A short vacation...

I know it's only Wednesday but I am headed to Washington D.C. for a little vacation tomorrow so I will be signing off early this week. I am really looking forward to taking some time off of work and experiencing a change of scenery. I'm visiting two of my most favorite college friends, Aly and Stuart. They moved out to D.C. a couple years ago when Stuart started law school at Georgetown, and I am really excited for them to show me around! There are so many museums and monuments to see and the best part is most of it's free. My friend Kelsey is coming along as well so we will have quite the crew touring around our nation's capitol. I'll be sure and take lots of pictures to share with you!

Here are a few things to keep you busy while I'm gone...

A Post-it review of disaster films. (p.s. Starlee Kine is one of my favorite contributors to This American Life. She's hilarious. If you have an hour to kill do yourself a favor and listen to the one titled "Break-up" and thank me later.)

Human pacman.

It's cookie time: make your own (vegan) Thin Mints! (not a Thin Mint fan? try this Tagalong recipe)

Cool! rainbow typewriter.

Whoa! Mount St. Helens almost 31 years ago.

Pretty purse.

Yellow, I think you are my new favorite color.

More pancakes: cake batter ones :)

I cooked lobster too on Valentine's day but it was only the tail...and I forgot to take pictures. It was really tasty and surprisingly easy.

Lovely mismatch.

The roaring sea.

Dress lust.

(photo via rockstar dairies)

Music Monday.

Everyone is chattering about the new Radiohead album. What are your thoughts my dears? I've only given it a couple listens but I do believe I like it. My brother-n-law described it as " a really good album for driving alone at night". I very much agree. It doesn't have some of the epic songs that really stand out, in fact a lot of the songs ran together for me upon first listen. It has more subtle and ghostly tone. This song is especially beautiful...

Have a pretty weekend!

Hey guys! I'm so glad it's Friday. I didn't sleep well at all last night due to a bad migraine so I am definitely going to try for a post-work nap. Tonight, I'm thinking something along the lines of dinner and a movie sounds good. Saturday night I am going to the Hi-Dive to see Say Hi with a couple friends. I've never actually heard of them but hopefully it'll be a good show. Sunday is the usual, brunching and relaxing. And Monday is a holiday. Yay! Don't you just love long weekends? Hope you enjoy yours. x.

Look at what I found...

Film is not dead (amen)

Yummy! Bourbon bacon pancakes.

Aching for a trip to the seaside.

Grow.

The hippest family I've ever seen.

comfort>style.

little things.

Back to the future: these photo reenactments are uncanny. (Also, doesn't the first one look like a dorky Nicolas Cage)

Anthropologie does wedding!

Chart of culinary tools.

live the language.

(via)

Deep thought...Friday.

Sorry I have been mia this week. I have no excuse really, just life.

(via happythings)

happy love day.

Happy Valentine's day my lovely readers! I've always thought about Valentine's day as an excuse to be creative about your feelings for someone. Whether it's a lover, a family member or friend, it's just nice to have a day to say 'I love you' or maybe just 'you're pretty freaking awesome'. So here are some inspirational ways to say just that...

A love song mix, listen here.

A sweet homemade treat, like this yummy grilled cheese

Get crafty...

A personal little film...

Or keep it classic...

(photos via here here, here)

Happy Weekend!

Hello loves! Sorry my weekend posts have been a bit scarce. Fridays have been super busy for me and last night was no exception. I went to Benders to see my brother-n-laws band play, which was tons of fun. It was their 3rd show ever and I'm pretty proud of their progress. Tonight I am going to my friend Becca's house for a little party. I am a tad tired from last night though so I am trying to perk up with some caffeine right now. And hey, it's actually kinda warm outside, which is really helping my fatigue. The sun always makes me feel more alert. I am so aching for spring. Parallel parking in packed snow is not fun! Well, I'm gonna run to the store. I'm pickling green beans today! I'll let you know how it goes. x.

here are the goods I'm digging currently...

