I have learned to crochet a couple times in my life. But I never really got into it. Then we learned to make granny squares. Granny squares are my jam. Heads up everyone. Guess what you are all getting for Christmas this year.
It is tradition that my ma and I bake cookies before I have to get on a plane to come back to Austin. Our way of making sure to take a little bit of home back with me. These cookies are hearty, and good at surviving in one piece, despite being shoved in a backpack, through an xray machine, and under a seat. Good little travel companions that smell like Christmas.
I saw this advertisement when I was signing in to pay my cable bill and found it pretty entertaining that Time Warner had figured out a way to not only promote their faster internet but also that it empowered kids to watch more of their TV channels. I feel like at some point kids should be going outside and playing sports and stuff when they’re done with their homework and not always plopping down in front of a TV. Also, what parent lets their kid watch HBO? Maybe they’re not targeting parents with younger kids, but still…
For anyone that has ever picked up a SkyMall magazine while sitting a plane, you know that they have some fairly ridiculous items in there that you most likely will never have a need for such as a replica of a sword from Lord of the Rings or a suit-case that kills bed bugs…so it was a pleasant surprise that I actually found a product that I am seriously considering getting for work….a standing desk! Sign me up.
Our bathroom in the new house was not my favorite. It literally has almost no place to put anything. The mirror is way too high on the wall, and I can only see half my face in it. It kind of needs more work, but we decided to do what we can to make it better for the time being.
And now it is like our favorite room in the house! We hung a little wall shelf with some plants. We hung a mirror ON TOP of the mirror, so I can see my own face. We added another shelf for storage with some baskets. And then we hung hooks for our towels behind the door, and added a collection of hand towels to the rack instead. Its so much brighter and happier in there now!
Last week on a trip to Raleigh, NC for work we went to a really great BBQ place located right by the NCSU campus called The Pit. I love BBQ so I was pretty excited when I found out that was where we were headed for dinner. If you don’t know, the girl and I usually try and eat some type of BBQ once a week and typically we end up at Rudy’s because you can’t really go wrong with them.
Anyways, The Pit specializes in authentic whole-hog, pit-cooked barbecue and I was told that I had to try the Carolina ribs so that is what I got. Long story short, the team and I enjoyed more than our fair share of great food and I did not have to eat again until dinner time the next day.
Cutting up clothes you just bought always feels like you are doing something wrong, so its oddly satisfying. Like making cut-off shorts. Even the little act of hemming a dress feels like a crime at first, but I bought it, so it should fit ME. Now that this little summer dress doesn’t come down past my knees, it can be welcomed into my closet with open arms (or hangers). 
This guy makes me truly happy inside. You know what else makes me happy? This headband I made. Because my hair is always so big and puffy in this weather, and the headband really reins it in. And another thing that makes me happy? The boy that likes my big, fluffy hair.
I made the headband using this tutorial, and an old t-shirt. I am going to try another version this weekend.
This past Saturday we went and got dinner with Ross, but it wasn’t just any dinner. It was a lobster dinner at Quality Seafood to take advantage of their Saturday special and it was quite delicious. We got there right before the crowd so were lucky enough to not wait long and grab a table to eat our lobster and fried okra. We will definitely be going back because how many places do you get to go where you get to play with your food before you eat it? If you want a lobster close-up, check out the girl’s lobster saying hello!
My lobster.
A very excited Ross to be reunited with his Maine lobster.
Last week we went with one of the spring menus from Fresh 20. A lot of the summer menus want use of a grill, so we went with a do-able spring menu instead. Although, we could probably just cook our food out on the front sidewalk in the burning evening sun, am I right? We were able to make all 5 dinners, since there were no business trips for the guy, yay!
Dinner one- pretty simple. Porkchops, farro, and kale. I have never had farro before, but I really liked it. Also, just learned that farro is a confusing grain.
Dinner two- predictable meat, grain, and veggie combo. Salmon, couscous, and asparagus. We got crazy and made watermelon balls! Cookbook can’t hold us back.
Dinner three- steak and kale salad with couscous. I was a little worried about the raw kale, but after the lemon juice and salt, I kind of roughed it up with a spoon, and it softened up pretty good. I had leftovers for lunch the next day that were also very satisfactory.
Dinner four- its 100+ degrees outside, but we still made some soup and quesadillas with leftover porkchops. We may have been sweating in the kitchen a bit, but it was worth it.
Dinner five- spinach strata with crumbled bread and goat cheese on top. We paired it with some sliced veggies, and even more melon balls! Also, my newest creation, apple sticks (apple slices cut into long skinny pieces). I think they will be all the rage soon. We had the leftover strata for breakfast the next morning, and it was still pretty tasty for being reheated eggs.
So week two went well! It is fun to try all the new types of foods, and it is definitely good to know what is yummy or quick to make for the future. We are also learning more about what flavors go better with different things, which is something I have never really put a lot of thought into. On to the next week!
guy and his girl 