Something exciting is about to happen! Actually, lots of exciting things are about to happen. This week in our house we are going to celebrate a birthday, hang out with a best friend, complete not one but TWO intense craft projects, attend a "broadway" show, Interview, and go on the hunt at the Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market EXTRAVAGANZA!

Can't wait til next week so I can let you know how it goes ... actually I can wait because I am going to make this week last as long as possible!

Best Christmas Present

car, plane, taxi, confidant footsteps, peaceful chaos, pizza, familiar thrifts, catching up with clowns, COFFEE, Potter. Staying up late, getting up early, soothing subway rides, walking, walking, walking, window shopping, satisfied cravings, stunning cozy apartments, glowing lights, friendly strangers, worthy lines, freezing time, cupcakes, missed stops, beautiful friends, meaningful memories, shopping shopping, margaritas, wacky games, fits of laughter, central park, goat cheese, fuzzy pillows, icy encounters, steak and eggs, steamed almond milk, video games, pizza, taxi, plane, home to husband, bliss bliss bliss

Speaking of Spontaneity

Sometimes you just need to quit talking about it and actually buy a plane ticket already! Chris and I figured out the PERFECT Christmas gifts for each other. We have everything we really need and want together in Ohio, so we are getting each other trips to see our friends! I've mentioned before how bummed we've been to be away from the people who know us best and we figure it is just ridiculous for us not to do anything about it.

We dated long distance for five years. We looked forward to being under the same roof for so long, now that we’ve got our wish we do our best not to take it for granted. There is nothing I love more than spending time with my husband. Though we love our time together, we both appreciate our time apart. It may seem funny, but spending time apart now is exciting because it reminds us of the fun we had while dating. We know that the time we spend apart only brings us closer together. Phone calls, texts, and of course a reunion at the end! Nothing is better than coming home to the person you love. I am super excited about taking advantage of my Christmas gift this week and super excited about coming home too!

Pumpkins

This past weekend we took a trip to the pumpkin patch with our neighbors with Laura and Phillip.

A lot of the pumpkins were picked over, but we had a great time searching for the right ones.

We also picked up a few goose-like gourds along the way.

Good Food . Great Friend

Yea, that's a giant delicious cinnamon roll smothered in cinnamon butter. I met this scrumptious pastry at breakfast in Los Gatos, CA with Ashleigh Hill. This girl knows how to show a lady a good breakfast!She is also a great friend and freaking hilarious. Check her out at An Ashleigh Renaissance.

Booking It

I just booked my flights for California! Sunshine here I come! Chris is going to be taking a week long course at UCLA later in March and I'm tagging along. He is even taking a few days off afterwards so we can travel a bit ... and I'm staying a few days extra since I can use as much vitamin D and friend time as I can get! AH I can see it now:

Los Angeles (betcha didn't know that's where my title pic is from)

San Jose

San Fransico

San Diego

*photos are from my previous CA adventures

Sweet Sunday

Today Chris and I ventured to Centerville, OH to try Bills Donuts. Delicious. Consuming those sweets reminded me that I neglected to share my sweetest valentine. To die for. I know. These were from the yummy Phraner lady. You can find her recipe here. I delicately devoured mine with a hot mug of tea. They were perfection buttery, tart, and sweet. I miss this girl so much!

Burnt Toast

I can't cook. Negative statement, I know. I have tried and tried and tried, but have had very little success in the kitchen. I want to cook. I need to cook. The flare for combining meat, spices, pasta, cheese, and other delicious things has not found me... I haven't found it either, but i've been looking! I beg Chris not to give away my dirty little secret and it usually goes, "please don't tell people I don't feed you"! No worries people I do feed him, but I plead guilty to saying, "what do you have against cereal!?" more than once.

What can I say, I make a mean breakfast and married a man who only eats lunch and dinner.

I've heard the rumor that if you can't cook well, you are usually a baker. Is this like the whole Geometry/Algebra situation? Because I aced geometry and still have nightmares about algebra. Since I make an outrageous banana bread and fluffy waffle, am I doomed to serve overcooked and under par dishes for the rest of my life?

One of my new resolutions is to read MARTHA Stewart's Cooking School cover to cover and see if I can pick up on any of it. I have been able to locate numerous cooking schools in the area, but they are geared towards professionals rather than home cooks.

FYI I stumbled upon my copy for $9.99 at TJMaxx where at a regular bookstore they are still about $45.00

I find myself wishing I had half of the culinary skills of one of my dearest friends, the berry beautiful Erin, at least three times a day (usually around breakfast, lunch, and dinner ... and snack times ... and of course after meals when you want something sweet) Visit her at food n femininity you wont be sorry, but you will be hungry. I still don't understand how I lived with this lady for months and didn't take notes!!

So many people I know are creative in the kitchen. How have you managed scrumptious successes?

For Every To There is a Fro

The proof is in! I am an NYU Alumni! I was told by an advisor that graduation happens like "magic". I found out that a little more paperwork is involved, but getting my diploma was sort of like magic. I got an e-mail and then it arrived! I'm happy that NYU didn't forget about me =)

I'm going to wait until we get to Ohio to frame it.

I know I made the right decision when I chose to graduate a semester early, but boy do I miss this:

Don't Forget to Look Up

When visiting Cape Cod with my beautiful friends Ashleigh and Marissa last semester, we wandered into a thrift/antique/vintage shop. Of course (as most antique shops) it was full of fascinating treasures, but I didn't find what I was looking for until I looked up.

Hanging from the ceiling were beautiful little jackets, petticoats, hats etc. It didn't take me long to realize I had to pay more attention to what was above and get a sales lady to snatch an early 1900s number for me. It JUST fit and I managed to work in a discount =)

I plan to use it in the wedding in some way, so I can't post a full picture yet. Ah anticipation!

While on the cape we also found skiball! Amazing, Amazing. Amazing.



It was a lovely trip with lovely ladies. I am so glad that I will be able to relive the fun we had at the cape on my wedding day via a vintage treasure.



We need to make another trip! Yes?