Just float.

Jamie Oliver is my hero.

These vintage wedding photos are pretty hilarious! (the outfits and the hair...so good!)

Pigeons...this photo is so awesome.

wishlist: these shoes and this dress.

Project tiny kitchen.

An inside garden diary.

whale mobile.

DIY: wooden headboard, genius!

Another sweet Etsy shop.

(photo via)

Deep thought thursday.

from- 10 Things I Have Learned

(via Daily Calligraphy)

I made Indian food!

About 4 years ago, I had never tasted the glory of Indian food. I had no idea that out there in the world was this fabulous combination of spices, cream and curry goodness. Until, this place. It doesn't look like much, but this restaurant was the beginning of my love affair with Indian food. When I lived in Boulder this restaurant was a weekly addiction shared with my ex-boyfriend and his family. I still crave their chicken makhani and lately, I have had quite the hankering. So much so that I decided I was finally ready to try it myself. So here's my first shot at making home-cooked Indian food...naan and all!

Chicken Tikka Masala

adapted from sophistimom

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, cut in half and thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons good paprika
• 2 teaspoon curry powder (hot)
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 1 4 ounce can tomato paste
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 inch piece of fresh ginger, minced
• 1/2 serrano pepper, thinly chopped (you may want to remove seeds depending on your heat preference)
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Pour olive oil in a pan and cook onions over medium high heat until slightly browned. Stir in the spices and cook for 1-2 more minutes or until fragrant. Add crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer. Transfer tomato mixture to crockpot and stir in the remaining ingredients (garlic, ginger, serrano and sugar). While the sauce cooks, marinate the chicken by following this recipe:

• 1 pound chicken tenders, cut in 1 inch pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon good paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon curry powder (hot)
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

Mix the chicken and spices together in a large ziploc bag or tupperware and place in fridge. Allow chicken to marinate for about 2 hours (or overnight). After 1 hour, add 1/2 a cup of plain yogurt to marinade and continue marinating. Next, place marinated chicken on a baking pan and cook for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. (tip: you may want to lay down aluminum foil or parchment paper so the chicken doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan)

Once chicken has baked add it to the crockpot along with the remaining yogurt, cream and cilantro. Cook 20 more min.

Garlic Naan

adapted from sophistimom

• 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 scant tablespoon (1 package) yeast
• 1 cup warm water (between 105 and 115 degrees F)
• 1/4 cup vanilla yogurt (or plain plus a tablespoon sugar)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted
• 3 tbsp of water

Place the four in a large bowl and set aside. In a small bowl combine yeast, water and yogurt. Make sure your water is at the correct temperature or the yeast will not activate. Allow yeast to bubble for about 5 minutes. Place yeast mixture into the flour. Add salt, water and 3 tbsp of butter. Mix with hands or dough hooks for about 5 minutes. Cover and place in a warm spot to let dough expand. When ready roll the dough in a thin tear drop shape onto a greased pan or pizza stone. Brush on melted butter and sprinkle dough with garlic salt. Bake for about 5 minutes at 500 degrees F. Repeat for more servings.

A family business.

Nikole Harriet and her father live close to 3000 miles apart. So, they started sending packages to each other to keep in touch. Nikole's father began filling her packages with these wooden spoons he'd carve by hand. She thought they were beautiful and that other people would too. And out of that thought, a little store was born.

Isn't that such a lovely, heartfelt story? What a cool way to get closer to your dad. Read the full story and look at the beautiful handiwork at their store, Herriot Grace.

Deep thought thursday.

(via freya)

Bits of my weekend...

A coffee shop, a Wonder truck on the way to the park, a free yellow rose from Whole Foods, brunch with friends at Jelly (again), a guard dog Gus, some front-porch sitting and a sunset...what a relaxing, sunny weekend.

hello,

geez, that was fast.

(via)