whaaaaat?

I have a house. And I'm married to an awesome guy. He's literally the smartest person I know, besides Sheldon Cooper (and let's face it, Sheldon is fictional, and also irritating). We have a dog who is really adorable, and has mostly stopped chewing stuff up. How did all this happen? Also I can drive. I vividly remember being so young, and thinking that driving seemed like this awesome responsibility, and it just seemed so complicated and stressful. I drive now, and there are days when I drive the whole way home on mental-autopilot, as if it's a habit like brushing my hair or folding laundry - something that you do out of muscle memory. I can drive. When did this happen?

I have a 401K. I always wrinkle my nose a little when I say that. Weird. Having a 401K feels decidedly grown-up, but not in a fun way.

There are perks to being grown up, though. I can rock glitter nail polish with grown-up outfits. Pretty high heels are super fun. Being at the grocery store and just having the realization that you could just fill your cart with Pilsbury Cinnamon Buns, SmartFood popcorn, and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese if you wanted to. You don't, but the knowledge that you could is pretty fun if you think about it. Realizing that people telling you what to do has been replaced with people giving you advice, which you can decide whether or not to take. Bourbon is a fun grown-up thing, too, especially if it's splashed into ginger ale. Did you run out of ginger ale to go with your bourbon? That's a big girl problem.

I think all of this getting older just blows my mind because in a lot of ways, I still feel like the 9-year-old version of myself. Still 9, still really into Barbie dolls and Disney movies, dreaming of someday owning a horse, and reading Anne of Green Gables and Little Women over and over and over again.

Some things don't change. I still love feeling cozy, and hanging around the house with pajamas and fluffy socks on. I still love a good cup of tea with honey in it. I still daydream sometimes that I'll have a horse someday (or at least ride a horse someday, preferably one that isn't super-pregnant and trying to bite me while I ride it). I still read Anne of Green Gables and Little Women at least once a year. I think I might like Disney movies more now than when I was 9.

Still, though, it's a good life, it just goes by so dang quickly! I really really need to slow down a little and enjoy it more, because before we know it, we'll be older, and maybe have a little one, and life will go by faster and faster and then I'll be 60. I'm sure more things will happen between the age of 27 and 60, but given how fast life has been flying by lately, I wouldn't be surprised if it just feels like I blink, and I'm there, scooting along in a walker and grumbling about those kids on my lawn with their new-fangled contraptions and how everything was simpler back in my day when we had Hulu and Steve Jobs was still alive.

Here's to slowing down a little (or a lot) and enjoying the things in life that really matter.

Tea for one...

Sometimes I have great weeks. Sometimes my days go by like I'm in some kind of romantic comedy, where there's a montage of the female main character getting ready in the morning with a peppy song playing.

This week wasn't one of those weeks for me. 

For whatever reason, I just felt like everything was happening out of my control. Not to say that I'm ever in control of what's happening, but there are times when I feel like I have a better handle on things. I always know that God is in control, but this week was just rough for a few reasons, and I couldn't seem to keep my traction. 

Still, though, I managed to take comfort in the little things. 

I finally got a kettle for my office at work, so I've been indulging in multiple deliciously hot cups of tea throughout the day. Just a quick little moment for myself. Little sips of Lady Grey, Orange Pekoe, and Berryblossom White. 

Another nice thing about this week? We got our pictures back from Robert and Tiffany of Rustic White Photography. They did our lovely engagement and wedding pictures, and we love the ones they took of us a few weeks back...

I can't get over how happy Ruby looks in that picture - she's the furry little center of attention, and she's eatin' it up! Robert and Tiffany were so good with her, but she definitely didn't make it easy. Despite a good afternoon romp at the dog park, she was still pretty wired, and seemed totally intent on smelling every square inch of that big grassy field. She also nearly ripped my arm out of its socket chasing after a chipmunk. Good thing she's cute. 

Isn't my husband so darn handsome? I can't even stand it. He looks like a American Eagle model or something. 

Family shot!

Anyway, that's all I have to say for today. Next up will be a post about politics that people will either love, hate, or ignore (which would be fair considering I have some strong views on the election that's coming up, even though I ironically haven't applied for my citizenship yet, and am unable to vote). 

Have a good Friday night!

Funkytown

Okay, that might qualify as the lamest possible blog post title ever. Suffice to say I've been in a bit of a funk the past couple weeks. My poor husband has been sweetly putting up with my sarcasm, but I've GOT to get out of this mood!

I'm not sure what the culprit is. Is it the weather? Surely not - I've been looking forward to fall since the first sweltering day of summer. I'm actually loving the cool crisp temperature that greeted me when I left the house this morning. 

Is it my diet? Maybe....I've been stressed lately, and I've been sick, and both of those contributed to a less-than-stellar stretch of eating habits. Crackers. Ice cream. Mashed potatoes yesterday for Thanksgiving. Disaster. 

Maybe it's just busy-ness. That could totally be it. With the crazy back issues I had been having (you can read about it here) I've been going to a chiropractor at least three times a week for adjustments. I remember sitting in the chiropractor's office when they told me they were going to recommend at least three adjustments per week, and I also remember thinking "I have to drive all the way out here THREE TIMES A WEEK?". I think that thought was quickly followed with "okay, well I guess I will have to make that work so I can start feeling better". And for the most part, I have. Some days of the week I get up super early before work to go to the chiropractor, and I make it to work before anybody else even gets there. Other days, I leave work an hour early so I can go get adjusted. The exciting thing? I've been feeling LOADS better, I can move around, bend over, and sit comfortably on the couch without the crazy nagging back pain that was literally causing me to have to lay down mid-day. The down-side? I think I'm starting to get worn out from all the extra running around. 

It might seem like a small thing, but with all the busy-ness I've been experiencing at work, plus the busy-ness of the weekends, I'm starting to feel VERY ready for a vacation. Luckily, I only have to wait a few more weeks. In just 40 little days, Kevin and I will be headed down to Florida to hop on a cruise ship for a week. I will get on that ship, put on something outrageously comfortable, ask server for a fancy umbrella drink with extra cherries, and begin a week of bliss...

Chicken soup and flag pajamas....

I am sick. It all started Friday when I woke up with a suspiciously sore throat, upon which I leashed a full assault of extra vitamins, loads of water, and three Airborne tablets dissolved in about a gallon of orange juice (which prompted me in the late afternoon to Google "vitamin C" overdose...don't worry, it's not a thing). After that vitamin freakout, I went to bed on Friday night confident that I had totally kicked the butt of whatever virus was trying to worm its way around my immune system. I woke up Saturday morning to the sad sad realization that I had failed. Sore throat. Bummer.

