Need a date? I'm your woman

Sunday Carolyn rang me up in need of a date.  Lucky for me her Husband had a prior commitment and couldn't make it to a dinner party hosted by one of her coworkers.  The lucky part is...her coworker can cook. 

Let me set this up for you.

Big beautiful kitchen...

Library of 680 cookbooks...

You with me?

Let the courses begin!

1st course:

Gazpacho

2nd course:

Roasted Salmon with Pink Peppercorn Sauce

3rd course:  an introduction to the most amazing machine.  I must have one. 

In this container, peaches and simple syrup.  Frozen.

A few minutes with this machine and you have heaven.

It's made by the Suisse.  But you already knew they were genius right?

Heaven and Peach Sorbet

4th course:

Chou Farci Aigre-Doux

5th course:

Salad with Brie en Croute

6th course:

And for the finale, Grand Duke and Creme Patissierie

Thank you Carolyn for the invite and Cory for having plans.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I'm gone for the rest of the week.  Taking a little trip and welcoming my 28th birthday.  Stop by on Friday, I might leave you with a little Flashback Friday gem.  Okay it won't be that good.  I don't want to set myself up for failure.  I hope you have a lovely rest of the week and I'll see you Tuesday!

The unfriendliest neighborhood

We live in the unfriendliest neighborhood in the world.  No really, we do.  Sometimes I drive into my neighborhood and see happy children playing in the streets.  Only when I get closer I see that they are not children, but brats with their Nerf guns pointed at my car as I drive by.  I'm lucky if they even get out of the road.  Who is raising these children?  I make a point to wave at all of these lovely neighbors when I am walking my dogs, but no one waves back...or even smiles.  The other day we attempted to leave our cul-de-sac and drove up to see two neighbors talking to each other.  We sat their in our car while they chatted in the middle of the road. No one moved or even acknowledged that we were trying to exit the neighborhood.  Now I see where their children get it.

Friday was the last straw.  I took  the dogs out for a walk and my dog was attacked by a neighbors dog.  We were at the base of their driveway, my dogs on leash, and their dog ran down the driveway straight for Issy.  Luckily she fought back.  I was in a tangle of leashes attempting to pull them off each other.  I fell to the ground and skinned my knee and hand.  The neighbor was able to pull his dog off and began to take his dog back to the house.  I was in shock.  I checked Issy out and there was blood, but I couldn't tell if it was from her.  I turned to the man and said "is your dog okay because I see blood", and he said "oh they're dogs, they're fine".  When I prodded further for him to check his dog out he got defensive and yelled "where do you live anyway?"  Like it was my fault I walked past his house and his dog attacked us.  I stood there a moment longer, checking out Issy and my knee waiting for him to come back and apologize or see if my dog was okay.  I got nothing.  I had met a genuine asshole. 

When I got home I started to clean Issy up thinking it was the other dogs blood.  I found a bunch of puncture wounds and thought that was it.  Then I noticed blood on my couch and found a big gash on her chest.  I emailed Becky (aren't blog friends who work for vets the best?) and she eased my mind.  I'm a bit of a hypochondriac when it comes to my dogs.  Okay, I'm just a hypochondriac.  Thanks Becky!  All weekend I've kept my anger with this man.  Bryan went to high school with his daughter and told me he has always been a jerk.  Part of me wanted to go back to his house and say something, but I know it wouldn't do any good.   Thankfully my dog is okay and so am I.  Sometimes I wish I wasn't so polite in situations like those.  If it didn't involve my dog getting injured, I would've demanded a redo.

I should mention that we do have awesome next door neighbors.   They are the saving grace.  Saturday they had us over for fish tacos and board games.  We also made Dark 'n' Stormies.  They will help you forget how awful your neighborhood is.  When we move, I'm hoping to take this family with us.

via tmagazine

Dark 'n' Stormy

2 ounces dark rum
1/2 ounce fresh-squeezed lime juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup, or to taste
4-6 ounces fresh ginger beer (we got ours at Trader Joe's!)

