Avocados Are For Lovers

Slow Poke Sundays

2012-01-08T12:34:00.000-06:00

Here's to a day filled with meandering dog walks, naps, some light reading, and a trip to the movie theatre with snacks stuffed in my bag.

Resolving And All That Jazz...

2012-01-01T21:31:00.000-06:00

Like the rest of the world, I'm taking the opportunity of the New Year to set a few goals for myself. Here are a few on the top of my list:

1. Start fostering dogs again! If we find our second forever pup in the process, that'd be wonderful too.
2. Move away (we have a few cities in mind, but haven't decided where. Our lease is up in May!)
3. Get back into the swing of things health-wise. Specifically: running, yoga, and cutting down on sugar (my biggest vice). The holidays always make me a weak sugar-holic.
4. Start going to more shows in the city - plays as well as concerts.
5. Find and finish at least 5 DIY projects to make our house a little more home-y.
6. Start cooking more, eat out less.
7. Be a better vegan. I'm shooting for like...85% of the time at least. I hate you, cheese.

Most of these are really just getting back into the swing of things after a holiday hiatus, but the bf and I are also looking forward to some big changes very soon. I hope to share more, and I hope you stick around to read about it. Here's hoping 2012 is pretty awesome!

Sunday Smiles c/o Rufus

2011-12-18T17:15:00.001-06:00

That's my dude, looking all hip AND practical at the same time. This weekend was full of forest preserve hikes and meandering long walks for the hell of it, followed by lots of hot cocoa and coffee. I am grateful for one more relaxed weekend before all of the driving and busy craziness the holidays bring. Party on.

I bought it, I love it.

2011-12-10T15:26:00.002-06:00

I know it's the season of giving, but I have also done my share of giving to myself. As much as I love, LOVE getting gifts for other people, there have been a few items I just couldn't resist. Here's a quick list of items I've recently purchased and am loving right now:

1.) Earth and Water Ring from Moorea Seal's Etsy shop:

A vibrant yet neutral accessory, and a great statement piece.

2.) Vera Moda Toggle Button Shawl Cardigan from Asos:

Cozy cardigan with just the right amount of "grandpa" awesomeness. Note: This runs large, but it's also worth noting that the quality is excellent for synthetic materials.

3.) Hunter Boots in olive from Zappos:

Ok, these were actually a wonderful gift from the bf. I purchased these fleece socks for the colder months.

4.) Bow Crazy For Prints Dress on Modcloth:

Great dress w/ an adorable bow belt, and it's currently on sale! Jump on this one, ladies.

5.) Kimchi Blue Mixed Media Bowler Bag on Urban Outfitters:

Also currently on sale. I had been eyeing this beauty for months, but wasn't sure if I was willing to pay the price for such a statement bag. Then it went on sale, and then UO offered 20% off my order...so yeah, I finally caved.

6.) Speculoos Cookie Butter at Trader Joe's:

This is so freakin' delicious - definitely not a healthy choice, but who cares? It's like eating a delicious sugar cookie/gingerbread cookie hybrid from a spoon. Yum!

Rookie Mistakes

2011-12-01T08:00:00.002-06:00

So, guess what? I have an outfit post to share! And look how proud I am about this fact....

Yesterday was Alex's birthday, so I actually wore nice clothes after work -hooray! We met up with his mom and sister, ate some delicious mexican food while sipping margaritas, and then did a little shopping. We topped the night off with some cupcakes. It was a party, ya'll.

Jacket- Target
Striped sweater tank - Urban Outfitters
Jeans - LC Lauren Conrad
Boots - ??
Knitted socks - ASOS
Necklace - Target

Rufus is not pleased with being used as a prop.

I'm still trying to figure out when/where to take the best pics as there isn't much natural light lately. Also, Alex is a novice behind the camera, but it's still better than the tripod. If only I could take these myself...while directing myself....or something. Stay with me, folks. It's going to be a tad bumpy for a bit, but I do fancy myself a fast learner....most of the time.

Cake In A Cup

2011-11-27T11:51:00.000-06:00

So I've been slacking...again. However, I thought I'd pop in and share a really wonderful vegan dessert recipe with you guys. Seriously, this is so delicious and pure comfort food. My only adjustments? I used coffee mugs instead of mason jars, and I almost doubled the amount of apple the recipe called for. I would also recommend making and adding extra streusel, because it's just too good not to overdo. Yum!