I told myself it was just allergies or something, which might have had something to do with the Farewell party we were having for very close family friends. I made a peach salad with blue cheese, walnuts, and balsamic dressing, and sat around the pool pretending I was feeling totally awesome.

Sunday I woke up and decided to just give into the misery. I spent the entire day on the couch with the exception of about 20 minutes where I whipped up a batch of home made chicken noodle soup (note for future - next time make big batch of soup sans noodles, and just heat up small batches adding noodles each time to avoid sad mushy noodles). The rest of the day was spent under a pile of blankets on the couch watching (and sort of feeling like) The Walking Dead.

I did, however, go to work today. Yeah, I'm that girl. Don't worry, I Lysol-ed every surface of the office twice throughout the day. I'm going to crawl under a pile of blankets now, and pray that by morning I can stop coughing, and that my glands stop resembling Frankenstein neck bolts.

Currently...

Lately, it's been crazy. It's been a busy few weeks, and I'm pretty sure it's going to stay that way for a while now. There's 52 more days to go until we leave for our cruise, and I can't wait!

In the mean time, though, I've been trying to get back in the habit of watching less TV, and so far so good! I've started reading Andy Stanley's book, Enemies of the Heart, and it's really been teaching me things about some of the anger I've been carrying around in my heart for years now. It's funny when you read a book like this, and you feel like the author (in this case, he's actually our pastor as well) just sort of reaches out through the pages and points to something in your past and says "this is something you need to work on". Crazy.  

I've also started reading Anna Karenina, which is fantastic. A few years ago, I got a pretty substantial tax refund back, and I used part of it to go on a bit of a book-buying spree. This was one of the books that I bought, partially because I'd always heard good things, and partially because I always wanted to say that I've read Tolstoy. All it took was hearing that they're making a movie out of it, and I decided now is the time to read the book. I always hate seeing a movie before reading the story that it's based on! I'm loving how richly Tolstoy describes his characters, and I can't wait for the story to unfold further.  I can't wait to find out what happens between Levin and Kitty, and find out if Stiva and Dolly reconcile. I'm not quite to the part where Anna arrives from St. Petersburg....

Also lately, Kevin and I have been playing games a couple nights a week. So far we're on a pretty big Phase 10 kick - I taught him to play last week, and he's quickly getting pretty good at it. It's a game I've always played with my mom's side of the family, so it has a special place in my heart, and I'm glad it's something we can enjoy together!

Last Saturday my mom and I went out so I could get some of our Christmas shopping done. I'm happy to say I've tackled about 2/3 of the presents that will need to be sent up to Canada! While we were in the mall, I peeked in a shoe store to try on the new Tom's wedge boots, and man are they comfortable! They're officially on my Christmas list....in a size 8 1/2...in gray...although I'm sure Santa knows that....

Sometimes

Sometimes, on mornings when I go to the chiropractor at 7am, it makes me really happy to see the sunrise, especially if there are fluffy clouds with the light peeking through.

Sometimes I simultaneously drink super-hot Lady Grey tea with a drizzle of honey, along with a big bottle of super-cold water. I feel like it gives my metabolism a workout, although I'm sure it just all ends up in my stomach together at a lukewarm temperature.

Sometimes I like to just sit and contemplate things.

Sometimes I like to just indulge my imagination and contemplate where we could be in 10 years. There are so many possibilities, it's hard not to get excited!

Sometimes I just want to bake all day.

Sometimes I like to plan things in my head waaaaay before it's time. Right now I'm planning for Christmas. I am aware that it's September, but time is a stealth ninja that creeps up on you, and before you know it, it will be Christmas 2014.

Sometimes I just wish it would snow more where we live. I wish I could just sit inside with snow piling up outside while I cozy up with a quilt and a cup of tea and read a Jane Austen book and talk fancy for the rest of the day.

Sometimes I wish I could just scoot Georgia up next to Ontario, so I could see my family more often. I get a little homesick for them whenever I talk to them. I realized this for the billionth time last night when I was talking to my uncle on his birthday.

Sometimes I wish the work week was just Monday and Friday. I just like the new-ness of Monday, and the wrapping-up-ness of Friday.

Sometimes all I want is a bowl of spaghetti with loads of capers, sardines, and nice olive oil with parmesan cheese. Yum!

So fresh and so clean...

I used to have a coworker who used to bust out his own version of that Outkast song all the time. I secretly love it.

But I'm not talking about music here, I'm talking about FOOD. Let's be real, I am usually talking about food.

Being back on my low-carb jam has felt GOOD, I can't even tell you. And for whatever reason over the course of the past couple of months, my desire to eat meat has been almost zero. I've never been big into chicken or pork, although I do enjoy the occasional piece of nice beef. Some days I have just found myself craving loads of veggies. Wednesday, for example, I ran down to the on-campus farmers market and picked up a beautiful bag of green beans for a couple dollars (King of Pops was also there, and I indulged in a pear ginger popsicle - yum!). I got home that night and threw together an admittedly strange combination for dinner - sauteed green beans (I added garlic to mine) with a fried egg, some pistachios, and a little piece of gouda cheese. So good!

Thursday I snacked on ice cold water, cucumber slices, a nice brussels sprouts salad I tossed together that morning, and a few more of my yummy pistachios! My mid-afternoon how-do-I-get-past-this-2:30-feeling snack was a couple of Babybel cheeses. Hooray!

I know there are actually "clean eating" type diets out there, and I'm sure that what I've been eating doesn't quite follow that program, but I am eating things that just make me feel light and healthy. And at this rate, maybe I will end up looking cute in a swimsuit just in time for our Thanksgiving week cruise, and for long after!

It's time...

It's time. I'm ready.

About a year ago, I started blogging about how I was going to give the low-carb lifestyle a go. To be honest, I was mostly motivated by my sweet husband, who had read How We Get Fat, And What To Do About It, and decided it was the way he was going to get in shape and get healthy. I read a little of the book, and was pretty convinced of the truth behind carbs and why they're bad for you. I decided to join him in his low-carb efforts, and we started eating differently, experimenting with new ingredients, and watching our weight go down. 

My heart wasn't really in it all the way, though. Despite the fact that I did pretty well when I was at home, I always struggle with staying on track during the day when I'm at work. I work in a wonderful office that, unfortunately, is a veritable obstacle course of temptation when it comes to food. Fruit snacks. Granola bars. Donuts. Ice cream. I'm a person who has always said "I just like food SO much!". 

