tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39114918602497140272014-10-07T00:56:51.248-04:00I Wanna Be A Domestic GoddessLearning to add those little touches that make an ordinary life a little bit extraordinaryrebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.comBlogger1588125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-73916189195996141352014-05-26T14:50:00.001-04:002014-05-27T18:36:01.340-04:00Play it again. Or not. <p>It’s Memorial Day once again and I guess we call this the unofficial kick-off of summer. The unofficial kick-off of gross hot weather, feeling like I need to shower after every one block walk to anywhere, controlled movements to avoid displaying sweat spots, and a general desire to just hibernate until autumn. I will mostly be found sitting in an air-conditioned room and reading. And loading up my playlists with country music to live vicariously through all the summer fun they seem to have in country music songs.</p><p>If country music were representative of the entire population, we all apparently spend our summers drinking and having ALL THE GOOD TIMES while sitting on tailgates in fields and at the lake. My summer reality is that if I spend two minutes in a field or at a lake, I spend the next two months convinced there is a deer tick on me somewhere and I have Lyme Disease. Total summer fun killer. </p><p>And all the vicarious fun aside, like any other music, I start overanalyzing the lyrics. Take, for example, Luke Bryan’s new song, <em>Play It Again</em>. It keeps, um, playing again, on my Pandora station and I find myself being completely annoyed with the plotline and characters in the song.</p><p>Plot summary: guy meets girl at a party (she’s sitting on a tailgate at a party in a field and/or at a lake. SHOCKING!). They start flirting. She shouts “Oh my God, this is my song! I have been listening to the radio all night long.” And then they start dancing. And then he gives her a ride home and the song comes on the radio AGAIN (can you even believe it?!?) and she’s all “Oh my God, I can’t believe they played again!” And then they dance in the driveway. As is often the case in country music songs but rarely in reality.</p><p>All of this leaves me to wonder, is this song set in like the 90s before iTunes? Because I mean, who sits around waiting for a song to be played on the radio instead of downloading it or YouTube-ing it. I don’t want to make any assumptions about her financial status but I just want to be like “Oh my God! iTunes! $1.29!”</p><p>And if the radio is actually your only option for listening to a song, who sits around ALL DAY waiting for the radio to play it? If it is a remotely popular song, the radio will play it about once every 40 minutes. Or if it is a Pitbull song, every 14 minutes (and if a Pitbull song is your favorite song, I am giving you a super judgy side eye right now.).</p><p>In the second part of the song, the story takes the standard grand romantic gesture twist that country songs always do when the guy in the song decides that the most romantic gesture ever would be to learn how to play her favorite song on his guitar. And play it for her on their date the following weekend. Am I the only one who just cringes and thinks “You couldn’t have just given her an iTunes gift card?” Because Public Displays of Musical Affection--however sweet-intentioned they may be--just make me SUPER uncomfortable.</p><p>So if this song is any indication, it could be a long summer of analyzing lyrics. Or I guess I could just start listening to Pitbull or something. Because there is really nothing to analyze there except "Who actually listens to this and enjoys it?" Because I just want to meet one person that does. Just one. </p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-16780104292653470602014-04-21T06:25:00.001-04:002014-04-21T06:25:23.319-04:00Annual Weighing of the Reese's Easter Egg: 2014<p>Every year around this time, I wonder for a moment why I keep this Annual Weighing of the Reese's Easter Egg thing alive. And in the next moment, I remember "water cooler conversation topic." I don't watch <em>Game of Thrones</em>/<em>Scandal</em>/<em>House of Cards</em>/(or really any other show except <em>NCIS</em> and <em>Hart of Dixie</em>). I really don't have strong opinions on (<a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/2014/02/missing-olympic-excitement-of-yore.html">non-Olympic</a>) sports. I can almost guarantee that <a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/2012/04/my-movie-education-starts-now.html">I have not seen the movie everyone else saw</a>. Despite the fact that I read all the time, I am somehow never reading what everyone else is reading. This is basically why I am the worst at water cooler conversations and chitchat in general. I can do the weather and fashion. And once or twice a year, I can slip in this very specific knowledge I have about the peanut butter-to-chocolate ratio in Reese's Easter Eggs. It's enough to keep me doing it. </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="photo-23.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CGzegighI6I/U1TyBj_UFYI/AAAAAAAARPg/vLvV2uJIwFQ/photo-23.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="Photo 23" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p>So when I saw this year's Reese's Easter Egg peanut butter and chocolate weights on the scale, I think I said to myself "By golly, I think this is a record breaker year. I might be able to slip this into like four conversations this year!"</p><p>And it was. This year's Reese's Easter Egg had the highest peanut butter-to-chocolate ratio to date: 1.5 beating out the 2011 ratio of 1.46. Sixty percent of the egg's weight was peanut butter, topping the 59% peanut butter weight also reached in 2011.</p><p>And kudos to Reese's for keeping the Easter Egg at a packaged weight of 34 grams for the entire time I have been doing this. In a packaged food world where everything seems to weigh less but cost more, it just seems unusual. In the egotistical portion of my mind, I like to think that somewhere in the Reese's executive suite, a group of Reese's executives sits around a peanut butter cup shaped conference table and debates making the egg smaller every year. And every year, someone mentions "But that one girl who weirdly weighs our Easter Eggs every year WILL NOTICE." And that's that. And I would notice. </p><table width="603" border="4" align="center"><tbody><tr><th align="left">Reese's Item</th><th align="center" width="148">Year of Weighing</th><th align="center" width="67"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Total Weight (g) </span></th><th width="102"><div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Peanut Butter Weight (g)</span></p></div><div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">(% of Total Weight)</span></p></div></th><th width="99"><div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Chocolate Weight (g)</span></p></div><div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">(% of Total Weight)</span></p></div></th><th width="79"><div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Peanut Butter-to-Chocolate Ratio</span></p></div></th></tr><tr><td>Easter Egg</td><td align="center" width="148">2014</td><td width="67"><div><p style="text-align: center;">35</p></div></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="102"><div><p>21<br />(60%)</p></div></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="99"><div><p>14<br />(44%)</p></div></td><td width="79"><div><p style="text-align: center;">1.50</p></div></td></tr><tr><td>Easter Egg</td><td align="center" width="148">2013</td><td width="67"><div><p style="text-align: center;">36</p></div></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="102"><div><p>20 <br />(56%)</p></div></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="99"><div><p>16<br />(44%)</p></div></td><td width="79"><div><p style="text-align: center;">1.25</p></div></td></tr><tr><td>Easter Egg</td><td align="center" width="148">2012</td><td width="67"><div><p style="text-align: center;">33</p></div></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="102"><div><p>18 <br />(54%)</p></div></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="99"><div><p>15g<br />(40%)</p></div></td><td width="79"><div><p style="text-align: center;">1.2</p></div></td></tr><tr><td>Easter Egg</td><td align="center" width="148">2011</td><td width="67"><div><p style="text-align: center;">37</p></div></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="102"><div><p>22 <br />(59%)</p></div></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="99"><div><p>15g<br />(41%)</p></div></td><td width="79"><div><p style="text-align: center;">1.46</p></div></td></tr><tr><td>Easter Egg</td><td align="center" width="148">2010</td><td width="67"><div><p style="text-align: center;">34</p></div></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="102"><div><p>19 <br />(56%)</p></div></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="99"><div><p>15 <br />(44%)</p></div></td><td width="79"><div><p style="text-align: center;">1.27</p></div></td></tr><tr><td>Easter Egg</td><td align="center" width="148">2009</td><td width="67"><div><p style="text-align: center;">35</p></div></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="102"><div><p>20 <br />(57%)</p></div></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="99"><div><p>15 <br />(43%)</p></div></td><td width="79"><div><p style="text-align: center;">1.33</p></div></td></tr><tr><td>Easter Egg</td><td align="center" width="148">2008</td><td width="67"><div><p style="text-align: center;">34</p></div></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="102"><div><p>20 <br />(59%)</p></div></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="99"><div><p>14 <br />(41%)</p></div></td><td width="79"><div><p style="text-align: center;">1.43</p></div></td></tr><tr><td>Original Cup</td><td align="center" width="148">2014</td><td style="text-align: center;" width="67"><p>21</p></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="102"><p>8<br />(38%)</p></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="99"><p>13<br />(62%)</p></td><td width="79"><div><p style="text-align: center;">0.61</p></div></td></tr><tr><td>Original Cup</td><td align="center" width="148">2013</td><td style="text-align: center;" width="67"><p>21</p></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="102"><p>9<br />(43%)</p></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="99"><p>12<br />(57%)</p></td><td width="79"><div><p style="text-align: center;">0.75</p></div></td></tr><tr><td>Original Cup</td><td align="center" width="148">2008</td><td width="67"><p style="text-align: center;">20</p></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="102"><p>8<br />(40%)</p></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="99"><p>12<br />(60%)</p></td><td width="79"><p style="text-align: center;">0.67</p></td></tr><tr><td>Big Cup</td><td align="center" width="148">2014</td><td width="67"><p style="text-align: center;">39</p></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="102"><p>16<br />(41%)</p></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="99"><p>23<br />(59%)</p></td><td width="79"><p style="text-align: center;">0.70</p></td></tr><tr><td>Big Cup</td><td align="center" width="148">2008</td><td width="67"><p style="text-align: center;">40</p></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="102"><p>10<br />(25%)</p></td><td style="text-align: center;" width="99"><p>30<br />(75%)</p></td><td width="79"><p style="text-align: center;">0.33</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I also reweighed the Reese's Big Cup this year. I last weighed it in 2008. I think I write every year that I need to remember to reweigh it the following year and forgot. This year would not have been any different except the line at CVS was really long and I they have every store set up so that you have to wait in line in the candy aisle. But instead of buy gummi bears or peach rings, I actually remembered to grab a Big Cup. And at some point in the past six years, they have really changed that formula up. The weight on the package is still 39 grams but the 2008 ration was a terrible 0.33; the peanut butter accounted for just 25% of the weight. This year, the ratio is up to 0.70 and the peanut butter now makes up over 40% of the weight. Well done, Reese's. If you are going to market the Big Cup to peanut butter lovers, you need to make sure that peanut butter ratio is strong.</p><p>Hope you are all enjoying the leftover Easter candy deluge at your office today! And the water cooler chitchat that accompanies it.</p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-43017453078863684962014-04-14T08:13:00.001-04:002014-04-14T10:03:09.837-04:00Charleston<p>At some point after the third snowstorm of the year, I was walking to work wearing more layers of clothing than I could count and yet the icy wind was still cutting through them all. As I speed-walked to the heated lobby of my building, skidding on the salt on the oversalted (but not at all icy) sidewalk, all I wanted, all I <em>needed</em>, was the prospect of warm weather. Just something to pull me out of this miserable winter funk. Just something to make this winter tolerable. Just something to make me not want to throw my winter coat away because I was so sick of wearing it.</p><p>On that day, the ten-day weather forecast offered me no hope of warm weather and so I booked a trip. To someplace warmer. The earliest date I could make it work was April 1<sup>st</sup> and when I was booking it, I laughed to myself “Way to go, it’ll be warm in DC by then for sure. Why are you even booking this?”</p><p>It snowed two days before I left. Maybe I was just a bit psychic in my booking of the trip.</p><p>So on a Monday night, I dropped my winter coat off at the dry cleaner with a dramatic “I am totally done with this coat for the year” and on Tuesday morning, I found myself in Sunny! Warm! Charleston, South Carolina. And stepping outside the airport into that warm air, I felt myself get my spark back. (I know that sounds cliché and cheesy but my gosh, this winter sucked the life from me.)</p><p>And I spent my morning wandering all of cobblestone sidewalks of Charleston into the shops and coffee shops tucked away on side streets. And staring at all of the amazing houses.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4349.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-J7lkdkoruSk/U0vQ1mbXrvI/AAAAAAAAROQ/WDsX_-DdOm4/IMG_4349.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4349" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p>And I spent my afternoons sitting on a park bench in the waterfront park reading while sailboats floated by and dolphins jumped up from the water.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4335.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y8K1r87Xiw0/U0vQ0HB-HVI/AAAAAAAAROI/a7-nvQ-WXzM/IMG_4335.