Enjoy:

Don't mind the hipster mugs - they're just awesome, nbd.

Apple Streusel Cakes courtesy of Oh She Glows

Makes three-four, 250 ml Mason Jar cakes.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup + 1/8th cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8th tsp ginger
1/8th tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tbsp ground flax + 2 tbsp water (flax egg)
1/4 cup butternut squash, pureed
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped and peeled apple (I used Granny Smith)
1/4 cup almond milk
1/8th cup coconut oil, melted (or other light tasting oil)
Streusel, for layering: 2 tbsp Turbinado sugar, 1 tbsp flour, 1 tbsp Earth Balance, 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped Pecans, for layering

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 and grab a baking sheet and set aside. Grab three 250 ml Mason jars and sterilize in boiling water. Set aside. In a small bowl mix your flax egg and set aside. In a large bowl, mix your dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, nutmeg, salt). In a medium sized bowl mix your wet ingredients (flax egg, butternut squash, vanilla, milk, oil). Add wet to dry and mix well. Fold in chopped apples. Now mix up your streusel ingredients in a small dish with a fork until fully combined. Add approx. 3 tbsp of the cake batter into the Mason jar. Now add on about 1/2 tbsp of streusel mixture and some chopped pecans. Follow this with another layer of cake batter (about 1-2 tbsp) and then more streusel and chopped pecans. Makes 3-4 mason jar cakes. Take the mason jars and place on baking sheet and then bake for approx 20-25 mins at 350F until cake slowly bounces back when touched. Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes. Serve immediately or store in fridge for up to 3 days.

mmm...pecans.

Creepy face enjoying some sugar.

Blending Impaired

2011-11-13T14:25:00.001-06:00

My green smoothies are especially chunky these days. I think it's time to suck it up and invest in a real man's blender. And I don't mean that in a sexist way as much as I'm just trying to be clever....so....don't go there.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Wordless Wednesdays (The Quaint 'Burbs) Pt 2

2011-11-09T09:22:00.002-06:00

2 blocks away, this house reminds me of a place far, far away.

Wordless Wednesdays (The Quaint 'Burbs)

2011-11-02T20:40:00.002-05:00

Girl Crush!

2011-10-24T10:09:00.000-05:00

From time to time, I fall head over heels for a super awesome lady. My most recent discovery?

Lorraine Pascale.

I've been watching her new show on The Cooking Channel, Simply Baking, and it's stolen my food lovin' heart. She's adorable, charming, cool as heck, and she makes some of the most beautiful food you'v ever seen.

"I Can't Believe You Made That" Cake

Spiced Blackberry, Quince, and Apple Pavlova

Rosemary and Sea Salt Focaccia

The Skinny Tart

Are you drooling yet? Her food looks magical. While most of it is not vegan-friendly, I love getting inspiration from passionate chefs. Do any of you have favorite tv/restaurant chefs that keep you inspired?

Wordless Wednesdays

2011-10-19T09:41:00.000-05:00

Suspicious pooch.

Clips and Blips

2011-10-17T10:05:00.000-05:00

This past week,

a sleepy Rufus gets ready for a hot date w/a potential foster. It was not a match.

Pumpkin pie cider smoothie. Recipe HERE. Heavenly.

A new 'do. I forgot how much I love short hair. Shorter? Yes, please!

Rufus pouting before we left him to meet up w/friends and family...

...for a little Two Brothers and...

...an epic bonfire.

This week, I plan on doing some fall cleaning and getting rid of a ton of clothes. I'm still deciding whether to just donate them or try selling them online...we'll see.

Do Yourself A Favor

2011-10-07T19:00:00.000-05:00

And make this sandwich sometime in the next week. Vegan or not, this is a delicious and flavorful meal.

The bacon is by Tofurky, and it's their "Smoky Maple Tempeh Bacon." Seriously? The best faux meat I have ever had out of a box. Sooooo good!

Add a little vegan mayo, romaine, heirloom tomatoes, and avocado slices for a twist on the yummy classic.

with a side of roasted curried cauliflower for good measure.