Lately, though, my thinking has changed. Maybe it's from reading Danielle's blog. Maybe it's from checking out Lindsay's pins on Pinterest. It could also be that I've been checking out the cute work-out clothes at lululemon. Either way, I'm feeling more ready than ever. 

I've just had to change my mentality. Do I like food? Sure I do! Am I letting myself use my love of food as an excuse to eat what I shouldn't? Absolutely. What if I were a smoker who refused to quit because "I just love to smoke"? That would be insane.  I know that eating certain things is bad for my body, so continuing to eat them is almost like saying "well, I'd like to feel good, but I'd rather eat this donut". Nonsense. 

The truth is, when I was eating a 'clean' diet, and enjoying a low-carb lifestyle, I felt better. It's hard to describe, but my insides just felt clean. I felt more awake, more alert, more positive. 

It's time. I'm ready. 

Just like Frasier...

Okay, lately Kevin and I have been on a huge Frasier kick. We started on the first episode a couple weeks ago, and just last night we arrived at the end of the seventh season when Daphne and Niles finally get together (jeez...took em' long enough!). That's not actually what this post is about, but it's necessary background information.

One of the things that makes the show so funny, obviously, is when Frasier gets himself in to these crazy situations where all of his efforts just proceed to make everything ten times worse. It makes Kevin a little crazy, but it's hilarious. It got me thinking about how I'm like that sometimes...

I feel like I'm pretty personable. I like to think I'm funny, albeit a little sarcastic, and I feel like I can get along with just about anyone. But sometimes I encounter people who, when I'm around them, seem to draw out this crazy awkward side of myself. My brain fumbles. I say dumb dumb things, and then say more dumb things in an effort to right the situation. I turn ridiculous. Honestly, these are the kinds of people that I usually don't end up getting along with, and it's not because either of us are bad people, it's just that we're different.

I wonder sometimes whether these types of situations stem from a bad first impression, or if there's just some personality traits that just don't mesh well together? Has anyone else experienced this?

Stressed for the Occasion....

A little while back, Kevin and I watched the animated Chicken Little. It's precious, and I love Zach Braff as the voice of Chicken Little. My favorite character, though, was Runt. He's a pig, and he just generally spends the whole movie freaking out.

I guess I relate to Runt a little. Not that I'm constantly running around outwardly freaking out, but I am constantly running around freaking out on the inside.

Lately, with all the issues that I've been having with my back, I've been working on different things to do to relax....

Epsom salt baths...there are a lot of interesting scented blends that you can get from the grocery store or pharmacy. Publix has a nice mint & eucalyptus blend, and I got some nice lavender scented epsom salt from Walgreen's.

Quality time... I just like to spend time with Kevin. Whether it's our little morning chats in bed after the alarm goes off in the morning, or just hanging out in the evening reading, taking the dog for a walk, or watching something funny together, I feel most re-charged when I've had some quality time with my favorite guy.

Unplugging...last weekend, Kevin helped me switch the settings on my iPhone so that whenever I get an email, it doesn't flash on the screen, or show up on my lock screen. It sounds like a small thing, but I had become so obsessed with checking my email as soon as I saw I had a new one. Since I switched my settings, I've just found myself feeling more relaxed. I still keep my phone with me, but it's nice to be free of the distraction of emails coming through at all hours of day and night, and just checking them when I intend to.

Candles...I know it seems cliche to crawl into the tub with lit candles flickering in the background, but there is something about lighting a few candles that just makes me feel like I'm preparing to relax.

Clean slate...I spend plenty of time during the day thinking about all kinds of things, over-thinking all kinds of things. I like to settle into a warm scented bath and just let my mind go blank.

Watching a favorite movie...Pride & Prejudice is one of my favorites, but sometimes I just look for a good comedy. Oddly, I like to see movies I've already seen before. I just like knowing what's going to happen next.

So what do you do to relax? Yoga? Going for a long jog?

Weekend Links! Hooray!

It's Monday. Seriously. After a truly crazy (and awesome) week at work, I was so ready to relax this past weekend. Caught up on my Netflix. Took a few nice hot baths, and caught up on some nerdy podcasts. Made a lanyard for my keys since I keep losing them in my purse. Tried a few crazy home remedies to shake the rest of this aggravating cold. Here's some weekend link love (even though technically the weekend is over...)

If I weren't trying really hard to be back on the low-carb bandwagon, I would totally make these cookies. Joy the Baker is such a temptress. You should make them and tell me about it...

This sweater is super adorable, I love the big pink heart on the front of it. I'm SO ready for fall to come, so I can wear cute layers and run errands on campus without sweating to death.

These wedges from Toms. How cute are they in gray? Christmas is coming, maybe Santa will surprise me.

There's something so rustic and pretty about these Weck jars. Best part is that I could stash the lids and clamps and just use the jars themselves for drinking out of. Someone teach me how to make jam please?

Someday, I will raise big beautiful chickens, and they'll have a nice coop that looks like this. I will name my chickens after classic rock musicians, starting with Joey, Johnny, and DeeDee.

I love Dani's post from yesterday - so sweet and so true.

I make eggs a lot. I make them a lot for dinner when I'm too exhausted to think about cooking anything else. I think this recipe will help. .

I cannot WAIT for the weather to get cooler so I can cozy up under a blanket and try this. It has so many things I like. Bourbon? Yes. Maple? Yes.

Also this adult beverage would go down a treat after a week like this.

I hope y'all had a good weekend!

It's beginning to look a lot like...August...

I know this is premature. Trust me, I know half of you out there are thinking "is she crazy? a post about Christmas?". It's not even labor day. Seriously.

I just LOVE the whole Christmas season...it gets chilly outside, and the cold air makes everything quiet. We cuddle up inside and watch "It's A Wonderful Life" with a cool glass of eggnog sprinkled with nutmeg. I enjoy a couple of weeks off work, during which I bake an obscene amount of ginger cookies, sit around the house in cozy clothes staring at the Christmas tree and listening to the "Christmas Time Is Here" song from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. Am I the only person who gets weirdly emotional listening to that song? Maybe it's the fact that it's in a minor key or something, but it gets me every time.

Last year, Kevin and I went out on our annual Christmas Tree trip to Home Depot, and he lovingly and patiently pulled out dozens of trees and "fluffed them" so I could determine if they were good enough or not. We went home, and put up the tree while watching Elf, and enjoyed the scent of the pine tree filling up the living room while Ruby watched from her bed, happily squeaking her stuffed blue dog. I can't wait to do this again this year...