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4335" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p>And then my evenings were dinner at a great restaurant.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="photo-19.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3R5i0iG5xNc/U0vQ8LnHHuI/AAAAAAAARO4/KeTtIs7VQMQ/photo-19.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="Photo 19" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>Repeat four times. That was my vacation. I didn't do too much but I did everything I wanted. And I never even had to wear a jacket. Just sunscreen. It was THE BEST. </p><p>I picked Charleston because I think everyone in my Instagram feed has been on vacation there in the past year and my vacation plans can easily be swayed by filtered to perfection pictures. It is quite the photogenic city!</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4353.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NtjMBCSvndI/U0vQ3Hm2Y2I/AAAAAAAAROY/izMjQaoTdyA/IMG_4353.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4353" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Charleston appears to be the flower box capital of the East Coast. </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4351.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-D6xQ_TOHw9w/U0vQ4mwV69I/AAAAAAAAROg/vtXlSbMsls4/IMG_4351.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4351" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p style="text-align: center;">And unfailingly polite and nice. This sign in DC would have some legal disclaimer about the implications of throwing the ball.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4337.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ju2qXV-T8VQ/U0vQ559imqI/AAAAAAAAROo/43BjT7h2ZWA/IMG_4337.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4337" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Sweetgrass roses in the City Market. Also known as VERY EXPENSIVEgrass. (But very cool!)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4359.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nSIUVS0Ldjs/U0vQ7CjcE1I/AAAAAAAAROw/n0oA2NtrW14/IMG_4359.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4359" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Sunrise on the waterfront. Take that miserable winter.</p><p>Charleston, unlike any other city I have ever visited, ALWAYS merited this response when I told people I was going there “Oh, you HAVE to eat at <insert name of a restaurant>.” Normally people tell things to do, shops to visit. Nope this city was all about the restaurants. And I was totally okay with it. So in the spirit of paying forward all of the restaurant wisdom that was shared with me, here are my recommendations for you (Note: I won't even attempt to write some food critic-y review. My vote can be won with a great bread basket so take these reviews into consideration with that in mind.) (Note Number Two: Vacation food pictures do not annoy me.) </p><p><a href="http://www.huskrestaurant.com">Husk</a> – This is actually a bucket list restaurant for me. Reservations are a bit hard to come by but I got lucky and had dinner there my first night. Note to self: never visit a bucket list restaurant on the first night of a trip. Because every other restaurant that follows on the trip—while independently stellar—will pale in comparison to the bucket list restaurant. This was the case with Husk. I was prepared for a letdown. It had to be overhyped, right? Nope. From the front door of the Victorian house it calls home to the lemonade with cinnamon(!) ice cubes to chocolate chess pie for dessert, it was just the best dining experience. The food was outstanding and the staff genuinely seems so happy to be working there. Gosh, I loved this place. </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4321.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kTMZZ828HPo/U0vQsCOW25I/AAAAAAAARNo/izqm1ceXjb4/IMG_4321.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4321" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>The chocolate chess pie tasted like the little Cadbury eggs with the crunchy shell. I think I sighed after each bite.</p><p><a href="http://www.eatatfig.com">FIG</a> – Like Husk, FIG’s menu changes daily based upon which locally sourced ingredients are available and, I suppose, based upon what the chef feels like cooking. On the ride into Charleston, I saw a billboard that asked if I could name 20 vegetables in the next 2 miles; I could name 15. In honor of that, I ordered the Salad of Nine Vegetables; I could identify five of them. I am apparently a D student when it comes to vegetables. </p><p><a href="http://www.poogansporch.com">Poogan’s Porch</a> – For the famous fried chicken, obviously.</p><p>Poogan is a dog, by the way. Dining solo is not always something I am comfortable doing. That I made and kept one solo dinner reservation, let alone four was an accomplishment for me, actually. But dining solo always causes me to fret about what exactly to do while I sit there. You either end up accidentally awkwardly staring at other diners and then quickly averting your eyes or looking like you got stood up on a date but still decided to stick around and eat your feelings. And so I passed the time by reading the restaurant’s website on my phone. And that is how I learned Poogan was a dog. And not an old man. For some reason, I thought it was like Mean Old Man Poogan’s Porch or something.</p><p><a href="http://www.magnolias-blossom-cypress.com/magnoliasHome.asp?catID=20426">Magnolias</a> – My favorite bread basket of the vacation.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="photo-18.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CHvSeziMKtw/U0vQyEQ_XGI/AAAAAAAAROA/Smc_9qruXgk/photo-18.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="Photo 18" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p><a href="http://blacktapcoffee.com">Black Tap Coffee</a> – Not a restaurant, but great coffee. Which is what powers me. I loved the lavender latte.</p><p>And that was Charleston. Thank you Mother Nature for smiling on me with the great weather. I needed it. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="photo-20.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UktrWN4UXpo/U0vQ9qlzVZI/AAAAAAAARPA/9GV7dhEYWn4/photo-20.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="Photo 20" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-34390031864223433932014-03-31T06:19:00.001-04:002014-03-31T06:28:39.865-04:00The Pot Roast Affirmation<p>Growing up, Sunday dinner was basically a given. Church in the morning and dinner at 3 o’clock. That was every Sunday. How I ever ate dinner that early and survived is still a mystery to me.</p><p>At some point between then and now, Sunday dinner fell by the side. Possibly when I moved into a small place and lacked a dinner table. I obviously answered “no” when I asked myself “If you make dinner on a Sunday and eat it off your coffee table, does it still count?”</p><p>Except that would have actually required me to make dinner. A trip through the archives will provide evidence that cooking has never been my forte. That my tastes were picky. That I really just wanted to eat chicken nuggets. That I just never really enjoyed cooking. Those things were probably all true. </p><p>But a few months ago, something had to change. And I wish it were some resolution to eat better or to learn how to cook. But it was neither. It was that packing my work week lunches was becoming the bane of my existence. I was out of ideas and I hated that nightly ritual of packing a lunch that I knew I would hate the next day.</p><p>So I rationalized that I would make one completely elaborate (for me) and delicious meal on a Sunday that I could have leftovers for lunch for the week.</p><p>I assumed like most of my rational ideas, I would get bored with it after two weeks. But I have been pleasantly surprised--and impressed with myself--by how much I have enjoyed it. From picking out the weekly recipe, to researching and finding the ingredients, to learning and YouTube-ing new cooking techniques (I can braise things now!), to enjoying ingredients and spices that I have always scoffed at as gross, I love that I now have go-to dinner recipes in case of a dinner party emergency. Which will only happen if you bring your own table or if you are cool with sitting on the floor and eating off my coffee table.</p><p>And yes, for a person like me who spent a whole year of her life devoted to baking whoopie pies, it is a strange new world for me when my Dutch oven, roasting pan, and cast iron skillet are getting more use than my cupcake pans and Kitchen-Aid Mixer.</p><p>But it's also not some revolutionary change that I am going to write or talk about ad nauseum because basically it's like "Congratulations, you cooked! The rest of us have been doing it for years!"</p><p>Yet there has been a life-affirming moment or two along the way. Well, really just one. I call it the Pot Roast Affirmation. Since those Sunday dinners of my childhood, I have had this notion that making a pot roast was basically the most adult thing you can do. When they handed me diploma at college graduation, instead of the blank card from the alumni association inside asking me to remember to donate back to the school, I fully expected there would a card with “Congratulation, you're an adult!” with the recipe for a pot roast on the back.</p><p>By my logic, I could somewhat successfully make it through life but until I made that pot roast, the Pot Roast Affirmation told me it didn’t count. Sunday dinner offered me a chance to change this.</p><p>And then that Sunday rolled around and I stood in the meat department snickering at cuts of meat like “pork butt” and realized maybe I wasn’t quite grown-up yet. (But for the record, I always want to live in a world where grown-ups snicker at words like butt and fart. I like that we can have a bit of our childhood sense of humor. )</p><p>But in less than 24 hours, I went from not even knowing what kind of meat was in a pot roast (“I need pot roast meat please!”) to making a completely delicious <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/company-pot-roast-10000001535414/">pot roast</a>. I felt like such a slightly more competent adult. The Pot Roast Affirmation, it's a real thing my friends. (Kidding, nothing really changed. Except now I know how to make pot roast.) </p><p>Some other Sunday dinners that I have made, most of which were delicious and worked great for lunch leftovers but have not had the life impact of the pot roast dinner:</p><p><a href="http://www.healthy-delicious.com/2014/01/lemon-chicken-olives-potatoes/">Lemon Chicken with Olive and Potatoes</a>: My favorite Sunday dinner. I have made it a few times now and it tastes better every time. The turmeric gives it a yellow hue that will make every one in the office microwave line give you the "Great, the whole place is going to smell like curry" side eye but it does not smell/taste like curry. So just give them "at least I am not warming up fish" side eye right back.</p><p><a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/chicken-in-coconut-milk-81026">Chicken in Coconut Milk</a> - I baked a whole chicken without setting the smoke alarm off! Victory was mine. The chicken was delicious; the sauce was good the night I made but less than appetizing for leftovers. </p><p><a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2008/03/chicken-with-almonds-and-green-olives/">Chicken with Almonds and Green Olives</a> - If the entire recipe tasted as good as the almond coating for the chicken smelled, I would have been in heaven. Alas, I should have just eaten the coating as the whole recipe together was just bland. </p><p><a href="http://www.cookinglight.com/food/top-rated-recipes/slow-cooker-favorites-00400000038588/page7.html">Provencal Beef Daube</a> - My second favorite recipe! It involved the use of cooking twine. I had flashback to Bridget Jones' Diary and her use of green twine turning the dinner party soup green and assumed I would have had similar luck. But my cooking twine experience was fine. But Mark Darcy didn't appear at my Sunday dinner like he did to Bridget so it was basically a (t)win(e)-lose situation.</p><p><a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/fennel-rubbed-pork-roast">Fennel-Rubbed Pork Roast</a> - My first time cooking with pork. This was good. Fennel and star anise have some amazing flavor powers, the latter making me want all the black jelly beans every time I cook with it.</p><p>(<em>Sorry, no food pictures. In the Sunday dinners of yore, we did not pause for someone to have a photo shoot over their perfectly arranged place setting. We just appreciated the good food and ate it. And my gosh, I am starting to think we were on to something then</em>.)</p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-90607790617790402572014-03-24T06:40:00.001-04:002014-03-24T06:43:27.363-04:00Maybe it's best if I don't interact with any humans, small appliances, or restaurant patios today<p>Yesterday morning I woke up in that strange place between annoyed and cranky for no reason that I could recall. Maybe someone had dream-annoyed me. After I went into the kitchen and started the Keurig and brewed a cup of coffee without actually putting a cup there to catch the coffee, I realized Sunday was going to be one those "Maybe it's best if I don't interact with any humans today" kind of days.</p><p>These kind of days happen. I am generally grateful when they happen on a weekend day because I can actually make it through the day without making my less-than-stellar mood anyone else's problem.</p><p>A few hours later, after vacuuming up my iPhone charge cord and having to untangle four pieces of the cord from my vacuum, I realized I should have taken the Keurig incident as a sign and escalated the day to a "Maybe it's best if I don't interact with any humans and small appliances today" kind of day.</p><p>Knowing my back-up iPhone charger was at the office, I did some quick analysis to see how long I could last without my cord and realized I would last about five hours without it. So off to the Apple store I went. On a Sunday afternoon. Basically the perfect storm of interaction with humans and small appliances. My mood was just SUPER on the walk there.</p><p>And then, as though someone thought "Let's throw one more thing her way and see how she reacts", all I could hear was music blasting from the speaker on someone's phones.</p><p>Let just preface this with two things. One, I hate speaker phone technology. Unless you are sitting in a place where you are absolutely certain no one can hear you, you can just assume that whatever music you are blasting or conversation you are having on speakerphone is annoying at least one person. Two, being an frequent rider of public transportation, I have gotten over the annoyance of people wearing headphones blasting music so loud that I can think "Wow, I never realized that that was what that lyric was about." I had to as a means of survival. Yes, I still find it incredibly rude but I can block it out. (Though you would think that those trendy, gigantic $200+ headphones would feature some sort of noise absorption technology). </p><p>But I just cannot handle is when people blast music on the speaker of their phone. It is NOT a boom box!