Build the drink in a highball glass filled with ice, adjusting for sweetness and tartness. Garnish with a wedge of lime. Serves 1. 

You can make your own Ginger Beer too.  See the recipe HERE.


I hope you had a better weekend then I did.  Lots of baseboards were caulked and painted.  What did you do?

Flashback Friday: So long sweet summer

Camping with my Sister and my Cabbage Patch doll

I should've sprung for this sweet haircut

 

I fear that summer is gone for good around here.  Wednesday was a sunny 88 degrees and yesterday...65 and rainy.  I'm just not ready.  I have some regrets.  Although I got in quite a few hikes, I never made it backpacking or camping.  That was one thing on my list to do.  I'm a procrastinator.

Last week, the night before my photoshoot with Mandy, I quickly made a hair appointment and stopped by a local nail salon for a walk in brow wax.  Which I haven't had done in the last two years. The nice lady examined my left eye brow she said "who did this to you brow?"   I guess that would be me...and my tweezers.  Then she pretty much took all of my right eyebrow off.  The moral of this story is, don't do walk in brow waxes at a nail salon and make sure you go camping before summer ends.

At least cold weather brings lots of Pho' and makes hot yoga tolerable.  Hope you have a great weekend!

Lavender mint lemonade

via @ Sunday Suppers

I had a few requests for the lavender mint lemonade recipe from Isabella's birthday party.  Ask and you shall receive!  Fall isn't here just yet.  There is still time for one more batch of lemonade. 


Lavendar Mint Lemonade

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup mint leaves
1 cup of fresh lavender stems (leaves and flowers) or 1 to 2 TBS dried lavender flowers
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice

Bring the water and sugar to a boil to make sugar syrup.  Remove from heat and add in the mint and lavender.  When the syrup is cool, add the lemon and lime juice.  Strain the syrup and pour into a pitcher with 5 to 8 cups of cold water (whatever suits those taste buds).  Serve over ice and garnish with mint and lavender. 

Add a splash of vodka or limoncello if I'm coming over.


And just because it is Thursday and I think you deserve more than a recipe...

Last weekend, while watching The Time Traveler's Wife

Bryan:  Did you see that?  He just kissed a naked little boy

Me:  Yes, but it is really himself in the past and the future so it's okay

Bryan:  I don't think that will hold up in court

In a Yellow House Photo Challenge: Trees

Here's another photo challenge photo for Chelsea's blog, hosted by Ashley.  Welcome back Chelsea!  Hoping you have a bag full of that purple stuff to share with us ;)

On the way to Pullman, the tiny town of my alma mater, there is a field with rows and rows of trees.  I have no idea what they are for.  Does anyone else know?  It also smells strongly of onions.  Always makes me want fajitas.  I took this photo from the car window.  I like the way it turned out.

Buster dog

Thanks for all your wonderful comments yesterday.  My head grew a few sizes.  Which is good because I have a pea head and would love for it to be proportional to my body.   Now I'm unsure I should show you the picture below because I swear it is like "She's All That" where you take off the glasses and become prom queen.  But whatever, I like to make fun of myself.  So be it. 

The other week we watched my BIL and SIL's dog Buster while they gallivanted across Europe.  Lucky ducks.  He's a good dog, so we had minimal problems.  Only a few plants were sacrificed.  But that dog, he likes his space.  My dogs don't understand space.  He wanted to lay on the couch and didn't want any other dogs up there with him. 

I'm sleeping on the roomy couch, leave me alone.

Okay, I'll accept kisses, but that is it!

Where sleeping dogs lie...when they're not allowed on the big couch. 

The more the merrier!

Here comes the bride...again.

Remember when Mandy Chiappini Photography did a photo session giveaway?  Well I won.  Yep, I did.  I didn't tell you guys because I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it.  I thought about taking pictures with my loving Husband, but he didn't want to be photographed.  Then I thought about the other love in my life.  My wedding dress.  We had a short affair.  Only a few fittings and our wedding day to get to know each other.  I loved that dress.  And my rubber boots!  How could I forget them?  I wanted them to meet somehow. 