I love how quiet and cozy the season feels...the peace of Christmas morning, sitting together in the morning and sipping coffee with cinnamon, waiting for my parents to arrive with a big plate of my mom's delicious raisin scones. Waiting with anticipation when I step outside and I can just smell the potential for snow in the air.

So I'm excited for Christmas, even if it is just August...

Dear Teenage Self....

A Letter to myself when I was sixteen...


Dear Me,

There are literally SO many things I want to tell you, it's hard to know where to start. You've just celebrated your sixteenth birthday. You rocked that white tank top and the orange hawaiian print skort, just own it. You rented Picture Perfect on VHS (ps: by the time you graduate high school, VHS will not really be a thing anymore), and you ate cake and opened presents and talked about boys. Right now you're thinking "wow, this is what it feels like to be grown up". You'll actually have that feeling all over again when you're in your mid-twenties. Don't stress about it. Go eat a box of Twinkies and do something irresponsible (it's okay, we both know you won't).

The Backstreet Boys will not always be cool. Eventually they'll get old and have wrinkles, and let's be honest, you never really liked them that much to begin with. Stay loyal to Paul McCartney, he'll never lose his awesome-status, I promise.

That guy you're crazy about right now? You won't actually marry him like you think you will. You won't marry the guy you go out with after him, either. But it's fine - trust me. There's a tall handsome blonde guy named Kevin in high school in Georgia right now - he's funny, smart, and adorably nerdy. He plays clarinet in the marching band, and you will fall crazy in love with him when you're 25 and living in Atlanta. Oh yeah...you'll be living in Atlanta. Don't worry about it, it'll all work out. But this guy will be the best thing that has ever happened to you, and you'll enjoy yourself SO much on your first date that you will be out way past midnight, and will not hear the multiple panicked calls from your dad asking where you are.

Listen to your conscience. In high school there will be a guy who gets bullied a lot by the more popular guys. You will spend a lot of time as an adult regretting the fact that you never really did anything bold to stick up for him. Just do it. You'll feel dumb in the moment, but I promise you'll feel good about it well into your mid-twenties.

You will go to college. You won't finish. It won't be the end of your life, so don't beat yourself up so much about it. You'll get on track, just listen to mom and dad. They know what they're talking about, and when you're older, you'll be incredibly thankful for them every day.

You're not a bad cook, so don't listen to anybody who tells you that you are. Someday you will make roasted lamb with rosemary and cracked pepper with sautéed broccolini and fingerling potatoes, and you will have a sense of culinary accomplishment that will spark a love of food. Go with it.

You'll have hard times. Roll with it, and take time to focus in on who you really are. I promise by the time you're in your mid-twenties, everything will be in better perspective.

xo

Your 27-year-old self...

If you really knew me....

I've seen a few bloggers do this post lately, and thought it was fun. A lot of days, it's easy to post an awesome salad recipe, talk about shoes, or just not blog at all. I thought this would be a fun way to get a little more personal.

If you really knew me....

You'd know that I am one heck of an introvert, but I can be dragged out of my shell pretty easily. On the surface, I rely on a quick wit and a deep vein of sarcasm, but deep down I like to watch people. Observe. Reflect.

You'd know that I need my 'me time'. My husband knows this (bless him) and puts up with me when I get moody. Sometimes I just get in this state like Melville when "...I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul..then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can". Sometimes I just go grocery shopping by myself, or retreat to the little office/studio we have in our cozy townhouse to play with fabric for an hour or so.

You'd know I have my grandma's toes. Not literally, I don't actually own her toes. But my toes are JUST like hers. We have twin feet.

You'd know that I don't like to go around with my nails un-painted, and it's even worse when they're painted but chipping. I think when I'm going about my day and I stop to think for a minute, I find myself running my fingers over the glossy smooth enamel on my nails. I don't consider myself too girly, but I like to indulge in a fresh coat of nail polish every day or two.

You'd know that there are a lot of things about me that you wouldn't guess based on my demeanor or the way I dress. I like science fiction, would love to learn to ride a motorcycle sometime soon, and sometimes dream about moving to a big wide open place like Montana where the stars are clear at night.

You'd know that I am not ambitious in the traditional sense. A lot of people around me are very career focused, with their focus on the next big promotion, the next graduate degree, climbing the ladder. I've never been that way, and I wonder if I ever will be. I prefer to make my own goals. Be the best wife I can. Keep pursuing God every day. Stay connected to my family the best I can. Keep a comfortable and happy home for Kevin and Ruby and I. These might not be the kind of ambitions that will result in diplomas on the wall, but I feel like at the end of my life, I'll look back on these things and be proud.

A Need for Comfort

Some days are for fussy dresses, high heels, and daring shades of lipstick. Other days are for comfort.

I've been having some back issues lately. That little lumbar C5 vertebrae of mine has me desperate to find a comfortable position. So far, sitting, standing, and laying down don't seem to be comfortable positions. I haven't tried hanging upside down yet, but I have a feeling that's out, too...

With that in mind, I've been SERIOUSLY into comfort. Tea. Oatmeal with raisins for breakfast. Work clothes that look professional but feel like pajamas. Since I skipped my Friday Favorites this week, I thought I'd do a Monday version today, focused exclusively on COMFORT items....

These super-cute pajamas would be comfy to wear as I sit propped up by half a dozen pillows watching Netflix.

Frasier is such a great show - major flashbacks to the 90's

Bubble bath that smells like Fudge Cake? I'm in....

Organic Ginger Pear Green Tea? Yes please....

This sweet crochet pattern is so sweet - so cozy for fall!

I'm open to suggestions, both for things that are comfortable, and remedies for back pain.....

Off My Game...

I am off my game this week. I've actually been off my game for two weeks. It turns out my back is on a  mission to make it impossible for me to get comfortable, whether I'm sitting, standing, laying down, or jumping on a trampoline. I'm exaggerating about it being uncomfortable to jump on a trampoline. I haven't actually tried that, but I feel like it's a safe assumption.

Apparently one of my vertebrae (which is a word I will never ever ever be able to spell properly) is narrowing or something. Whatever that means. Let's just say it's bad news. Impossible to get comfortable, except for at night when I get to take this interesting yellow pill that makes me sleep like a dead person and makes my muscles relax.

Wish me luck!

Real Life

I like to write on here about real life. I feel like a lot of blogs, and even posts here on Ruby Tuesday, tend to show the nice side of life, where everything looks good, the lighting is just right, and I've proofread everything before hitting 'publish'. But some days, real life just takes over, and sometimes I just need to LET IT take over. This happens a lot on Mondays. Mondays are just real. 