</p><p>This week I encountered two guys on Metro having what I assume was a Battle of the Bands with their phones. (My vote: The music was terrible on both.) I then encountered a teenage couple so in OMGinLOVE that walking down the sidewalk required a soundtrack of some love song. (I think it was One Direction. And yes, I hate that I know that.) And then the barista at Starbucks who thought that maybe the slowest moving drink line in Starbucks history would enjoy some rap background music, that it might put us all in great spirits. (Spoiler alert: The slowest moving drink line in Starbucks history did <em>not</em> enjoy it.) </p><p>Fast forward to Sunday on the sidewalk, already in a bad mood and there was even more music being blasted at me from someone's phone. I was about to snap as I glared around the crowded sidewalk trying to figure out who it was. Everyone was a suspect. </p><p>And then I burst out laughing because I caught the suspect red handed. That music wasn't anyone's phone, it was the coming from the speakers of restaurant patio I was walking past. </p><p>You know your bad mood has hit rock bottom when you get mad at a giant patio.</p><p>(Though, note to the restaurant, if the music you are playing on your very nice patio sounds like it's being blasted from an iPhone, you might want to look into upgrading your sound system.)</p><p>But that funny little moment did put me in a slightly improved mindset to face the Apple store, a store I hate going to in the best of moods, so maybe it was a blessing in speakerphone disguise. </p><p>Here's to a week of interacting with humans, small appliances, and maybe even a restaurant patio or two!</p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-50767566284072926712014-03-17T04:50:00.001-04:002014-03-17T14:41:51.876-04:00When high school fashion trends come back to haunt you<p>In the never-ending workout fashion catwalks that are my gym and Pilates studio, I noticed with much horror a new trend make an appearance early last year that is still going strong. It's that loose tank top with the exposed sports bra attached look. Inherently there is nothing wrong with the look. As someone who always tries to look nice when I work out, I actually think it would be cute.</p><p>Except I have lived through this look before. Long before lululemon made it all cute and stuff, this look was THE LOOK during high school. And it's not like we were wearing it to work out, it was worn as general casual wear. It was unfortunate. I shudder at the mere thought of it. </p><p>I like to pretend all fashions that I wore before age 27 never happened. But specifically those I wore in high school are never to be spoken of.</p><p>Unfortunately, photographic evidence makes that impossible.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="tank.jpeg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-J06m_XX-gDU/Uya3TbEsxtI/AAAAAAAARMI/0odETFqN0rM/tank.jpeg?imgmax=800" alt="Tank" width="163" height="291" border="0" /></p><p style="text-align: center;">(<em>It was a long, horrifying walk down fashion memory lane as I sifted through pictures to find this one. I am still cringing.</em> )</p><p>Yep, long loose tank top over a sports bra, with Nike shorts that I am sure had a giant swoosh across my bottom, a giant GUESS? watch, and probably Adidas soccer sandals with socks. I was a walking name brand catalog which probably led to my current aversion to ANYTHING with a visible logo or brand stamp.</p><p>(Pirate hats were not part of the trend. I am not sure why I needed to clarify that except that I really didn't want you to think I walked around wearing a pirate hat. A fashion train wreck I was, but I had <em>some</em> fashion standards. Okay, probably just one standard: "Never wear a pirate hat except in a hat shop.")</p><p>But we ALL wore this outfit. This pic is from a high school band trip where the photos appear to show a contest in who could wearing the baggiest tank top. Why were the 90s so against tailoring and fit?</p><p>I remember that at the time, I appreciated the trend a lot because as always the overweight girl, there were few trends that I could participate in. This look was my jam! And it is entirely unfortunate that I thought that. But in my hometown, IT WAS COOL. </p><p>I won't mock the fashion trends of my hometown because I really have no idea what was in style in other towns at that time. But I grew up in a very small farming community before the internet. It's not like most of us were reading <em>Vogue</em>. Most of our fashion trends were determined by the back-to-school JC Penney catalog, long before JC Penney kept trying to rebrand itself to be cool. Every so often someone would visit her cousin in like Chicago or California and come back wearing something that was actually in style and the outfit would get mocked and the outfit would never see the light of day again. And two years later, we would all be wearing that trend and you <em>knew</em> that person had to be thinking "TWO YEARS AGO I told you this was cool!" </p><p>(For what it's worth this form of mockery not only deterred on-time fashion trends but also gangs. We had a gang problem in my town for like four days in the mid-nineties. Eventually everyone just started making fun of the gang and the gang disbanded because they decided it wasn't worth it and just went to the Farmerball game instead and then probably had a beer party in a corn field with everyone else. And a gang-free life was restored to the town and everything was right again. I am positive this type of gang deterrence would only work in my hometown.)</p><p>Looking back, it was NOT a good look and it was NOT cool and as a general rule, I try not to relive any horrifying fashion looks of my past. It's a matter of my personal growth. But I was in Target over the weekend and sifting through the clearance rack in the workout clothes section and I discovered one of these modern-day sports bra-tank top combo for $6. And then I broke all my general rules and bought it. I am not sure what came over me. I am still working through it. </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="photo-17.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-03ezM9WbHbY/Uya3Wx65wWI/AAAAAAAARMQ/eiJWeg7MCPY/photo-17.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="Photo 17" width="199" height="300" border="0" /></p><p>But the thing is, it's not awful. Kind of comfy actually. Maybe we were onto something in high school. It's perfect for those days when I eat a big lunch and really don't want to go to the gym but I drag myself there a anyway but don't really want to put on my normal, more fitted workout tops because "Hello, food baby!" And the fabric has come a long way from what I am certain was a Hanes tank in high school. </p><p>So I will concede on this <em>one</em> fashion item that it is okay that I am wearing something that I wore terribly in high school. As long as it is worn <em>only</em> in a working out context.</p><p>And as long as it is never ever worn with a pirate hat. I do still maintain that fashion standard.</p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-6308501797841485672014-03-10T20:01:00.001-04:002014-03-16T20:37:10.211-04:00The wedge sneaker of restaurant bathroom trends<p>When paging through food magazines like <em>Saveur</em>, <em>Eating Well,</em> or <em>Bon Appetit</em>, often times my favorite articles are not the recipes, but the random little stories that the fill pages before all of the recipes. Articles like "To braise or not to braise" (it's very controversial, apparently) or "Composting in the City" (There are taxis in DC that will pick up compost from people like me that live in high rises and have no gardens.) I always learn a thing or two. Or have a good laugh.</p><p>Or in the case of a recent <em>Bon Appetit </em>article, raise my hands to my face Kevin McAllister-Home Alone style and scream NOOOOOOOO. That article? <em>Anatomy of a 2013 Restaurant Bathroom</em>. No, I do not have strong objections to bathrooms. We all need them and I think we are all grateful that restaurants have them. For this article, <em>Bon Appetit </em>sent one of its writers to visit many, many restaurants and had the person compile a list of popular trends in restaurants bathrooms. And you thought your job was weird sometimes. </p><p>I had no problem with the designer soaps and cool sinks on the list. (I love cool sinks. If I had a big enough handbag, I'd steal the one in the bathroom at my dermatologist's office.)</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="photo-16.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DFcI8F2_kjo/Ux5SW0SOywI/AAAAAAAARLs/EzeQHAyRMsw/photo-16.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="Photo 16" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p>What got me all up in arms was that restaurants no longer can write "men" or "women" or use the well-known standard men's bathroom /women's bathroom graphics. Nope. That's just <em>sooooo</em> 2012.</p><p>Since I think this trend has made its way to most of the restaurants I have dined at over the past few years, I can assure you that much like high-low hems and wedge sneakers, this trend needs to die. </p><p>Because however trendy it may be, this is the reality for the diners of the restaurant. If the restaurant writes words on the bathroom doors, the words must be in a language that most of us are probably not quite familiar and often do not immediately make obvious which is which. <em>Oh, that ends in an "a"! High school Spanish taught me that is the feminine version of a word. Except, dammit, I am at a Belgian restaurant. Why did I spend so much time reviewing the menu before I ate here and not the language derivations?</em></p><p>Or it's a graphic that is not always that clear as to what it is. It's like a Rorschach test of how badly you have to pee. <em>Is that a skirt? Or is it sombrero? That looks like a beret. Is that handbag? Or is it a man bag? I have no idea. I give up! </em></p><p>And inevitably, if you walk into the wrong bathroom, the person who is in there is seated at the table next to you and you just want to crawl under the table with the bread basket and calm the mortification with carbs. </p><p>So what do I currently do? I stand in the dimly lit hallway of the bathroom--and it's always dimly lit which makes the bathroom door Pictionary test all the more challenging--fake fumbling with my phone so as to give the impression that I was just about to use the bathroom when I had to handle this very important matter on my phone. In reality, I am just waiting for the door to one of the bathrooms to open so that I know which is which. </p><p>Which generally works well except for unisex bathrooms. But is the bathroom <em>really</em> unisex or did someone else get stuck in the hallway trying to figure out which bathroom to use and just storm in?</p><p>My Restaurant Bathroom Trend suggestion for 2014: Restaurants just kick it 90s style and put a simple M and W on the bathroom doors. But Employees Must Wash Hands, uh, let's keep that trend around for forever!</p><p> </p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-86781249312824799012014-03-03T09:48:00.001-05:002014-03-03T11:17:30.560-05:00Picture Perfect Penmanship<p>Every time I scroll through Instagram, I can only laugh at how our world has become one where our online lives need to be styled picture perfect in social media. This is the only logical reason I can come up for the number of times I have encountered detailed articles on "how to style your coffee table." It's a coffee table. It doesn't always have to have a "style."</p><p>(My coffee table styling tip? "Put whatever stuff you like on it but realize you are going to be shoving it all out of the way so you can eat dinner off the coffee table while watching the Oscars Red Carpet Show. Also, it's normal for the remote control to be on the coffee table. You don't have to pretend it isn't." )</p><p>And I get the whole perfectly styled picture. I mean, I have done it myself. And I know there is usually a pile of mess like two inches away from the frame of my picture. But within that picture frame? My God, my life is like a magazine shoot. So with that thought in mind, I like to think--however cynical it may be--that everyone's photographed perfection is just two inches from a total mess and I never get a complex or jealous from other people's perfect pictures. </p><p>Except for the handwriting posts. </p><p>With greater frequency, people seem to be posting little handwritten notes/scriptures/grocery lists in perfect little spiral notebooks on Instagram all written in the most perfect penmanship ever. And I will be honest, I rarely read what the note actually says. Instead, I am giving the picture a side-eye and thinking is "I wonder how many times they had to write that before they got it perfect enough to post." </p><p>Or do I really live in a world where that many people can write <em>that</em> perfectly on the first try?</p><p>As much as I love the art of penmanship, I barely hand write anything any more. All of my notes/grocery lists/to do lists are kept in Notes on my iPhone. On the fly to-do lists and meeting notes at work are written so quickly that they look like hieroglyphics. </p><p>So maybe I just have penmanship envy; I can live with it. Just remember, MY COFFEE TABLE IS STYLED BETTER THAN YOURS. (It's not. Promise.) </p><p> </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="photo-15.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lfp4QTWXGXM/UxSWGTYmFNI/AAAAAAAARLE/dGGNWDZ1KAg/photo-15.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="Photo 15" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;">Coffee mug, (half of) the Apple logo, spiral notebook, pen. Picture perfect nailed it.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Except for the stains on the coffee mug, I guess. And my pen is upside down.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And there is a giant pile of unsorted mail two inches away from that coffee mug.</p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-37357018113844920292014-02-24T06:21:00.001-05:002014-02-24T08:18:17.150-05:00How to dance without embarrassing myself…or notYou know that saying "Dance Like Nobody's Watching"?<br /><br />I hate it.<br /><br />In these times, someone <em>is </em>watching and probably recording it and if you look ridiculous enough, they are uploading it to YouTube.<br /><br />And if I were to dance, EVERYBODY would be watching (both live and on YouTube) and cringing and thinking "Wow, is she having a full body muscle spasm? Should we call an ambulance?"<br /><br />I cannot dance. I have no sense of rhythm. I am really not comfortable dancing and it shows.