Recipes I'm excited to try this fall season:

Pumpkin Pie Cider Smoothie -Apple cider and pumpkin? I can't wait!

Apple Cider Donuts - I've been looking for years for a vegan version of these. They scream nostalgia and trips to the apple orchard as a kid.

Butternut Squash Mac 'n Cheeze - I love vegan mac and cheese more than the "real" stuff, so this twist has me drooling.

Mediterranean Terrine - I like to be fancy once in awhile.

Sweet Potato and Pecan Cinnamon Rolls - Get outta town with this dreaminess.

Have a delicious weekend!!

A little bit of whimsy...

2011-10-06T15:18:00.000-05:00

...to get us ready for the weekend.

My Oatmeal Could Beat Up Your Oatmeal

2011-10-05T09:40:00.000-05:00

raspberries, toasted sliced almonds, shredded coconut, bananas, cacao nibs, and a splash of coconut milk for luck. Devoured.

Decisions, Decisions

2011-09-25T11:37:00.000-05:00

I can't decide if I would rather have....

Hunter Shorties....

Or the good ol' classics?

These are the decisions that leave me stumped on a dreary Sunday afternoon.

Made It. Ate It.

2011-09-22T20:35:00.001-05:00

Just yesterday, I posted a delicious picture and link to the recipe right here.

And tonight? I made the hell out of it.

All of these little tomatoes...

...cooked up into these tender beauties:

With a little bit of crushing, and after hanging out in a nice simmer with some veggie broth, roasted garlic cloves, fresh thyme, and crushed chili peppers, these tomatoes turned into a really great soup.

Scoop into mugs, top with toasted (whole grain) braid and some (vegan) cheese, and you have a hug in a mug. Just as I suspected.

With a slight chill in the air tonight, this was the perfect dinner. I can't suggest it enough.

A Big Hug in a Mug

2011-09-21T15:28:00.000-05:00

How incredible does this recipe look?

Roasted Tomato soup w/Broiled Cheddar via Smitten Kitchen

This would be the perfect comfort food on a chilly day. Easy to adapt into a one or two-serving meal and even easier to make vegan. Thank you , Daiya cheese.

Ok, now I'm starving.

Clean.

2011-09-18T20:31:00.000-05:00

Do you ever have one of those "a-ha!" moments that makes you want to really figure out all that crap spinning around in your head? Well, I am at that point.

Usually this feeling comes with a new, sunnier season. You know, like spring or summer. Having this feeling as the weather gets brisk and the nights come sooner has really thrown me for a loop. However, I'm taking advantage of it.

Without rambling too much, I have big plans for my fall self. Eat cleaner, think more, and take time out to be creative. I don't want to get too specific, because that's when I feel pressure...and that's when I flounder. So yeah, I'd really love to dedicate more time to my two writing outlets as well as start to clean up my diet a little more regularly. This is going to be tough, because I tend to "hibernate" in the colder months (this is code for eat a whoooooole bunch). I'm done with that.

I would really love to invest in a better camera, take more pictures of wonderful things, and show you guys a little bit more of me. Yeah, that sounds lovely.

So, let's get cleaning! Even Rufus is freshly bathed and ready for a good ol' fashioned change.

In Clips

2011-09-11T20:00:00.001-05:00

A few mediocre phone shots from my relaxing weekend:

The first pumpkin latte of the season. So, so good.

My last order of Me and Goji cereal. My creations? "Monkey Munchin'" (flax flakes, shredded coconut, dried bananas, chocolate chips, and walnuts) and "Blueberry Afternoon" (Granola mix, dried blueberries, slivered almonds, quinoa flakes)

Our 7 year anniversary was this weekend. Whoa!

Rufus hogging the bed.

Driving to our favorite restaurant to celebrate, Chicago Diner.

My meal? "Turkey, bacon" and avocado sandwich w/a side of mashed potatoes and gravy. Vegan heaven!

Al washing my car to make up for wasting our Sunday together watching football.

The rain can't stop up from camping! Even if that means hanging out in our living room, eating pizza and watching scary movies.

Finishing off our Sunday with a nice game of chase!

Here's hoping your weekend was just as enjoyable!

What is Beautiful?

2011-09-03T17:29:00.001-05:00

Dark Girls: Preview from Bradinn French on Vimeo.