Sometimes you are a few feet from walking into the office, when you magically trip over your own sandal, and spill your delicious cappuccino down the front of your dress. That's real life. Frantically trying to rinse out the front of your dress in the office bathroom is also real life.

Sometimes you freak out for no reason, and feel dumb about it five minutes later. That's real life, too.

Sometimes you get up early on a Saturday morning and take the dog out wearing your husband's Harrison High School t-shirt and a pair over-sized American flag pajama pants with a pair of Birkenstocks, and tell yourself nobody will see you because it's early.

Sometimes you run out of the bathroom at work before getting a few steps and realizing that the back of your dress is stuck in the back of your underwear. In that moment, you're really glad nobody else is in the office.

Sometimes you stress out because you just realized that you've lived in Atlanta for almost 7 years, and you don't have as many friends as you thought you would by now. Then you read an article like this, and you don't feel so lame. Seriously. Real life.

What happened to you today that was a real life moment? We all have em' - might as well be in it together!

Dress to Impress for Less...

Okay, readers, who doesn't love opening your closet in the morning to get dressed, and having a lot of options to choose from? Everybody loves that! Duh! It's even MORE fun when you realized that you got a lot of your clothes for a real deal.

I have a ton of memories growing up of following my mom begrudgingly through department stores, where she'd dig through big piles and racks of clearance-priced clothes. I've seen her walk out of the house in the morning wearing super-cute outfits that cost her less than $10, and that includes the top, pants, and shoes. Crazy. I used to hate shopping like that, because it was SO time-consuming, and I would rather be at home reading a Nancy Drew book.

Lately, though, I've come to appreciate the shopping skills that I reluctantly picked up from her. I've tweaked her system a little, and thought I'd share some tips on how to get cute, trendy clothes, and pay WAY less!

Online shopping is your friend...
Some people aren't really big fans of online shopping, and until recently, I was one of them. "What if it doesn't fit?" "But it'll be a hassle to return if it's not right" "How will I know if it looks cute?".

Here's what I do:
- Head over to my favorite store (one of my favorites lately is Old Navy)
- Try on whatever strikes my fancy, taking note of fit, color, how it would go with other pieces in my wardrobe, etc.
- Pull up the store's website on my smartphone, and add items that I really like to my shopping cart (stores like Gap, Target, and Old Navy will actually save your shopping cart, even when you log out!)
- Now that I've saved a couple items in my online shopping cart, I can take a peek once a week or so, and check to see if any of my favorites are on sale, or even on clearance!

The benefit to this is that I actually try the clothes on, and see what works (and what doesn't!). A couple weeks ago I went into Old Navy and did this with some sweet retro-style capri pants. I wanted them in black and in bright pink, so I added them to my online shopping cart, and within a week and a half, they had gone from $30/pair down to $10/pair. Also, since I have shopped online before, I get emails with coupons. Suddenly I was also getting 20% off each pair, bringing my total to $16 for both pairs! How can you beat that!

Sign up for email newsletters...
Yes, these can be annoying, but they can also lead you to some really great sales! I recently walked out of a store with almost $160 worth in clothing, but I paid less than $40. This was as a result of an email I received about a sale, paired with an email coupon, paired with some great clearance sale shopping!

The clearance rack can be scary, just stay in the zone...
As I mentioned before, I used to hate the clearance rack. It's true, it can be really picked over sometimes, and there can be cute shirts with crazy makeup stains on them, but you can find some diamonds in there! A few months back I was eyeing an army-green silk skirt, but put it back when I realized it was $32. Fast forward a month, and that same skirt was on sale for $7! How can you beat that?

Pay attention to clearance priced items...
Clearance sections can be a mess! On a recent shopping trip, I found a super cute retro style Wonder Woman t-shirt in the clearance section. At $11, I wasn't dying to have it. Upon a little further digging in the HUGE pile of t-shirts in the section, I found the exact same shirt in a different size, but it was only $1.25! I brought both to the cashier, and he honored the lower price.

Do you have any great tips for getting a great deal while shopping? I'd love to hear about it!

Friday Favorites

Just a few things that I'm loving this week!

This article about why you should fear Canada. As a Canadian I find this hilarious and awesome.

These adorable capri pants from Old Navy - I already have them in the Burnt Ochre color, and ordered the black and raspberry ones this morning (when I realized they went on sale for $10 per pair, AND I had a 20% off coupon! Bargain!). More on this when I do a Bargain Shopping post this weekend!

This sweet shirt (can you tell I'm on an Old Navy kick?). I might have to wait for this one to be on clearance for a little longer, then I can pick it up for a song, and wear it on the cruise in November!

Breakfast Nachos? Yes please!

This makes me want to try Sweetbread REALLY badly.

These Sticky Balsamic Glazed Ribs look amazing. Nom dot com.

Confessions and Comfort

My morning is off to a rough start. I seriously messed up my back yesterday. How did I do it? I looked at a box and thought "that doesn't really look so heavy". I proceeded to pick up that box, and feel an incredibly uncomfortable twinge in my back. Not good.

So what am I going to do to give myself a little comfort as I go throughout my day?

- Wear a skirt to work that is essentially sweatpants in skirt form. It's black. You can't tell, I promise. Also, I got it for $7 at Old Navy. So comfortable!

- Sip a nice warm President's Choice cappuccino on my way into work.

- Advil. Lots of Advil.

- Use a huge overstuffed pillow to support my back in my desk chair.

- Treat myself to lunch with my sweet husband - tuna lettuce wrap at Jimmy John's!

- Wrap up the day by having some nice dinner with Kevin, laying down on the couch and watching 30 Rock while sipping a little bit of grapefruit G&T!


We all have days that are less than great, and the ones that start off rough are even worse. Sometimes you just need to do some little things for yourself that give you a little comfort throughout the day.  Bonus points if you find a couple minutes in the morning to make a list (like I did) so you have a little "being nice to myself" checklist!


Have a great day!

"It's My Favorite" Vol. 1

Hello lovely readers! Today marks the start of a very special new weekly feature here at Reading Ruby Tuesday, and I am SO excited about it! I am such a sentimental person, and I know first-hand how some of your favorite things can hold incredible stories, and give some sweet insight into peoples lives. Be sure to check back every Tuesday for a new story, and if you'd like to be featured, email me at dianakinnett@gmail.com! 