<br /><br />I literally dread all dance-related events. Legitimately, one of the best parts of getting older is that your friends are more inclined to say "We should totally do brunch!" rather than "We should totally go dancing tonight!" Bring on the Eggs Benedict and harp infused tunes if it means not having to feign excitement over mind-numbing techno music in a crowded room filled with strangers who smell either like sweat or like they dove head first in a cologne or perfume pool.<br /><br />But I do sometimes--in moments of irrational thinking--think that I <em>do</em> want to be the person who enjoys dancing. But how do you learn? Is there a class? I don't want to learn how to ballroom dance or modern dance or whatever. I just want to learn how to dance like a normal person does when music is heard in a social setting. My high school gym class chapter of line dancing to the <em>Boot Scootin' Boogie </em>apparently never gave me this life skill.<br /><br />And then maybe, just maybe, I found the answer.<br /><br /><img alt="Photo 15" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ggpC9ybmwvU/UwsrN-l0HXI/AAAAAAAARKk/Idws3vYbZnM/photo-15.JPG?imgmax=800" height="500" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="photo-15.JPG" width="368" /><br />Thank you American Airlines and your runway delay a few months ago for giving me time to read your in-flight magazine and allowing me discover this article. All that has stood between me and a lifetime of dance avoidance was just five steps. Who knew?!<br /><br />So I gave it a try. In the privacy of my own home. With the blinds closed. (And there will never ever be video footage of this. So don't even ask.)<br /><br /><strong>Step 1: Strike (or fake) a confident stance. </strong>Fake it until I, yeah, I am never going to be confident doing this.<br /><br /><strong>Step 2: Step-touch with the feet - plus hips.</strong> Flashback to every step aerobics class I have ever taken and hated. I was just waiting for the article to scream "And grapevine to the right!!!!" as I trip over my own feet.<br /><br /><strong>Step 3: Bust out with a body roll.</strong> This is where it all falls apart. The instructions direct me to "move my head back and body roll down to my hips." And then roll right back up. This is not natural.<br /><br /><strong>Step 4: Uncork the chaîné.</strong> I think the world might be a safer place if I am not uncorking anything in my dance moves.<br /><br /><strong>Step 5: Remember: Less is more.</strong> Um, brunch anyone?<br />rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-55872516553160607812014-02-17T06:10:00.001-05:002014-02-17T17:45:51.313-05:00Missing the Olympic excitement of yore<p>Normally I feel like the Olympics are these two grand weeks where we all become over invested in sports and athletes that we do not care about for another 4 years. You always end up overhearing some random conversation at the office about "Can you believe that luge finish last night?" It's what the Olympics are all about!</p><p>But this year? I am having a hard time getting emotionally invested in any part of the games. And it's not for lack of trying. A snowstorm, frigid temps, and a long holiday weekend, I have nothing but time! And it started out strong. There were some epic Fashion Police texts with friends during the Opening Ceremony parade of athletes. But since then, it has just been various shades of blah.</p><p>And I have been trying to figure out why. There is no clear cut reason but I have some theories.</p><p>1. It is currently colder and there is more fresh snow in DC than there is in Sochi. Do they not do climate studies of Olympic sites? That there are skiers going sleeveless and news anchors are not wearing coats while I have to put 15 layers on and scale a snow bank to cross the street to go to the grocery store just makes me angry and resent the Olympics games a little. I want my winter Olympics to be filled with athletes and reporters and fans wearing puffy coats, hats, and scarves for functional purposes and not fashionable purposes. <em>I</em> want to be the one wearing them for fashionable purposes and not functional ones. (My apologies to team Bermuda. During the Opening Ceremony, I mocked the athlete from Bermuda with a "we get it, your country is famous for the shorts. But it's the Winter Olympics." comment. As it turns out, he was the only one properly attired.)</p><p>2. There's no athlete that's the face of the Olympics. There is always the one or two athletes who not only get all the hype beforehand but also then do really well at the Olympics and we all love them and get all excited. There is also that one athlete who is kind of a rebel/jerk and we kind of hate him/her but we still watch. There's just not those people this year. It's like Shaun White got a grown-up haircut and became boring. I mean, it happens. But when you are something cool like a snowboarder, you hope it doesn't. (Also, he must have the best PR team in the business. Never has a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/17/shaun-white-arrested-nashville-fire-alarm-vandalism-intoxication_n_1891973.html">celebrity tantrum/destruction of a hotel room</a> been so efficiently swept under the carpet. It would be prefix to any other celeb/athlete/politician's name from now until forever. But no one ever even mentions it with him. So strange! I feel like every-young-celeb-destined-for-a-meltdown might want to look into hiring White's publicist.)</p><p>3. The drama in figure skating this year seems all so…manufactured? I mean, the Russian figure skater (Plushenko?) withdrew <em>before</em> he skated. In Olympics figure skating dramatic moments of yore, he would have had a very dramatic moment DURING his skate. Possibly in front of the judges. Maybe with tears. And his arch nemesis would have been next to skate and glaring at him for creating a distraction. And allegedly the top two American women's skaters (whose names I am blanking on. Didn't figure skaters used to be household names?) hate each other. But that's all we know. Lame. I mean, for those of use who lived through the Harding-Kerrigan scandal and French judge scoring scandal, our bar for figure skating scandal is SO MUCH HIGHER.</p><p>4. The figure skating scoring system sucks all the drama from the event. Damn you French judge in 2002.</p><p>5. The Internet ruins everything! (I feel like I need to follow this up with another old person phrase like "YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN!") But you know the results before the primetime starts. It's hard to avoid them and everyone hates that person who expects everyone around them to be all SPOILER ALERT; it just isn't feasible in modern technological times. </p><p>6. I do not understand what "slopestyle" means. America appears to be really good at it and I want to get excited about it but what is it? Are we just making up sports now? From the clips I have seen it appears to be gymnastics on skis or snowboards. But I thought that was covered by some other sport.</p><p>7. I don't think I can say this without sounded like a poor sport, but America isn't doing so awesome these Olympics, is it? I mean we are still winning things (we seem to be really good at bronze this Olympics) but I just expect us to be REALLY good at Olympics. So when I look at the medal count and see the American gold medal count at just four, all I can think is "that's all?" (We were really good in Vancouver, right? I am in not imaging that, am I? Or I am just brainwashed by how good we were at running, swimming, and somersaulting in the Summer Olympics?)</p><p>There are some bright spots though.</p><p>1. I really do feel bad for Bob Costas' eye infection situation. Mainly because whether it is pink eye or not, any adult with an eye infection is instantly subjected to an unlimited number of "Who over the age 8 gets pink eye?" jokes. It is honestly the most annoying part of having an eye infection: eye drops can cure the infection, nothing cures the inane comments that accompany it. But seriously, Bob, these are the two biggest weeks of your year every other year. And the problems with the water were well publicized before you left. No one would have judged you if you would have had a diva moment and demanded bottled Fuji water be shipped in just for you. I actually judge you a little for <em>not</em> making that demand. </p><p>2. The three American men who swept the ski slopestyle are adorable and humble. Granted, they are young and look like they could be the cast of whatever trainwreck show ABC Family creates next and I just sort of hope they stay adorable and humble and/or have people surrounding them who are not totally crazy so they don't go all Justin Bieber on us. Slopestyle boys, just say no to drag racing and egging your neighbor's house. (That one of them already has created a hashtag to get dates makes me a little nervous for them.)</p><p>3. I am really enjoying how quick everyone is to blame the uniforms for how badly the speed skaters are doing. It's the outfit's fault? Can we all start using that excuse? "I wrote this computer code poorly because my outfit is a wool-blend today." Come on. Basic rule of fashion, you give an outfit a test run before a high profile wearing. For the average person, that means checking to make sure it does not cling or fall oddly so that when you wear it you are totally comfortable. Or to see if you need alterations or wardrobe tape. For an Olympic athlete, you test out the outfit! I mean, they did this, right? If they didn't, well, that's just dumb. But if they did, don't blame the outfits. Maybe everyone else just got better. (*I will 100% take this statement back if an evaluation of the outfits determines they were at fault. But I doubt it.) </p><p>4. Everyone <em>does</em> seem really into hockey. I am really into the fact that my evening train commutes get a two week break from Caps fans heading to the games. They never wear jackets to the games and I just don't understand and it bothers me. Do they wear fourteen layers of clothing under the jerseys they sport? Because it is freezing.</p><p>5. The Today Show is never better than when they are at the Olympics. I normally never to get to watch it but a snow day and a few days off for the President's Day weekend have allowed me to tune in and it is always entertaining.</p><p>6. Ice dancing! When did America get so good at it? The American ice dancers seem delightful!</p><p>But there are seven days left to the Olympics so maybe there's hope. I mean Curling really heats up this week so JACKPOT! </p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-85747960505977044542014-02-10T06:29:00.001-05:002014-02-10T06:34:37.740-05:00Barre bar ponderings<p>A few Saturdays ago, the barre class I was in had reached the point every barre workout reaches where the shaking in my legs makes me wonder what would happen if I just walked out. I mean, I don't actually know anyone in the class so it would just be strangers judging me if I quit.</p><p>But I am not a quitter. And the fact that the mental smack down I give myself daily about the size of my thighs is not healthy and I feel a little better about it if I am being proactive about making them not so gigantic. These two facts alone had me searching around the classroom for something, anything, to focus on besides how much tiny little barre movements can hurt so much. </p><p>And then I noticed the tattoo on the girl in front of me at the barre (bar? barre bar?).</p><p>"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose."</p><p>Okay, I loved <em>Friday Night Lights</em>. The first season of the show and the second and third seasons of <em>West Wing</em> are the quality standards by which I judge all other television shows. But much like I do not have "Barlett for America" tattooed anywhere on me, I do not have the signature line of <em>Friday Night Lights</em> inked on me anywhere either.</p><p>I mean I guess a line of dialogue is not unlike having a cartoon character or something else arbitrary tattooed on you. And even if the phrase has a deeper meaning than just Coach Taylor said it and you loved it, I feel like you would definitely be setting yourself up for a lifetime of "So, a big <insert TV show name> fan, huh?" </p><p>But it did get me thinking about TV show catch phrase tattoo possibilities. Now, I do not watch a lot of TV. I am always the person who answers no to the question "Did you see the latest episode of/Have you Netflix binge-watched <Insert popular TV/Netflix/Whatever technology all you people are using now show>? But I do watch <em>Big Bang Theory</em>. And I think Sheldon Cooper's favorite catchprase "Bazinga!" might be a pretty great tattoo. Or it would at least give the person behind me in barre something to think about.</p><p>And the best part all of these thoughts? By the time I had them all, the worst of the barre workout was over.</p><p>(Full disclosure: I do not have any tattoos and unless a third-life crisis pummels me over into a wave of insanity, I probably will never have one. It is just not my thing. And unless it's a line from a television show that I actually happened to watch and I am trapped in the workout studio from ballet-inspired-hell, I barely even notice them on other people let alone judge them for it.)</p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-36816081628550626102014-02-03T06:33:00.001-05:002014-02-03T06:33:07.492-05:00Spa Diaries: Werewolf Edition<p>Last year I realized that I needed consistency in my skincare routine so I started using a med-spa for monthly facial treatments. This is my polite way of saying “I am getting old and I do not want to look THAT old when I am even older so I will do whatever preventative measures I can now.”</p><p>And so I traded in the wood flute music, dimmed lights, and cucumber infused water of a regular spa for a more sterile and clinical setting with a doctor supervising my chosen treatments. And while I do miss the relaxing setting of a regular spa, I cannot deny that my skin is looking pretty great.</p><p>The technician who usually does my treatments is very good and very matter of fact. That is my polite way of saying brutally honest. “<em>My gosh, you have so much dead skin on your nose.</em>”</p><p>My treatments improve not only my skin but also my ability to deal with criticism.</p><p>I just never quite know what she is going to say. I mean, a standard microdermabrasion appointment a few months ago took an unexpected turn with this statement:</p><p>“<em>Your face. You have so much hair on it.</em>”</p><p>I AM A WEREWOLF.</p><p>“<em>It’s blonde and very fine. But there is just so much of it.</em>”</p><p>How is this possible? How have I never noticed this? I spend a ton of time staring at myself in the mirror. This is 50% vanity and 50% “I went to a meeting at work with a green cookie sprinkle stuck in my teeth and I would like to avoid that mortification in the future.” So my face has been self-analyzed quite critically. And I have never ever thought “Wow, my face is so hairy!” Had I been missing it all along? Had everyone around me noticed it and not said anything? Can I just curl up and die now?