While I knew this issue existed, I still can't believe how our culture makes those with darker skin feel as though they are less than - less beautiful, less intelligent, less worthy. Ugh. It breaks my heart.

To Sum Things Up...

2011-08-27T14:43:00.000-05:00

Watching reruns of "Sex and The City" on a Saturday afternoon after a trip to the dog park, this image popped on the screen. Delicious food? Check. Rad dog? Check. Beautiful style? Check. How's that for summing up my loves in life? Thanks, silly tv show I will always hold near and dear.

....hold the cigarette. Yuck.

Quinoa Quiche

2011-08-21T19:35:00.002-05:00

This morning, I was in the mood for something a little fancy. A little fancy and a little savory. A little fancy, a little savory with just a hint of indulgence. All of that and healthy too! Luckily, I remembered this delicious recipe over at Edible Perspective while grocery shopping last night:

Quinoa Quiche. I'm not going to repeat the recipe, because the link will give you all the info you need. I will say that this was really delicious and made my Sunday morning a little more exciting. The only thing I had to purchase were two of those adorable little one-serving baking dishes to make enough for me and the guy. Also, this added to the fanciness so it was a win-win.

To top it off, I added a side of homemade granola w/peanut butter, coconut, cacao nibs, walnuts and maple syrup. Oh, and my cup of coffee w/coconut milk hazelnut creamer, but that's a given. I mean, come on. Coffee = all that is right in the world.

Look at that fluffy goodness! For the most part, I stuck to the recipe. Add-ins? Spinach instead of kale, and a little bit more mushroom than the recipe called for. Oh, and about a tablespoon of Earth Balance Spread to give it that buttery taste similar to old school quiche. So good and so filling.

Now onto the week!

Side note: my veganism has taken a backseat to this gluten-free cleanse I'm on. All in all, I would like to do both simultaneously but thought it was best to do one at a time for now. We'll see what the future brings...

Wrap Me Up In The Clouds

2011-08-14T13:54:00.000-05:00

Mint Hot Chocolate

Clay-colored nails

My sleepy pup after a long walk

Fall weather in August

It would be an understatement to say I'm enjoying this wonderful, breezy day. I am a fall girl. Through and through.

What's in my bag?

2011-08-11T11:55:00.000-05:00

After seeing a ton of these on Youtube and the blogosphere, I decided to do one myself. As you can see, I'm kind of a bag lady...I mean...I really like a big bag, folks:

I never thought I'd be one of those gals carrying around such a massive bag daily, but now? I can't seem to find one I like as much as this. Sure, I switch it out for a smaller one on special occasions, but this is my go-to for sure.

I got this bag at Urban Outfitters almost two years ago, and it's held up pretty well. I love how many pockets it has, and the faux leather is about the best I've seen. I can't fit just about everything in it! And sometimes I do. However, here are the items that are always, always in my bag:

1. Wallet from Target. I love the color, and it fits all of my cards, change, and cash perfectly.
2. Kind bars. I always have some kind of snack in my bag (granola or fruit-related 99.9% of the time), and these are my favorites right now thanks to a new gluten-free cleanse I'm trying out. Mango Macadamia is the best!
3. Car keys
4. Pressed powder. I use this daily for those extra warm, wonderfully oily days...gross.
5. Orbit gum. Fresh breath is important to me, folks.
6. Boscia blotting linens. Again, I'm a mess.
7. A notepad/journal and a pen. This isn't my day-to-day journal, but I stuck it in there temporarily. Oh, and it is the cutest journal ever. Find it here: 5 Year Journal
8. A comb for extra windy days. I hardly ever use this, but it doesn't hurt to keep it handy.
9. A few varieties of lip balm : Alima Organic Lipbalm in Natural, Burt's Bees Tinted Lipbalm in Pink Blossom, and Neutrogena Ultra Hydrating Chapstick.

*Not pictured, but always in there somewhere? My phone and camera.

Well, there you have it! Nothing too exciting but the bare necessities.

The strong, silent type

2011-08-05T09:20:00.000-05:00

I'm currently fawning over these two pieces that perfectly mix masculine and feminine together in the best way possible. I'm so ready for fall...

Both can be found over at Asos.