Our first interview comes from the lovely Kendal. It's hard to believe (*gulp*) that it's been about sixteen years since we became friends in Mrs. Lee's 5th grade class. After following Kendal's sweet blog, seeing her beautifully curated Danforth Village home, and enjoying her obvious soft spot for literature and all things vintage, I knew she'd have a great story for Volume 1! I hope you enjoy....

My name is Kendal Gerard and I blog about improvements to my tiny East End Toronto house at www.littlebungalow.net

1 - What is your favorite thing? 

It was really hard to choose one thing as my all-time "favourite" -- but I love the photograph that hangs in my foyer of Marks & Co. bookshop, which used to be located at 84 Charing Cross Road in London, England. This photograph is featured on the cover of a 2002 edition of my favourite book, 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff, which was first published in the 1970s. The bookshop is no longer around (there's now a restaurant in that location), but lots of other dusty bookstores still line this street in London, which is a joy to explore with a coffee in hand.

2 - What makes it your favorite? 

I suppose the reasons are threefold: the photograph is a connection to my favourite book, it's a reminder of the wonderful months I spent in and around London, and it's hands down the most thoughtful gift I've ever been given!

3 - How did it become yours? 

When my husband and I first met in 2006, we read each other's favourite books in order to get to know each other better. I read The Perfect Mile and The Old Man and the Sea, and I forced 84 on him. So right from the beginning he knew this book was important to me -- so important I wouldn't even lend him one of my many copies (just in case we didn't work out and I never saw my book again!) One of the editions that I had in my library was a 2002 trade paperback edition that featured a photograph of the old bookshop taken by an Australian on the cover. For my 22nd birthday in 2007, my then-boyfriend took it upon himself to track down the owner of the original photograph and purchase the rights to reprint it. He even had it framed in museum glass so it would never fade in the sunlight. I was completely floored when I opened it!

4 - Is there any special story behind it? 

In 2005 I was lucky enough to complete a semester of my undergrad degree in a castle-cum-university just outside of London. I took an English Lit course called "Literature and Place," in which we read poems, short stories, and novels that all featured London in a big way -- Mrs. Dalloway, Oliver Twist, etc. Then, we'd take field trips to explore the streets (and alleys and fields and landmarks) described in the literature. We didn't read 84 Charing Cross Road in this class, but when I returned home to Kingston I was still so enamoured with my time in London that I sought out similar books. That's how I came across 84, which is a collection of the real letters mailed over a 20-year friendship between a bookseller in London and a writer in New York. I fell in love with the story and I started collecting different editions of the book as I came across them in flea markets and used bookstores. My husband took it one step further and, well...see Question 3. 

And the winner is.....

You might have been wondering why I didn't do the drawing for the purse giveaway on Friday. Why didn't I? Crazy busy week....but here goes!

The winner of the one-of-a-kind personally designed and stitched clutch purse is.....

CHRISTINA JANEK! 

Congrats, Christina! Just email me at dianakinnett@gmail.com with your address, and I'll put it in the mail for you!

Put a Record On

It's summer. To me that means warm summer days on the back porch reading and flipping through magazines. Evenings cooling off at the pool. Peaches. Cicada bugs buzzing in the trees.

It also means MUSIC. Not that I don't enjoy my music in the fall, winter, and spring. But summer is when I really need my tunes in the car when I'm driving around! I thought I'd share a few of my faves for those of you whose car stereos or iPhones or iPods need a little re-vamp!

Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson's The Breakup: Scar Jo's voice is dreamy, and I really dig Pete Yorn's sound....

AC/DC's Back in Black: classic, and the louder it is, the better it sounds.....

Ben Harper & The Relentless 7 White Lies for Dark Times

Matchbox Twenty More Than You Think You Are: I know. Throwback, right? I vividly recall listening to this album on my discman in high school. My best friend Diana took me to the Matchbox Twenty concert when my first boyfriend broke up with me. Memories. 

These are just a few of the albums rolling around in my car now. What are YOUR favorites right now?

Brussels Sprouts Salad like WHOA

I know what you're thinking. Brussels Sprouts Salad like WHOA? Why the WHOA?

Because you will make this, and you'll take the first bite and say "WHOA". It will happen. I'm just saying.

Olive oil, cider vinegar, tangy dijon mustard, parmesan cheese. It's totally good for you. AND it's totally delicious. Also vegetarian. I'm just sayin'.

Recipe adapted from Shutterbean

• 24 Brussels sprouts, shredded and rinsed
• 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, finely grated 
• 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
• 9 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons apple cinder vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• salt & pepper to taste

Add olive oil, mustard, cider vinegar, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper to mason jar. Seal tightly, and shake vigorously until combined. 

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Add parmesan cheese and sesame seeds. Toss till combined. 

Enjoy!

Keep Calm...

It's funny how no matter where you work, the time of the year that's most busy varies like crazy! When I worked in commercial lighting, January was crazy-town. In the on-campus Residence Life world? June and July are the time when you buckle your seat belt and hang on till September!

Between that, and being crazy busy at home during the evenings and on weekends, I've experienced many a moment when I need to just stop what I'm doing, get up, and put on a kettle of water to boil for tea. I think I come by that urge very naturally. I remember many an occasion where things just weren't going properly, and my mom would ask if I'd like a cup of tea.

I don't always handle stress with the poised perfection I'd like to, but who does? Kevin can attest to that. He has a particularly hilarious (in hindsight) iPhone video of me sitting at my parents kitchen table the day before our wedding, frantically wiring together corsages for the grandparents. The look on my face is pure panic, and I distinctly remember thinking that every second ticking by was one less second that I could be using to put corsages together. There's a possibility that I also have a coworker who regularly tells me I need to stop stressing out about everything. There's a possibility that I'm right.

So how do you handle stress? Prayer? Deep breathing? Yoga? Witty banter with your coworker across the hallway? I want to hear all about it! Hit the comments below!

AND don't forget to check out my post on summer beverages and a GIVEAWAY for a chance to win this sweet little number below!

xo Diana

Summer Beverages (and a GIVEAWAY!)

Man, we have been BUSY. Seriously. When did we get this busy? Monday through Friday turn into a blur of work, evening meals, and sporadic loads of laundry (usually when we're totally out of underwear). Then the weekend comes, and we're busy with all the things we're not busy with during the week. Crazy.

I'm SO glad it's summer though! I love sitting on our back patio with a cool drink, watching the dog soak up the sun, and flipping through a magazine or reading a book on my Kindle. I've actually been coming across some delicious drink recipes (both boozy, and otherwise) that I can't wait to try out! And with a little garden full of rosemary, mint, and lavender, things are about to get interesting! Here are a few of the recipes I'm dying to try: 

Kiwifruit Caipirosca - yum! Kiwi!