</p><p>“<em>Do you want me to wax it off?</em>”</p><p>You are never more vulnerable in your decision-making skills than when you are laying on a paper-sheet covered treatment bed bathed in fluorescent lighting without easy access to a mirror and have just been told that you have been walking around your whole life looking like you were auditioning for a role in <em>Teen Wolf</em>. (Not a lead role but the older, pear-shaped blonde cousin.) Rational thought processes no longer exist in these conditions.</p><p>YES WAX IT OFF.</p><p>I am veteran of waxing. It will never not hurt, but I have learned to tolerate it. And practically breaking my hands squeezing them into tiny fists is my chosen method of absorbing waxing-related pain. But the pain from waxing my face? I wanted to punch my tiny pain-absorbing fists through the wall.</p><p>“<em>It only hurts that much because you have so much hair.”</em></p><p>Ah, the truth. The ultimate pain numbing agent. I’d prefer hydrocortisone.</p><p>In the 48 hours following that appointment, I interrogated my friends about the status of my face. “DID I HAVE A HAIRY FACE AND YOU NEVER TOLD ME?” I really do not demand much of my friendships. Basically that they be low-drama and that YOU TELL ME IF I HAVE A HAIRY FACE (or if I have a green cookie sprinkle stuck in my teeth).</p><p>My friends all agreed that they had never noticed my hairy face.</p><p>So the question of if I was a werewolf or if my technician just wanted a waxing commission will probably never be answered.</p><p>And I must confess, my face feels really soft now. And my make-up does sit nicer.</p><p>But I think my face was warmer in my werewolf days.</p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-19631438746933501122014-01-27T06:16:00.001-05:002014-01-27T19:42:51.838-05:00Christmas Cards! In January! (It's a long story)<p>I remember back on Christmas Eve scrolling through my Instagram feed as people revealed their Christmas card designs for the year and thinking "I should really do that with mine. Except, I JUST MAILED MINE TODAY." </p><p>In the days/weeks/two months following the government shutdown and the ill-timed-but-totally-amazing <a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/2013/10/jackson-hole.html">Jackson Hole vacation</a> that followed it, life was kind of a blur. November and December are busy for everyone and everything and then I just felt like I was two steps behind on everything. So I did not even find myself in Paper Source buying my Christmas card materials until December 17th. Normally, I have my cards assembled by then.</p><p>And then I set to work cutting, printing, and assembling cards like a crazed person all hopped on candy canes. And I had about half of the cards done and put aside to get ready for mailing. And then I lost them. I threw my hands up in the air and basically said "I give up. You win, Ebenezer Scrooge. You win!" Then a few days later, I was packing to fly home for Christmas the next day when I found my Christmas cards, in a Target bag filled with boxes of the Peppermint Crunch Junior Mints. I almost cried. Mostly because I had forgotten about the Junior Mints. And I definitely downed a box. Emotional eating as its finest. </p><p>So I spent the first two days of my Wisconsin Christmas vacation finishing up my cards before trekking to my hometown post office to mail them. What ensued was a debate between the two post office employees working if the single rhinestone on my card would cause the postage to be higher. I had asked and really did not care if I had to put extra postage on them, I just wanted them to be mailed. "Is it a mobile rhinestone?" Cue me giving them a look of "I have absolutely no idea what you mean." But replying "No, it's glued down to a dinosaur head." (And there's hint of what my card is all about.) They stared at me like <em>I </em>had a dinosaur head.</p><p>But the cards that needed to be mailed were finally mailed. Though I heard from some people that they did not receive it until mid-January. I blame the non-mobile rhinestone.</p><p>In some ways, this cold weather hibernation that I have fallen into during the month of January has been perfect for me because I now feel like I am only one step behind on everything. (It is not so much a hibernation as it is that I refuse to be outside if I do not have any clean fleece-lined leggings. And I do not yet own seven pairs so they have to be rationed.) If this miserable-I-thought-I-left-this-weather-behind-in-Wisconsin winter continues much longer, I might actually be caught up on things by the end of February.</p><p>Part of my catch-up included hand delivering the last of my Christmas cards last week--yes, you read that correctly, so I can finally reveal my Christmas cards. Just in time for Valentine's Day. For which I will not be creating/sending/hand delivering cards because they probably wouldn't be delivered until St. Patrick's Day and I just need to feel not behind on holidays for a little bit. (The solution to all of this would be to just send store bought Christmas cards or not send any at all. But I just cannot bring myself to do it. As much as it stresses me out, I do actually enjoy the process.)</p><p>Anyway, my Christmas cards! They are probably not worthy of that seven paragraph lead-in but I thought they were pretty fun. Dinosaurs. I have always thought they were pretty cool. I put together this wooden brontosaurus skeleton when I was a kid and had it hanging from the ceiling of my bedroom for a really long time. I always shared Ross' enthusiasm for dinosaurs on <em>Friends</em> even though the rest of the cast did not. And a very popular office debate that comes up at least once a week is "Which is cooler: a dinosaur or a dragon?" Answer: dinosaurs. Always dinosaurs. </p><p>And on my Jackson Hole vacation, I started reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Beloved-Brontosaurus-Favorite-Dinosaurs/dp/0374135061">My Beloved Brontosaurus</a> and was loving it. (I have not yet finished it. It falls into the category of things I am still one-step behind on.) And dinosaurs and random pop culture items justing started merging together in my head and formed my Christmas cards. </p><p>There were five different designs. (Funny but not unexpected story: I kept samples of the cards for the sole purpose of writing this post. And I definitely lost them. And then found them in a box of markers. This story would have been so much better if I had found in them in a box of Junior Mints.)</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4157.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Z0q7H1FQnL4/UuY_5VPIsAI/AAAAAAAARJY/FL8IwEqI9qs/IMG_4157.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4157" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>I used a Cricut for the dinosaur shapes. If I had cut those things out by hand, I would have had a meltdown. </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4156.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-k53NYrrNZQk/UuY_99dsfbI/AAAAAAAARJo/rYppQkAqUM4/IMG_4156.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4156" width="500" height="406" border="0" /></p><p>Can you spot the non-mobile rhinestones?</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4154.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3eQD7LgzWig/UuZAADPWcVI/AAAAAAAARJ4/RdZvrI5uc2Y/IMG_4154.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4154" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>I originally was going to make the Santa hats on my own. But then I found these stickers at Paper Source and thought this could be my audition for Sandra Lee's Food Network Show "Semi-Homemade Christmas Cards." In retrospect, making those hats would not have ended well. </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4155.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tVeSxMlyFi0/UuY_-w7tz1I/AAAAAAAARJw/ziewr5l9804/IMG_4155.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4155" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>The Amazon drone idea freaks me out. I order most everything from Amazon. My doormen already make fun of my online shopping habits. With Amazon drones dive-bombing them daily, they would HATE me. (I have no idea how drones work.)</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_4158.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--hxcJgBnFpI/UuY_871XJzI/AAAAAAAARJg/kqJg4wPTrgw/IMG_4158.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4158" width="350" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>This one was my favorite. I was so tired of the daily deluge of Starbucks Red Cups in my Instagram feed when I wrote this one. </p><p>Related, I think I somehow left off a few people who typically receive cards from me. If I did and you happen to be reading this, I am sorry. We are still friends. If I find another Target bag full of Junior Mints during all of this cleaning I have been doing during this winter hibernation, chances are your card is in it and you will get it eventually. And possibly a box of Peppermint Crunch Junior Mints. Which I would personally be more excited about than my Christmas cards.</p><p>Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Happy Ridiculously Cold Winter! Happy Valentine's Day! Happy St. Patrick's Day! (There. I am caught up. And a little bit ahead.) </p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-718364788512968512013-12-18T19:28:00.001-05:002013-12-18T19:46:41.735-05:00Swappin' Cookies<p>A few weeks ago, one of my sisters texted me that one of my cousins was hosting a family cookie exchange. Since I was a time zone away and would not be attending, my sister graciously offered to bake and take a cookie to the party for me. Naturally, my sister asked which cookie was my favorite. In general, I hate answering "What is your favorite {insert baked good, restaurant, brunch, shoe, time to nap, etc}?" questions because it always depends so much on my mood, my annoyance level, the weather, whatever. It is just hard naming favorites. I like a lot of things and some days I like some things more than others and some days I do not. </p><p>So I texted back "Let me think about it." And then, admittedly, kind of forgot about it. And then a few days later, I got the "Last chance for your favorite cookie" text. So I just replied "Funfetti cookies" because Funfetti is almost always good. And then this text exchange happened:</p><ul><li>Me: Funfetti cookies</li><li>Sister: Cool. Do you have a recipe for those?</li><li>Me: Recipe - Buy the box mix and make it.</li></ul><p>Boxed mixes are just sometimes so much easier than being all-from-scratch. </p><p>But I did try to redeem myself a little when I attended a Cookies and Cocktails party last weekend and made peppermint patties from scratch (though the temptation to just buy a bag of York Peppermint Patties, unwrap them, and place them in a pretty box was definitely there by the end of the work week). I spent some time researching recipes and there is so much variation in peppermint pattie recipes. Two recipes, both with the same yield, one calls for 7 cups of powdered sugar, the other for 2 1/2 cups. That is a HUGE difference.</p><p>I ended up using the <a href="http://www.joyofbaking.com/candy/PeppermintPatties.html">Joy of Baking recipe</a> because I trust that website. They were easy to make but super rich. And not any better or worse than York patties.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Photo1.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g-8XNcWYpvo/UrI9t6xeY8I/AAAAAAAARIc/wBgHJBwtBsA/Photo1.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Photo1" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p>So in the future, I think I am just bringing boxed mix Funfetti cookies to parties. They are just a (delicious) party in a box.</p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-61227553322074932002013-11-27T07:53:00.001-05:002013-11-27T07:53:01.724-05:00Happy Thanksgiving!<p>Happy (day before) Thanksgiving! Every year in the week so before Thanksgiving, I receive at least one email from a friend or a friend of a friend that goes a little something like this "I think I want to make a pie this year for Thanksgiving. I have never made a pie before ever. Do you have a recipe you recommend? Or any tips?" </p><p>Now, I am FAR from being a pie making expert. I do enjoy making pies but a lot of time my pie crusts look like something a four year old crafted from Play-Doh. But pies do not have to look like something from a magazine photo shoot. Put a sweet fruit filling inside a buttery crust and who care what it looks like because it will be completely delicious to eat. </p><p>That said, if you are making a pie for the first time, I always defer to Martha Stewart. Her <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/948287/pate-brisee">pate brisee</a> is my go-to pie crust recipe and her <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/336049/sour-cherry-pie">sour cherry pie filling</a> (if you cannot find sour cherries, sweet ones work just fine) is a good basic recipe. But if you want to mix it up a little, I have found <a href="http://www.parade.com/226372/smccook/24-thanksgiving-pies-to-make-this-fall/">some great pie recipes</a> in the Parade magazine insert to the Sunday paper. (I still subscribe to the Sunday paper because as a former newspaper delivery girl in middle school, I like to support the industry. Even if I only really read the coupons, the Target and CVS ads, and the little Parade insert.). It is a collection of 26 great pie recipes! </p><p>We had our office Thanksgiving potluck last week and the food was all so good that I ate so much that I did not eat dinner that night. I made mini pies because they are easy for potluck situations and I used my <a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/2013/02/mini-pies-major-good.html">mixed berry filling recipe</a> and the <a href="http://www.parade.com/170361/parade/blueberry-maple-pie-with-a-flakey-cinnamon-butter-crust/">Maple Blueberry</a> and <a href="http://www.parade.com/26729/oleanarestaurantcambridgema/brown-butter-pecan-pie/">Browned Butter Pecan</a> from the article. It was the first time I have made a pecan pie and I burned two sticks of butter before I successfully browned the butter but the end pies were so good. </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="unnamed.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oZpKA65DyzI/UpXrHS2e8_I/AAAAAAAARHs/MhIoIzOL9SA/unnamed.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="Unnamed" width="374" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>(That's a leaf on top of the berry pie. It just sort of looks like Texas.)