Remember when they were brand new and I said I wanted to take pictures with them together?  Well I did.  They didn't even really need me.  They shined on their own.  I told a few people, mainly because I felt a little silly and vain.  But then I told Mandy and she said "do it!" And so I did. 

I am so happy that I did because she is amazing!  We had so much fun down at Pike Place Market and on Alki Beach.  I felt like a blushing bride again.  Thank you so much Mandy.  I feel like I could go on forever about them.  I love them!

See the rest HERE!

Isabella's First Birthday

This weekend was a lazy one.  Friday I had so much fun, but I can't tell you what I did yet.  Soon.  Saturday, I went to my co-worker's house for her baby's first birthday.  I missed all the good stuff, like cake and tutus, but I had fun snapping away at the little ones.  Especially little Chloe who every time she saw me, camera or not, would say "CHEESE".

1 years old!

Chloe and Isabella

The unhappy party guest

This was the only smile I could get catch

Playing with the balloons

Pretty flowers for the birthday girl

Proud Mama

Grandpa and Isabella

Everyone fights over the baby stroller

Lavendar mint lemonade with lemoncello.  Yum!

Butterfly cake

Tons of pink

Foxy dog

Isadora

 

Hey Mom, I'm your kid!  Throw me up in the air!

 

Kisses for the birthday girl

Kisses for David

David and Chloe

The pups in time out

Everybody loves Grandpa

 

It's not my party but I'll cry if I want to.

This is what happens when you say no to David. 

I used to say it to him when he was younger because he is so cute when he cries. 

I'm so mean...

Happy 1st Birthday Isabella!

The Paper Mama Photo Challenge: Flower

I decided to enter a photo challenge.  I'm trying to be a more active participant in the blog world instead of hiding in my little corner.  I actually had a photo that applied this time so...what the heck.  My Husband is watching Ice Road Truckers and I have Googled just about everything you can think of tonight.  Including pressing the 'I Feel Lucky' button.  Have you ever done that?

Dori and the park

Want to enter?  Stop by The Paper Mama

Every blogger is a Virgo...

Me:  *thinking* Did I ask for a fan for my birthday?

Katia:  *thinking* Uhhh...didn't she ask for a fan for her birthday?...

Maybe I'll just hold this huge baby and pretend it isn't from me

I swear a bunch of my bloggy friends have birthdays coming up.  Hey, me too!  Well next month.  But I'm sure you want to know what I'm asking for right?  Since I can't make decisions myself and you can say...Nikki, no.  Well too late because I've already sent the list around so my decision has been made.  James aren't you proud? ;)  I know I am.

I have been searching high and low for a purse this color.  Well I found it at UO. 

I might have to buy it before SF though...we'll see if I can muster the strength.

IKEA PS Vadmal throw.  Because you can never have too many throws. 

Lands' End Canvas Cowl Neck Dress

Because it is too frickn' cold in my office to wear less material

Work out clothes.  You know this homemade gym guru NEEDS them.

A new food processor. 

Currently I use a blender with a cutting board on top. 

I've lost 3 rubber spatulas to it.

HECK!  Rubber spatulas!  I have one...it has snowmen on it.

CamelBak M.U.L.E Hydration Pack.  I need a new backpack, I'm kinda small framed.  This would work.

Plus I might teach the dogs to drink out of the straw.  Think I can do it???

Stripes are out (no they're not don't listen to me).  Zig zag blouses are in.

I just like it.  I need more patterns, and color...maybe I should've picked a color.

And because it is like asking Santa for a pony. 

The Poetry Rug.  It can't hurt right?

Anything I'm missing?  Gift cards to H&M??  Oh yes, those too. 

P.S.  I kinda did register.  Using Wishpot.  I love it for filing away ideas. 

Unless of course someone breaks the link...then I'm screwed.