Watermelon Cucumber Cooler - watermelon and cucumber? Sounds refreshing - count me in!

The Bees Knees - anything with honey in it is a winner in my book!

Boozy Frozen Peach Pops - I've always loved a good frozen treat - add some peaches, cointreau, and some vodka, and it's a party!

Here comes the GIVEAWAY! What's YOUR favorite summer beverage (be it adult or otherwise!). Leave your favorite in the comments section below, along with the recipe (or link to the recipe if you have it) and you'll be entered into a giveaway to win this sweet little clutch purse from my shop, The Brass Bell Stitchery. I will be announcing the winner (random number selection) this coming Friday. You can enter as many times as you like (as long as it's with different recipes!). Happy posting!!

Twenty-Seven

So, I'm almost 27. It's kind of a big deal. Well, it's kind of a big deal in my mind.

So today's post will be a collection of 27 things. Things about me. Things about the past 27 years. Things about food. Some general over-sharing. Enjoy....

1) 1985. I was born.
As soon as I typed this I immediately had an auditory memory of Olivia De Havilland reading the exact same thing (except for the 1985 part) from "David Copperfield" in "Gone with the Wind" during the scene where the ladies are waiting for Ashley to return.

2) I didn't like pie. And then I did.
I'm not sure what it was about pie when I was growing up, but I hated it. It just seemed like Cake's ugly step-sister.

3) I used to not be able to cook. And then I moved into my own place, and quickly learned that I LOVE cooking, and that I'm pretty good at it. I should clarify that I never feel more like a culinary genius than when I'm eating pasta noodles that I made from scratch, especially with nice olive oil, an olive puttanesca sauce, and some nice Parmesan.

4) If I have the option to wear a dress/skirt or pants/jeans/shorts, I will pick the dress/skirt option EVERY time. It's not so much that I'm a girly girl, it's just that dresses and skirts are SUPER comfortable. I don't think guys understand. I feel bad for them sometimes, especially when they're walking around the office wearing dockers and button up shirts with ties, and I'm sitting in my office wearing a cotton jersey dress that looks professional and cute, but basically feels like pajamas. Sorry guys.

5) Someday, I will own a 2012 Harley Davidson Softail Blackline. I will ride it around, and it will be awesome. Don't get me wrong, I'm a nice little girl who loves going to church, enjoys sewing, knitting, and crocheting. I listen to country music, top 40, opera, and alternative music equally, with relatively equal levels of enjoyment. I am an enigma, wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in a Pilsbury crescent roll.

6) Every once in a while I make baked maple beans with fried eggs for dinner. It reminds me of my mom.

7) I have a concerning amount of warm fuzzy childhood memories that have everything to do with food. I vividly remember the best part of Christmas dinner with my mom's side of the family: my grandma's mashed potatoes. Everyone will argue that my brother likes them more. He wrote a poem about them. My admiration was more silent and reverent. I was always careful not to eat too much, though, because regardless of what else was for dessert, my Auntie Sheryl's donuts were always tucked away in a little tupperware container, and I could hardly wait to sink my teeth into one (or four). I remember the hot dogs and rice that my mom used to make - a dish that consists of white rice, hotdogs, and a ketchup/onion sauce. It sounds way gross in the description, but I assure you, it's culinary gold. Most of all, I remember how she'd bake cookies, and I'd be in my bedroom (with the door closed, listening to 104.5FM....I was a teenager) and she'd show up with a tiny plate with three cookies - fresh from the oven. So fresh from the oven that the chocolate was the temperature of molten lava - delicious, delicious molten lava. Sometimes when I'm just sitting around the house, I fantasize that she'll just show up at the front door with a tiny plate with three warm cookies on it.

8) I was an awkward teenager with a huge guilt complex. This got me through my high school years without getting into too much trouble. Being heavily into concert band probably helped, too.

9) I was good at math until 2nd grade. I'm still waiting for it to come back....

10) I've always hated the feeling of un-painted fingernails.

11) I have always thoroughly enjoyed walking around outside barefoot, but I will always be 99% certain that an army of angry bees is waiting in the thick patches of grass, waiting to attack me.

12) I get irritated when I think back to my elementary and high school days. I have a huge amount of insight now on what made the 'popular kids' as popular as they were. When I'm thinking about this, I marvel at what amazing insider information I'll be able to pass along to my kids. Although they will probably just roll their eyes and assume that it's different than when I was a kid. Which is a lie. I'm pretty sure I would have been golden if I had listened to my mom's advice when I was in high school.

13) One time in fifth grade, we were lining up at the end of recess to go back inside. In front of me in line was Dean, a nice boy with a perpetually runny nose. I recall something mildly annoying happening, something that briefly delayed our walk back to our classroom, and I said "oh sh**". To this day I have no idea what came over me. I remember Dean turning around and looking at me with a horrified look on his face. I begged him not to tell, he shrugged and turned around. I spent the rest of the school day suffering from intense anxiety-related nausea, sure that I was just seconds away from being hauled down to the principal's office where I would serve detention for the rest of my life. Nothing happened. I think Dean was more interested in POGS to be worried about my potty-mouth.

14) I was a fat baby. I had big fat creases on my big fat legs. I refused to learn to crawl, and just rolled around like a fat little barrel for months. Then I got older and more-or-less resembled a flagpole. Tall, knobby knees, hopelessly pale skin. I had a steady rotation of multi-colored floral bicycle shorts that I considered the epoch of fashion until my best friend's smarty-pants neighbor observed that you could see my bright blue underwear right through my white bike shorts (White bike shorts? Really 11 year old Diana? Really?)

15) I loathe soggy bread UNLESS it's French Toast

16) My favorite ice cream is the Peanut Butter Chocolate from Easterbrooks in Burlington. Especially if it's eaten right after a footlong hot dog.

17) My sweet 16 birthday party was a Luau. We watched movies, and I wore a Lei. There was ice cream cake. I remember thinking "well, I guess this is what it's like to be an adult".

18) I take back all the times when I was little and I told my mom I didn't want her to french braid my hair.

19) Raspberries will always remind me of my Nana, and blueberries will always remind me of my Grandma.

20) I like to sing in my car when I'm alone. My car's name is Betty, and she's 9 years old.

21) My husband is pretty amazing. It's been scientifically proven that he's one of the smartest people in the world, and I think I'm starting to get some pretty deep laugh lines (he cracks me up regularly). I miss him every time I leave for work in the morning, and my drive home always seems IMPOSSIBLY long, especially when I know he's already home, sitting on the couch, lookin' all handsome and kissable.