</p><p>Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy all the pie! </p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-35105858201967195972013-11-05T04:45:00.001-05:002013-11-05T04:45:31.442-05:00Cupcake Week 2013: Snickers<p>Yesterday was National Candy Day. Which inspired a conversation around the office of "why is Halloween not National Candy Day?" Because that would seem to be actual National Candy Day. Or maybe we should celebrate National Candy Day far away from Halloween because pretty much all of us are dealing snug clothes right now due to downing one too many mini Snickers. Because they are mini! So we can eat more!</p><p>But I did not eat any mini Peanut Butter Snickers because I do not like them despite the fact most people rave about them. Regular Snickers all the way for me. Always and forever. In candy bar form and in cupcake form!</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9670.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3IQMBRiYt9g/Uni-J_TEZOI/AAAAAAAARGg/zqfBmFHGzIA/IMG_9670.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9670" width="600" height="400" border="0" /></p><p>I started with <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/beattys-chocolate-cake-recipe/index.html">a chocolate cupcake</a>. And used a cupcake corer to create a hole for <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2012/05/22/homemade-salted-caramel-sauce-recipe/">caramel sauce</a>.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9656.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UKRHxyduoBg/Uni-LveffyI/AAAAAAAARGo/R699x73Ntgw/IMG_9656.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9656" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p><p>(Note: After I finished this cupcake creation and sat down to write this, I realized I forgot the vanilla nougat part! How could I!?!? If i were to to redo this, I would make a vanilla cupcake batter and place two tablespoons of it in the chocolate cupcake batter while it is in the cupcake liner and cover the vanilla batter with chocolate batter. I think that would work.) </p><p>Topped with a <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2010/10/22/best-chocolate-buttercream-cupcakes/">chocolate frosting</a> and garnished with peanuts and the leftover caramel sauce filling! Snickers cupcake! </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Screen Shot 2013-11-04 at 8.23.31 PM.png" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Fq5IVdElP5c/Uni-NSFm3YI/AAAAAAAARGw/cpRQEggNqa8/Screen%252520Shot%2525202013-11-04%252520at%2525208.23.31%252520PM.png?imgmax=800" alt="Screen Shot 2013 11 04 at 8 23 31 PM" width="543" height="538" border="0" /></p><p>Hope you enjoyed Cupcake Week 2013! And hope you enjoyed me actually blogging for seven consecutive work days for the first time…in a while. Man, how did I used to do this daily for so many years? Back to the reality of one or two posts a week.</p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-67003854333480787432013-11-04T13:23:00.001-05:002013-11-04T13:31:29.731-05:00Cupcake Week 2013: Hot Tamales<p>Hot Tamales candies, I just love them. There was a month when the office coffee shop did not have them and it was a pretty rough month. I got through it (with the help of the other candies that inspired cupcake flavors this week). Really, I love almost any cinnamon candy, those cinnamon red hots? So good. But for this week, I stuck with my beloved Hot Tamales for a cupcake flavor. </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9687.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jnYdFUI2iEI/Unfl9DDE5jI/AAAAAAAARGA/oBjg0AOZ1po/IMG_9687.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9687" width="600" height="400" border="0" /></p><p>Fiery hot! </p><p>To create this cupcake, I started with this <a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/2011/12/six-days-of-christmas-cupcakes-miracle.html">basic vanilla cupcake recipe</a> and added 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper for a little kick.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9685.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yW5eHdlDuXc/UnfmDYFqW-I/AAAAAAAARGI/NciKooKnlM0/IMG_9685.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9685" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p><p>Then I added 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper to my <a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/2011/07/frosting-dessert-best-accessory.html">vanilla buttercream</a> and swirled it on and topped with red sugar crystals for holy! hot! tamale! flames.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Screen Shot 2013-11-04 at 6.51.26 AM.png" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-79WCBS28jNs/UnfmKBUkaLI/AAAAAAAARGQ/1Fyac_VsETY/Screen%252520Shot%2525202013-11-04%252520at%2525206.51.26%252520AM.png?imgmax=800" alt="Screen Shot 2013 11 04 at 6 51 26 AM" width="545" height="538" border="0" /></p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-79668241298420805842013-11-01T13:23:00.001-04:002013-11-01T13:23:28.913-04:00Cupcake Week 2013: Twix Cupcakes<p>A conversation that happens quite frequently in my world usually starts with "Twix is the perfect candy bar, isn't it?" Because it really is. Cookie crunch, caramel, and chocolate. The four Cs of candy bar perfection! And of cupcake perfection too!</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9682.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5GBMvb-WR6A/UnPjZrdzBmI/AAAAAAAARFM/TWPQUppRQXI/IMG_9682.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9682" width="600" height="400" border="0" /></p><p>To capture the four C's in this cupcake, I started with a shortbread cookie dough. Because shortbread cookies are the rare cookie that has a longer baking time (roughly the same as that of cupcake batter), I put a shortbread cookie base in the cupcake liner. I used a <a href="http://www.joyofbaking.com/shortbreads/shortbreadcookies.html">basic shortbread cookie recipe</a> and used a circle cookie cutter to cut the cookie dough to the size of the cupcake liner bottom (approximately 1 3/4 inches in diameter). I poured <a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/2011/12/six-days-of-christmas-cupcakes-miracle.html">vanilla cupcake batter</a> over the cookie bottom and baked it.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9677.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4W7zY__kldg/UnPjdwDWLaI/AAAAAAAARFU/qflNWOCKklo/IMG_9677.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9677" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p><p>Once cooled, I used a cupcake corer (or you can use a knife) to create a hole for <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2012/05/22/homemade-salted-caramel-sauce-recipe/">caramel filling</a>. (If the caramel is messy, who cares? It is still going to be delicious!) </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9678.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YAgB6DwZZJw/UnPjfbZb0OI/AAAAAAAARFc/IXZ68--3QTs/IMG_9678.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9678" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p><p>Top with <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2010/10/22/best-chocolate-buttercream-cupcakes/">a chocolate frosting</a>! </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9680.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9Mii-zpTzm0/UnPjgshV4rI/AAAAAAAARFk/4YBfKSpcA-E/IMG_9680.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9680" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p><p>Cookie crunch. Caramel. Chocolate. Cupcake. Those are five delicious C's when combined!</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Screen Shot 2013-11-01 at 7.25.55 AM.png" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KQjf1b7RRqA/UnPjivcBnJI/AAAAAAAARFs/Xso_mqFGGww/Screen%252520Shot%2525202013-11-01%252520at%2525207.25.55%252520AM.png?imgmax=800" alt="Screen Shot 2013 11 01 at 7 25 55 AM" width="530" height="530" border="0" /></p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-918910332709540752013-10-31T04:57:00.001-04:002013-10-31T04:57:20.369-04:00Cupcake Week 2013: Sour Patch Kids Cupcakes<p>Sour Patch Kids were always my favorite movie snack. I was never much for popcorn at the movies but give me those gummi candies coated in sour sugar and I was one happy movie-goer. I barely go to the movies anymore (I think it has been like two years since I have been? Wow!) But I still pick up these sour sweet treats every once and a while. </p><p>And creating a Sour Patch Kids cupcake was probably my favorite flavor to create this week! (Chocolate based candy bar flavors are much easier to create cupcakes from. Fun fact.)</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9708.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PAx32qVsRxU/UnIbUZmGKTI/AAAAAAAAREg/2qZy7jgZSpA/IMG_9708.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9708" width="600" height="400" border="0" /></p><p>To create this flavor, I started with a basic vanilla cupcake recipe. I used <a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/2011/12/six-days-of-christmas-cupcakes-miracle.html">this one</a> but again, use your favorite vanilla cake recipe or a box mix. Divide the batter evenly into four bowls. Add 1 teaspoon lime zest and 1 tablespoon lime juice and 1 or 2 drop of green food coloring to one bowl. Add 1 teaspoon lemon zest and 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 or 2 drops of yellow food coloring to one bowl. Add 1 teaspoon orange zest and 1 tablespoon lime orange and 1 or 2 drop of red/yellow food coloring to make orange to another bowl. To create the raspberry flavor, I used 1/3 cup crushed freeze dried raspberries. (Note: I am normally not a big food coloring fan but I used it in this case for the lemon, lime, and orange flavors so I could tell them apart.) Bake the cupcakes as recipe instructs.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9690.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ExjyrGZmtKA/UnIbWMvwOXI/AAAAAAAAREo/wY7ABhkA69E/IMG_9690.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9690" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p><p>Frost the cupcakes with a vanilla frosting. I used my <a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/2011/07/frosting-dessert-best-accessory.html">basic vanilla buttercream recipe</a>. In a bowl, combine sugar with 3 or 4 packets of Citrus (or Margarita! Ole!) Sugar Free Drink Mix.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9699.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mR-46tABgyY/UnIbX4UQ0pI/AAAAAAAAREw/NWuV9M74vVU/IMG_9699.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9699" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p><p>I bought the Target brand but any brand will work. This is the secret weapon to the sour flavor. I also added some coarse sugar crystals to give a bit more texture. Again I added some colored sprinkles to tell the flavors apart.</p><p>So sour. So good!</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Screen Shot 2013-10-30 at 7.03.17 PM.png" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-68UWB7k-9PE/UnIbagPzbHI/AAAAAAAARE4/3_X90CmY_CQ/Screen%252520Shot%2525202013-10-30%252520at%2525207.03.17%252520PM.png?imgmax=800" alt="Screen Shot 2013 10 30 at 7 03 17 PM" width="537" height="537" border="0" /></p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-14354763460221319432013-10-30T04:42:00.001-04:002013-10-30T04:44:51.431-04:00Cupcake Week 2013: Junior Mint Cupcakes<p>There is something so refreshing and oddly elegant about Junior Mint. The jolt of mint filling wakes you up and shiny coating just seems fancier than the standard chocolate candy coating. I just love them!</p><p>And in cupcake form, I might love Junior Mints even more! </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9650.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ybuetbuIzaE/UnDGLzudqpI/AAAAAAAARDQ/uUCQq3zTqGY/IMG_9650.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9650" width="600" height="400" border="0" /></p><p>To create this cupcake, start with chocolate cupcakes. I used my favorite basic chocolate cake recipe, the <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/beattys-chocolate-cake-recipe/index.html">Barefoot Contessa's Beatty's Chocolate Cake</a> (you can use whichever chocolate cake mix you like. Or a box mix.).</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9646.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Qsn7V2ClaHM/UnDGcJYpdtI/AAAAAAAARDg/MR41OS26swI/IMG_9646.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9646" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p><p>Using a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cuisipro-747166-Cupcake-Corer/dp/B004OFGWBI">cupcake corer</a> or a butter knife, create a hole in the center of the cake. Fill that hole with a peppermint buttercream (I halved <a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/2011/07/frosting-dessert-best-accessory.html"> this recipe</a> and added 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract).</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9644.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WA_2Dt3YvlE/UnDGdVlJZaI/AAAAAAAARDo/YUkE2dID7eU/IMG_9644.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9644" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p><p>And then to capture that perfect Junior Mints shine, I whipped up a chocolate ganache (<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chocolate-ganache/">recipe</a>) and spooned it over the top of the cake. Perfect!</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9647.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZGRPIXAP_ic/UnDGeeaqrcI/AAAAAAAARDw/9lwK0-KGUaU/IMG_9647.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 9647" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p><p>And oh-so good! </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 7.11.58 PM.png" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bNdY-CaGPyY/UnDGWENEMPI/AAAAAAAARDY/N4tekCIJEKw/Screen%252520Shot%2525202013-10-29%252520at%2525207.11.58%252520PM.png?imgmax=800" alt="Screen Shot 2013 10 29 at 7 11 58 PM" width="542" height="542" border="0" /><strong>Junior Mints, are you fan? </strong></p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-46790847960626957532013-10-29T12:00:00.000-04:002013-10-29T12:00:03.247-04:00Cupcake Week 2013: My Favorite Candy BarsEvery few days around 3 p.m. at the office, I realize those last two hours require some sort of candy to make it through. It is just necessary. Fortunately the coffee shop in my office building is bizarrely well-snacked with every single candy ever. So I often find myself staring at the selection trying to figure out which candy fits the mood I am in, the craving I am craving.<br /><br />There are five candies that I always fall back on for my candy break. And one day while trying to come up with a theme for this year's Cupcake Week, I started breaking down those five candies into cupcakes. And just like that I had all the flavors for Cupcake Week 2013's theme of "My favorite candy bars."