Wednesday, October 20, 2010

freshen up

I couldn't sleep last night and as I was staring into the ceiling fan I decided that I wanted to redesign the ol' blog. It's been fresh and summery for a few months and I'm not feeling so summery right now. I'm feeling brown and cozy and cider-ish. And I do think this new design is beautiful.

If we're being honest, I'm feeling a little cooped up. I wake up, work, wait for Andrew to get home, eat dinner, go to bed and do it all again. Nowhere in there does it say "go outside" or "go to the store" or "go get in the car" and so Friday rolls around and I practically attack Andrew the minute he gets in the door, begging him to take me dinner. Or to Target. Or somewhere that is not inside this house. Love it here, so glad we live here, NOT happy about staying inside 120 hours a week. I'm trying to be a little more intentional about getting out, even if it's just to sit on the front porch. Or walk around the neighborhood. But now that it's getting dark earlier, it's not as easy. Wah, wah, wah. I know. Let me get my violin.

I'm just sayin'.

So I'm brainstorming ways to spice things up and get some face-to-face time in my life. I'm afraid I don't know how to be around people anymore. I'm becoming more socially awkward by the minute, I just know it. So far, I've come up with these ideas:
  • Get a "seasonal" job in retail
  • Sign on for some part-time evening babysitting jobs
  • Take some classes at the community college
  • Complete all of my Christmas shopping
Okay. What else? Someone please move to Charleston and be my friend. I need a coffee date or something.

Stupid Navy.

Just kidding :) Smooches, Uncle Sam.

Friday, October 15, 2010

all because I wanted biscuits

Thursdays around these parts are for leftovers. Somewhere around the second or third week of marriage, when we were both working, I realized that I dreaded cooking more the later it was in the week. And so Leftover Thursday was born.

But on some Thursdays, the leftovers just don't cut it for me. Like this past week, when I really wanted to sit down with a hot biscuit and some strawberry jam, maybe a piece of leftover ham, and let that be my dinner. That's all I wanted. That's all I really, really wanted. So I set out to make some.

I got out my White Lily flour, because according to Nanny the Great Biscuit-Maker, there is no other brand when it comes to making biscuits. The recipe is on the bag. Just a few ingredients. Short. Sweet. Simple.

Let it be known, from here on out, that making biscuits is NOT simple. I like to consider myself a good cook, but these were a big fat FAIL. I no longer feel entitled to make fun of Mir for her attempt at biscuits, which were later shellacked and turned into Christmas ornaments for the family to laugh at year after year after year. I'm sorry, Mir. You didn't stand a chance.


I didn't take a picture, because I was too sad. But they were neither light nor fluffy, like the recipe title suggested. They were crunchy. And dry. And flat. If the distance wasn't so great between us, I would have driven to Bojangles to eat my weight in their biscuits. Which are truly light and fluffy. But alas, I did not.

The good news is, Nanny is coming to visit in a few weeks and we're going to make biscuits. And I'm going to make batch after batch, with her standing right there, until they're perfect. She says they're a "cinch" but I think she's lying to me. Nannies like to hold all of the biscuit power, so you have to come visit them. And then you beg for them to make biscuits and gravy and it makes them feel all good inside. A cinch, my left foot.

My OTHER Nanny, Nanny the Great Sugar Cookie Maker, said the same thing about her coveted Christmas sugar cookies. The cookies that my mom hides in the crawl space under the stairs to keep her husband and offspring from eating them all. [She's selfless, but not with those cookies or the honey from my dad's bees. She'll cut you over those two things.] So do you see the pattern? The Nannies who are all, "Oh, sweetie! All you have to do is this and this and this and then you'll have the most beautiful biscuits/cookies the world has ever seen!" And you're like, "NO, Nanny. You must have written the recipe wrong because my biscuits were crunchy and my sugar cookies looked like peanut brittle. And not in a good way."

Oh, but it's a cinch! Yeah? Well, here's what I have to say to that:


Tuesday, October 5, 2010

merry christmas to us


Guess what we're gifting each other for Christmas?? :)

We just booked the hotel last night and every time I think about it, I get all "aaaaahhhh! I'm so excited!!" We're staying at The Warwick and thanks to Priceline and a few moments of nail-biting anticipation, we're getting it for a steal. Like, saving $400 over what we originally budgeted. Yesssss.
In my head, NYC at Christmas is like a dream, with lots of ice skating and snow and red peacoats with great scarves. That, combined with all the sweet memories I have from our honeymoon there, I'm going to have it all built up by the time our plane takes off. Dear Lord, please don't let me get sick again or I will be SAD.
On our list [and feel free to add if you have any suggestions!]:
  • Rockefeller plaza
  • Wall Street
  • Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
  • FAO Schwartz
  • Wicked
  • GOOD FOOD
  • Hot chocolate

Did I tell you how excited I am?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...