22) I will never be able to say no to one of those chocolate covered cherries.

23) I love sitting outside on a sunny day eating peaches until the juice runs down my arm, and my hands are all sticky.

24) I'm a weird person. Sometimes I wonder if I'm abnormal. I mean, I'm a home-body. I like to chill at home. Sometimes I'm peeking through facebook, and see women I know going out on girls nights with their girlfriends, and I never really do that. I think I just over-analyze everything WAY too much, to the point that I feel like I'm bad at making friends. Maybe I should just start walking up to potential best-friends and propose the idea. "Excuse me, miss, you seem fun and jovial, and I believe we have the potential to be BFF's. Thoughts?". Not quite. The fact that I just thought that is an indicator that I'm weird.

25) I have a black thumb. We are trying to grow a garden right now, but I'm pretty sure Kevin is exerting as much effort to keep me from killing all our plants as I am trying to pretend I know how to garden.

26) Twenty-six. That's the age I am now. 6 more days left!

27) The age I'm about to be. I am legitimately curious to see what it will be like to be 27 for a year....I'm sure I'll get myself into plenty of scrapes and shenanigans. Here goes....

Monday Favorites...

Okay so usually I do my Favorites on Friday, but things got a little bit delayed. Enjoy the Monday Faves, and have a great Tuesday!

I *need* to try this amazing-looking bruschetta recipe. Goat cheese? Check. Prosciutto? Check. Peach slices? Check. Somebody stop me...

I should clarify that I usually feel like Martha Stewart is a little too much for me. A lot of her recipes flop when I try them. Plus she gives her dogs shiatsu massages. Let's be real folks. I'm lucky if I can just keep the dog in the bathtub when I'm washing her. She's a wiley little rascal. She tries to escape. But I think Martha's got me on this one....Watermelon Lemonade? Yes please....

These Toms wedge sandals are precious - love the color!

Loving this kitchen remodel from Apartment Therapy. I LOVE the idea of two-toned cabinets. While I love the color they used, I'm thinking more along the lines of gray tones for our kitchen. White cabinets on top, light gray on the bottom, and a nice smoky charcoal on the walls, with flat panel curtains on the windows in a cheery yellow chevron pattern. Yes. Also vintage-inspired glass knobs. Also yes.

Don't even get me started on these sweet potatoes from SpoonForkBacon. Chopped pecans and feta? I'm on board.

My birthday is soon. I might have to ask my mom if I can bring my own birthday cake. And by birthday cake, I do mean these Toasted Marshmallow Squares that my super best friend Joy the Baker (I might be lying. It's possible that we've never met, and it's also possible that I just have imaginary conversations with her while I read cookbooks). There's cherry jam in there, which I would feel the need to promptly change to raspberry jam, because my nana will be here on my birthday, and she and I are raspberry buddies.

Apple's FaceTime, because my mom is in Canada right now, she I got to FaceTime with my Nana, who I'm pretty sure was in her kitchen wearing bright yellow dish-gloves. Hello, technology!

Joy the Baker's podcast. Because she and Tracey Shutterbean are hilarious, and listening to their conversations on my way home from work almost completely distracts me from the fact that my AC in my car is broken, and only spews out hot air. I should either get that fixed, or go ahead and fill my car with cedar and just call it a sauna.

A champagne cupcake from Gigi's....just sounds so good right now...

It's a good day...

Have I been in a bit of a funk lately? Yes. My husband should be WAY tired of me by now, but he's got the patience of a saint, and just keeps talking me through everything, and encouraging me like crazy. I'm super lucky. As I write this, I'm sitting on our newly power-washed back deck on an adirondack chair sipping club soda with a squeeze of orange, and it tastes like SUMMER. I'm also admiring all the planting I did on Saturday. I've got big pots of flowers right next to me, and it smells divine - big fat glorious marigolds (they just seem like such a humble flower), a pretty little cluster of purslane, some feiry red salvia, some deep deep purple petunias, hot pink geraniums (which remind me of my mom - I think I remember her planting lots of geraniums and impatiens back in our garden on Rebecca Street), and a big cluster of lavender that I absolutely cannot WAIT to get bigger. Oh, I almost forgot, I also have a little potted zucchini plant, but that is soon to be transplanted into our veggie garden. What veggie garden, you ask? The one Kevin built on Sunday. Well, he would say that we both built it, but it was really him. I mostly just watched and brought him cold drinks and chilled towels from the freezer.

We had a huge area in our back yard right next to the deck that desperately needed attention. It was just eroded, and muddy, and it was impossible to get on and off the deck without getting covered in red Georgia clay. On Sunday, he decided enough was enough. A few trips to Lowe's, and a couple hundred dollars later, we (let's be real - HE) had a 2 1/2 foot retaining wall that we filled to the brim with good healthy moist garden soil, and hopefully by the end of the week, our zucchini plants will be cozy in there next to some cucumber plants, tomato plants, a big fat collection of herbs (basil, rosemary, mint) and some MORE lavender! I can hardly wait to plant them and watch them grow. I've heard zucchini is very easy to grow, and it produces a bonkers amount of zucchini. I may write a post in the next few months begging people to come by and please, please, PLEASE take some zucchini. We'll see.

Lately I've really been missing my family back in Canada. Some days I just wish I could swing by my Nana and Papa's house for a cup of tea (and to sneak my Papa a fresh made shortbread cookie). I wish I could just meet my Aunt Dori and Uncle Steve at August 8 for a full belly of delicious sushi. I wish I could just sit in the backyard with my Auntie Sheryl and talk about life and smell the fresh earthy smells of her garden while Chester rolls around in the grass in the background. I wish I could just have a cup of tea and a slice of bread with butter and jam with her. I wish I could see my Grandma and Grandpa all the time, just to listen to her tell stories, and tease him about how he misbehaves. I wish I could hang out with my cousin Rachel and her two (oh my gosh she has TWO) kids, and eat some of her fresh made bread and talk about life. I wish we could spontaneously meet my cousin Jon and his wife Jordan for a random date at this amazing Poutine place that keeps entering my dreams at night. I think I tend to miss Jon this time of year. Since we were born the exact same day (8 hours apart), it doesn't feel quite right to celebrate my birthday without him.

It just feels strange to be feeling this nostalgic and a little homesick. I'm usually not like this, you know.

Time to enjoy Tina Fey's "Bossypants" for the 6th time. The book just gets more hilarious every time you read it, I swear.

Diana