<br /><br />As I started working on this year's Cupcake Week, I realized that I started Cupcake Week before Pinterest existed. With the creation of Pinterest, I feel like the world lost the concept of a new original idea. It just feels like everything has been done already. Or people are creating totally bizarre things in hopes of being being pinned and getting blog hits. Blogging has become such a weird world.<br /><br />I can almost guarantee that every single flavor I present this Cupcake Week already exists on Pinterest, probably with versions that you can make in a crockpot or with a ranch dressing packet or with actual candy bars shoved inside the cupcake. (Pinterest is so bizarre). But the way my Cupcake Week process works involved never ever Googling the exact cupcake flavor. That just seems like cheating. I deconstruct flavor translations <a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/2010/10/how-to-create-whoopie-pie-flavor-of.html">the same way I always have</a>. <br /><br />And if you break down this week's flavors, the parts are so simple. I did not even have track down recipes for components; I just used five or six classics recipes that I always use to create the finished flavors. I do not bake quite as much as used to but I do still love the creative process of it. And I hope you all enjoy what I came up with!<br /><br />For previous years' Cupcake Weeks,<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/search/label/Cupcake%20Week%202008">Cupcake Week 2008</a> - Cupcakes by season</li><li><a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/search/label/Cupcake%20Week%202009">Cupcake Week 2009</a> - Breakfast inspired cupcakes</li><li><a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/search/label/Cupcake%20Week%202010">Cupcake Week 2010</a> - Ice cream flavor inspired cupcakes</li><li><a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/search/label/Cupcake%20Week%202011">Cupcake Week 2011</a> - Beloved beverage cupcakes</li><li><a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/search/label/Cupcake%20Week%202012">Cupcake Week 2012</a> - Pie cupcakes</li></ul>I was going to do Cupcake Week next week but then I realized the whole candy theme tied in really well with Halloween and trick-or-treating (or 'trunk-or-treating' whatever that is that is all over my Instagram feed). And since I have not put up a single Halloween decoration, I decided I had to celebrate somehow. So as you are indulging in your favorite candies this Halloween (or the Friday after Halloween when everyone brings the extra candy to the office), try imagining the cupcake version of them.rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-23608601060626292622013-10-28T12:38:00.001-04:002013-10-28T19:48:49.211-04:00Jackson Hole <p>All the back in February I decided October would be a great vacation month, specifically a super-duper nice spa vacation. So I started making a list of possibilities and researching.</p><p>I had heard of Jackson Hole, Wyoming mainly because of the summit of the major economists there every summer. And my (much more outdoorsy than I) coworkers had mentioned it a few times as a great vacation spot. So in a random Google, I looked up Jackson Hole and an article on the spa at the Four Seasons winning an award. And that was all I needed to know so I booked the vacation. And then when I mentioned I was vacationing there, the responses fell into two categories "That seems really outdoorsy for you?" and "YOU ARE GOING TO GET EATEN BY A BEAR!" </p><p>My bear fear was very real and not helped by the fact that the bear activity reports were not accessible due to the government shutdown and by the fact that everyone felt the need to comment that bears were getting ready to hibernate and eating all they could. Probably including clueless, non-outdoorsy city girls. But I printed off my bear safety sheet and practiced my National Park Service "Hey Bear Hey" clapping scare away technique. So basically I was ready for the wilds of Jackson Hole. </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3147.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TMuSZO8TR-w/Um6Rnecu_NI/AAAAAAAAQ_I/HwBSh3GgzAI/IMG_3147.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3147" width="400" height="400" border="0" /></p><p>With only slight exaggeration, EVERYONE on my flight to Jackson Hole looked outdoorsy. Like they were ready either to take a bear down with their bare hards or to hit the slopes immediately upon arrival. Luckily I had carried on my little Patagonia down jacket that I wear to get coffee on weekend mornings so I slipped that on and tried to fit in. An outdoorsy fraud! (I may not be super outdoorsy but I can put together a super cute outdoorsy outfit like few can.) But landing with this view made me feel like even I could be outdoorsy. </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3150.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MaeLarSo70I/Um6RqqjcfzI/AAAAAAAAQ_Q/YJVUpHLzsy4/IMG_3150.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3150" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>I spent a big chunk of the government shutdown stressing out about whether or not I should still take the vacation. It was mostly paid for already but somehow taking a fantastic spa vacation while my whole working/financial life was in flux made my stomach hurt. I was reluctant to plan much ahead of time because I did not want to get my hopes up and then end up canceling. So beyond booking my spa treatments, I really had no plans.</p><p>But then four days before I was leaving, the shutdown ended and I returned to work for two days, confirmed all of my reservations, and then a not insignificant amount of guilt set in about the amount of work I was leaving behind that needed to be done. So basically this was most anxiety-ridden pre-spa vacation ever. And at my very first spa treatment, the spa person commented "Wow, there is a lot of tension built up in your neck." I resisted the urge to say, "Well, duh." But with hotel room views like this, I relaxed quickly.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3164.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ppeo-B_AgnA/Um6RsoZDiZI/AAAAAAAAQ_Y/U0gLCM2zWoQ/IMG_3164.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3164" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p>And every morning I had my coffee or hot chocolate by the fire pit on the hotel patio with this view. The hotel always had little blankets to use so I spent a lot of time in the evening sitting on the patio reading. The fires were surprisingly warm which was great because the temperatures fluctuations were intense. 20 degrees in the morning and evenings and 60s in the day.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3421.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kOlmn3H4Moc/Um6SKSmZmMI/AAAAAAAARAg/s8NBx4s0hs4/IMG_3421.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3421" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>And even when the insomnia that took up residence in my body over the shutdown refused to let go for a few nights of the vacation, I just pulled my chair up to the balcony door and stared at the big open sky of stars with the fireplace roaring in the background. Stars, I really miss them in the city.</p><p>I basically ended up having one spa treatment per day and then doing some activity the rest of the day. It ended up working out nicely and I never felt rushed or over planned. Though a true perk of vacationing by yourself is that you never ever have to do anything you really do not want to.</p><p>With my fear of bears firmly rooted in my head, I decided I would bike rather than hike. I rationalized that I could pedal faster than I could walk/run and worst case scenario, I could toss my bike and create a diversion. None of this is probably a bear best practices. The hotel gave me a bike, a helmet, and a bottle of water and I put a trail map on my phone and set off. Except, beyond spinning classes, I have not ridden an actual bike since my paper route days in my teens. So after the doorman handed off the bike, I wheeled it off out of the eyesight of anyone and prayed that I remembered how to do it.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3200.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-suheEg_AZcQ/Um6RxaTD5ZI/AAAAAAAAQ_g/OKxpLKxfRVE/IMG_3200.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3200" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>I was so nervous my knees were shaking which does not make bike riding any easier. But within a minute, I had it down and was off on the trail.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3206.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OfSD0oou1y0/Um6R0n3yqfI/AAAAAAAAQ_o/PHDkX4UfFVA/IMG_3206.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3206" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p>The Moose-Wilson bike trail is incredibly well-kept and beautiful! </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3214.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hUbJcUC_vkY/Um6R4rwxQDI/AAAAAAAAQ_w/WoXnScF_kp0/IMG_3214.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3214" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3231.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O4xHU1pxkIk/Um6SB-O68hI/AAAAAAAARAA/B943952klxQ/IMG_3231.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3231" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p> </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3225.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GXHdE_PI0pE/Um6SDvL6puI/AAAAAAAARAI/GI6bB9xcFzI/IMG_3225.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3225" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p>And even has a bike roundabout that I had no clue how to navigate. So I just plowed through. There wasn't a lot of traffic.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3216.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6WvahMYcs6g/Um6R_GmFqGI/AAAAAAAAQ_4/n8rvxcHwj6k/IMG_3216.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3216" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>I had no wildlife encounters on my bike ride despite fully expecting to slam into a moose at any given moment. I did get chased by a golden retriever for a bit and nearly had a heart attack at the sight of something fluffy and bear-like that I discovered was actually a cat.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3233.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kTJoXhp7cFE/Um6SIQ7W7mI/AAAAAAAARAY/GKBWCtR5BW8/IMG_3233.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3233" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p>I make bike helmets look good. (No, no, I don't.)</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3228.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NEBY0CxrZPk/Um6SFTcZSLI/AAAAAAAARAQ/wAqnSF0GKEg/IMG_3228.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3228" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p>I rode the trail end-to-end and thankfully could still walk the next day. But the giant bruises on my legs suggested my biking technique needs some work!</p><p>The next day I explored the city of Jackson Hole on a different set of wheels. I really hate dealing with rental cars, mainly because I hate driving. But I stayed in Teton Village which is 12 miles from the town square so I needed a ride for one day. (I really liked not staying in the city. Not that Jackson Hole was a bustling metropolis but it was nice to be in the quiet.) The hotel has a partnership with Mercedes Benz so the concierge told me I could use one of their cars for the day (for free! Sweet deal, right?) After the doorman showed me how to put the car in drive--my real life car does not even have power windows or locks so this was a bit more high tech than I am used to!, I was off!</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3284.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w56SdF79k-8/Um6SMXQJ8KI/AAAAAAAARAo/9n0sOu45EKQ/IMG_3284.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3284" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>Jackson Hole is a quirky cool little town. It is a lot like any other ski town like Aspen. But not quite as upscale as Aspen. A little more small town. With a town square bordered with antler arches.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3265.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JaJ7FpFj6FQ/Um6SOzkvjcI/AAAAAAAARAw/-mM3AYJ2MUM/IMG_3265.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3265" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>The leaves were still bright and colorful all over the town! </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3280.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KHbyYuJ8U0E/Um6SSZC1icI/AAAAAAAARBA/cvGpM2KBTvA/IMG_3280.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3280" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>I basically won the weather jackpot during my week there. They had awful snow/cold the week before and are getting more of the same this week. I had blue skies and sunshine the entire time I was there. Monday through Thursday, I do not think I saw a cloud at all, including this sky over the town square. (I know this is probably a blog world fail but I did not bring my fancy camera on this trip. Sometimes I just hate toting that thing around so all of my pics are from my iPhone and mostly unfiltered. The place is just that pretty.)</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3271.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TW48RhNxFK4/Um6SQYlLXCI/AAAAAAAARA4/-bi0jb2FZ7o/IMG_3271.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3271" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>It is the off-season in Jackson Hole and I actually love tourist destinations in off-seasons. It's not crowded, it's cheaper, and you get a peek into how the normal world operates there. (Fun fact: 1.5 million people visit Jackson Hole for ski season. But 3 million people visit in the summer. The town's proximity to both Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone make it a pretty nice place to visit.) I had lunch at <a href="http://www.dolcejh.com">Dolce</a> which was basically a must after I saw that it specialized in grilled cheese! Brie, pear, and arugula grilled cheese. Seriously so delicious!</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3276.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6yq6aUKyDJc/Um6SVJVhrII/AAAAAAAARBI/p7gW4wBls3c/IMG_3276.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3276" width="400" height="400" border="0" /></p><p>I spent all of Wednesday on a guided tour of Grand Teton National Park. Everyone on the tour was VERY into wildlife spottings. I bit my tongue when one person yelled "Look, a deer!" at something that I am 99.9% certain was a horse at the ranch next to my hotel. And then they all got wildly excited about spotting a chipmunk. In my head, I was thinking "Maybe we should aim bigger?" </p><p>It was a very chilly morning in the park but the tour provided snacks, coffee, and hot cocoa so that made it a little warmer. It was also very sunny. </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3310.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ySWhKFcswtc/Um6SbA-ABaI/AAAAAAAARBY/UifKC_yYFVc/IMG_3310.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3310" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>Grand Teton National Park is one of the newest national parks, created by land donated by the Rockefeller family. Since it is relatively young, a lot of practices that were in place before the park was actually created remain in place. It is one of the few parks you can hunt in. And the Jackson Hole airport is actually located in the park.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3320.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hGwUOUUDvsE/Um6SfyKeeLI/AAAAAAAARBo/vNskkMgm2i8/IMG_3320.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3320" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p>Arm popping in Grand Teton National Park since 2013. (I believe that is actually *the* Grand Teton Mountain behind me.)</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3318.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iiAf-akr91I/Um6SeDBNDEI/AAAAAAAARBg/YU_ZB6jNSBg/IMG_3318.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3318" width="330" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>The park was pretty empty the day I was there and they said it was likely due to people canceling vacations because of the shutdown and not knowing when it would end. And they all missed out on seriously some of the prettiest sights to be seen!</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3335.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YFHvla7RWhU/Um6ShVu4X0I/AAAAAAAARBw/J9_WhpRnxQs/IMG_3335.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3335" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p> </p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3345.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uhnqb1TpuWs/Um6Sje6zi_I/AAAAAAAARB4/yDUYMIk9W-I/IMG_3345.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3345" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3350.JPG" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mXGfwpKZc50/Um6SlXKJQsI/AAAAAAAARB8/VDDPWELHxHc/IMG_3350.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3350" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3395.JPG" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NDINaHo_xW0/Um6Szyi40mI/AAAAAAAARCc/TBimQ02n6_8/IMG_3395.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3395" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3361.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-p1LgGPxK07k/Um6S2G1xihI/AAAAAAAARCk/jpWPr57DnkI/IMG_3361.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3361" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p>I thought this rock formation in the Antelope Flats portion of the park looked like a very creepy face.</p><div><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3352.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lN_9P2asyX4/Um6Tm57HB1I/AAAAAAAARDA/34-OKmTQbrc/IMG_3352.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3352" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></div><p>We did not see any bears or moose in the park but we did see moose tracks of the non-ice cream variety. And then I stepped in bison and/or moose poop.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3354.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-joK1OPoLxMQ/Um6StAobqrI/AAAAAAAARCE/8SLNMlf9r9k/IMG_3354.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3354" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p>We did spot some prong-horn deer. And buffalo! Which seeing a buffalo move through the wild is seriously cool. And all of my second grade social studies knowledge of pemmican came rushing back to me!</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3389.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O2IKsZKhDcQ/Um6Su-TWA0I/AAAAAAAARCM/3TnZUvPU8uA/IMG_3389.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3389" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3371.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VDDS-XHiOJs/Um6Sw7zfYuI/AAAAAAAARCU/ZUbp3XUMrWQ/IMG_3371.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3371" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p>And in the end, it was a perfectly relaxing vacation in a most extraordinarily beautiful place! I really cannot wait to visit again!</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_3337.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cG_CfWCqR-M/Um6S5dzDvrI/AAAAAAAARC0/J5lZ5LNAt3s/IMG_3337.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 3337" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-64947687875231027762013-10-18T04:57:00.001-04:002013-10-18T08:32:42.655-04:00Five Things Friday<b>One</b>: I got to go back to work yesterday! YAY! The air conditioning and ventilation system had obviously been off in the building for the 16 days of the shutdown so I spent the first two hours back sweating at my desk. But I didn’t care because I was so excited to back. I missed it!<br /><br /><b>Two: </b>As someone who seriously struggles with general chit chat and small talk with people I don't know very well, I will miss having the shutdown as my go-to conversation piece. Because really, all I had to do was mention I was furloughed and I had a go-to topic that everyone could talk about.<br /><br /><b>Three: </b>Living through the furlough was just a super weird life experience and I hope that I do not have to do it again. But I fear that much like when any of us that lived through the Snowmaggedon Snow Week see snow in the forecast, every time a budget deal is in the works, we will flash back to Shutdown 2013. Except instead of putting on our pajamas backwards and doing the snow dance in hopes for a snow day, we will check the balances on our emergency savings accounts and prepare ourselves for the exhausting spikes in boredom, optimism, and anxiety that are sure to follow.<br /><br /><b>Four</b>: Random furlough observation: I went through my toilet paper supply so much faster than normal. Things you do not really think about but when you are home so much more than normal, it happens.<br /><br /><b>Five</b>: Cupcake Week 2013 will happen. The theme is selected, the flavors are set, and the recipes are collected. But it was technically supposed to fall the first week of the furlough. But when I saw that the shutdown was probably going to happen, the prospect of being home all the time, filled with boredom and stress eating potential, and around a billion cupcakes seemed like an excellent way to add “my clothes don’t fit depression” to my woes. And I really didn’t want to do that. So we will celebrate in November. Since I made up the holiday, I can move it around as I wish, right?<br /><br />(In retrospect, I guess I could have called this post Five Things Furlough. But it has sort of dominated my life. And now it's over. Onward, upward...until January 15th when this budget continuing resolution ends, I guess?)rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-15055701049351478232013-10-10T10:06:00.001-04:002013-10-10T10:06:52.992-04:00I hate dusting even more now<p>Last week during the Great Government Shutdown Cleaning and Organizing Party that has become my life, I hit my finger against a shelf while I was dusting. At the time, it just made me hate dusting even more. And I already hate dusting a lot. </p><p>But on Sunday morning, I woke up with a familiar pain pulsing through my hand. And flashbacks to the <a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/2011/08/green-thumb-cautionary-tale-about.html">Great Manicure Infection of 2011</a> settled in. That experience had made me all the wiser to an infected finger situation and this time around, I knew not to wait until my finger turned green. Instead, I dragged myself to urgent care on Monday morning because my finger was so swollen, I thought the skin might burst. (Oddly enough, the one thing I was freaking out about pre-shutdown a lot was if health insurance coverage continued during the shutdown. Because I know my luck and if something were to happen, it would happen at the worst possible time. Lapses in health insurance make me panicky but luckily, coverage remains the same during a furlough. Thank goodness!) </p><p>When the doctor walked in and assessed the situation and deemed my finger nail bed infected (I'm guessing when I hit it, something went horrible awry?), I followed up with "So we probably want to cut it, drain it, and then some antibiotics, right?"</p><p>The doctor gave me a look that immediately said "So this girl watches a few episodes of <em>Grey's Anatomy</em> and then thinks she can do my job, huh?" And then he realized I had some fingernail infection experience. And the treatment he took was exactly what I suggested.</p><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_2938.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hJGAptrk8Tk/Ula0bWFSPII/AAAAAAAAQ8g/XiuSwV0Wk5w/IMG_2938.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 2938" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p><p>And sent me on my way with a bottle of antibiotics, a hugely bandaged finger, and instructions not to get it wet. Naturally, I stepped outside into a total downpour, the first time it has rained in DC in a long time. Because of course that would happen. </p><p>But as it turns out, given that my typing skills are not top notch at the moment (this post took a while to type), infections of any sort leave me utterly exhausted, and antibiotics tear up my stomach, it is probably best it happened during the shutdown. I am getting exceptionally good at finding bright sides, aren't I?</p><p>And while the Great Manicure Infection left me with a bandaged thumb in a constant happy state of Thumbs Up, this infection is on my middle finger. So the position I had to hold it in to accommodate the bandage and the pain, well, the gesture seems appropriate for life as it is right now.</p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911491860249714027.post-19645975057210819702013-10-06T12:48:00.001-04:002013-10-06T13:44:03.095-04:00Snakes, Flintstones Vitamins, and Furloughs: Revisiting My Life Rules, Part 2<p>Last week, I was walking across a large area of grass in a nearby park. This in itself is probably a story because earlier this year, I silenced a room when I said, "I cannot remember the last time I walked on grass. I think it's been about a year." In my defense, I live in a high rise in the city so I have no lawn. And it is not like I am the type to seek out nature. But anyway, it is probably in my best interest that I rarely walk on the grass because</p><p><strong>My Life Rule #7: Bad things (almost) happen when I walk on the grass.</strong></p><p>I was one inch away from putting my foot down on the grass when I noticed something shiny right where I was about to place my shoe. And then immediately I took off running, arms flailing, and screaming "Snake. SNAKE. SnakeSnakeSnake. SNAAAAAAAAKE"</p><p><strong>My Life Rule #8: It is important to create as much of a spectacle of yourself as you can when you almost step on a snake.</strong></p><p>Some guys who witnessed my spectacle wandered over to the snake and yelled "Oh! It's a python!"</p><p>And then I almost died of hyperventilation. Mostly from the running and not the fact that I almost stepped on a python.</p><p>"But it's just a baby."</p><p>Oh, that makes it TOTALLY okay.</p><p>"And it's dead." </p><p>Given that the snake slithered away four seconds after they shouted that, I would suggest none of them quit their day jobs and seek careers as reptilian medical examiners. </p><p> As I stood there, shaking, not quite able to have a rational thought, all I <em>could</em> think was "Dangit Congress, I would not have (almost) stepped on a python if I were sitting at my desk, in my office, as I should be on a Wednesday afternoon." </p><p>Because I am, in fact, among the 800,000 furloughed employees in this government shutdown.</p><p>Last Tuesday, I went to the office and signed and dated my furlough notice. And looked around my desk to see what essential personal items I would need for however long this lasted. Given the amount time I spend at my desk and the amount of stuff I have there, surprisingly only one item went home with me that day.</p><p><strong>My Life Rule #9: When comes down to it, the only essential item at my desk is a bottle of Flinstones' Complete Multivitamins. The World's Largest Candy Necklace is NOT essential, but a good conversation piece.</strong></p><p>So I threw my vitamins in my handbag and said goodbye to my coworkers with no real idea of when I would see them again and went home.</p><p>And then I got home on that sunny Tuesday morning, sat on my couch, and thought "Now what?"</p><p><strong>My Life Rule #10: Shutdown furloughs are the ultimate payback for a lifetime of muttering "I wish I had more free time."</strong></p><p>Until you are living it, it is hard understand how surreal a shutdown furlough is. You don't know when you are going back to work except that you will at some point. You don't know if you are getting paid. And if you do get paid, you don't exactly when. And there are no life rules written for how to handle all of this.</p><p>And so I just did what seemed rational: froze all of my absolutely not necessary spending and patted myself on the back for having an emergency savings account for these scenarios. And while this has made me feel a little bit less anxious about money, I suddenly had ALL THIS FREE TIME.</p><p>As someone who historically is not so good at free time, I find myself waking up at my normal 4 a.m. to verify that nothing miraculous happened overnight in Congress. and I make a to-do list for the day. Projects that have lingered for forever are now done. Things have never been cleaner. Workouts have never been quite so long (also aided by the fact that the weather has been gorgeous). Books are being read. It is everything I daydreamed about accomplishing in my sometimes over-scheduled life.</p><p>But in the back of my mind through of all this is that nagging feeling of uncertainty and anxiety of when life will return to normal. And not involve (almost) stepping on (baby) pythons. </p><p>Because life right now is pretty weird. But it's okay. </p><p><strong>My Life Rule #11: When life throws you weird lemons, you just have to make weird lemonade.</strong></p><p><strong>For Revisiting My Life Rules, Part 1, visit {<a href="http://www.iwannabeadomesticgoddess.com/2013/06/death-snakes-and-smokey-bear-revisiting.html">here</a>}. (Which also have a snake tie-in. I am sensing a pattern.)</strong> </p>rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10056007931305560447noreply@blogger.com3