My Go-To Lunch

2011-07-21T21:12:00.001-05:00

Ok just a quick food post before I wash up (holy moly is it hot!) and spend the rest of my night watching "The Real Housewives of New York Finale" in my comfy bed with my pup.

I've been making these super easy vegan quesadillas for a little over a year now. I've seen a few variations, but the hummus idea came from the wonderful vegan chef and author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau.

One picture is all you get, but I think it gets the point across:

Quickie Quesadilla Vegan Style:

2 tortillas (I use whole grain)

2 or 3 (or 4??) tablespoons of hummus

1 small tomato chopped

I green onion finely chopped

Pico De Gallo to taste

Cilantro to taste

Hot salsa (homemade or store bought) to taste

Spread hummus over one tortilla. Top with the remaining ingredients. Cover with second tortilla, and grill in frying pan until lightly browned and crisp on both sides. Slice it up into cute little, tasty triangles. Eat.

There you have it, folks. It doesn't get any easier than that. The best part about this recipe is that you can really do whatever you want with it: feel free to add vegan or dairy cheese, black beans, pinto beans, any salsa available, etc. It's kind of like a much, much better and healthier version of a grilled cheese.

It's fast and doesn't require too much stove time, which is nice considering it's a zillion degrees out there! Oh I'll be so glad when this heat wave is over.

Heaven!

2011-07-15T12:21:00.002-05:00

Vegan Leather at Free People from FreePeople on Vimeo.

Taking Care Of The Ones You Love

2011-07-08T18:49:00.000-05:00

I witnessed a pretty upsetting conversation/situation today at work, and I thought I'd share it here to hopefully get it off my mind a little bit.

I work at a boarding/daycare/training facility for dogs and, for the most part; our clients are super wonderful and absolutely adore their pups. Most people have to be pretty fond of their animals to spend that kind of money...but anyways...

A new couple came in today for my boss to meet their dog in hopes of boarding him while they went on vacation. First of all, they were kind of sketchy to say the least. Second of all, the lady kept talking about how horrible her dog was : he's destructive, bad with small dogs, and neurotic. In fact, they made sure to let us know they keep him doped up on prozac for all of his issues...which was odd because the dog seemed totally fine to me. In fact, he was acting pretty well for being in a new situation with strangers and new dogs.

My boss mentioned that he would be crated overnight, at least until we got to know him and then we could put him into a private area where he could feel more "at home." However, the man thought this was a horrible idea because he has busted out of several crates and it would be unacceptable to even try this out. Well, this pissed the lady right off....

"I didn't want this damn dog in the first place."
"I didn't get a dog just to keep me from going on vacation."
"I refuse to have a dog we can't board...I mean, what the hell? This is bullshit."
"We're getting rid of him. Do you want a dog? I hate this damn dog."

etc....

After they argued amongst themselves and my boss and I stood their flabbergasted, they walked out.

About 30 minutes later (after I had left the front desk), the lady came back alone asking if my boss knew anyone that wanted a dog or where she could get rid of him? My boss proceeded to tell her that no, she did not know anyone that wanted a dog because dogs are not disposable items. After a small lecture on the basics of dog ownership, the woman again left angry and irate.

If it had been my place and I had had the resources, I would've taken the dog from them right there. They claim to have adopted him from a rescue, which also blows my mind. I happen to foster for a rescue, and I'm almost positive that there is no way this couple would've been approved to take a dog home...unless they are super awesome liars when interviewed...

Blech.

This is mostly a ramble with no real solution. However, it made me hug Rufus a little tighter when I got home and made me even more thankful for all of the wonderful shelters and rescues out there that do put deserving pups into the best of homes. Rufus and I thank you.

P.S. Vote for my favorite local rescue here so that they can win lots of dog food for current and future rescue dogs!

The Great North

2011-06-30T11:58:00.000-05:00

The docks in downtown Minneapolis

So.....it's not official, but it looks as though Alex and I will be making our way just a little north to move into good ol' Minnesota. Specifically, we have a house lined up for the St. Paul area. Even though I'm on the fence, I know that the community aspect and the outdoor activities available are so much more appealing than the Chicago 'burbs in which we currently reside.

A couple of months ago, the opportunity for Alex to transfer within his company came up. Of all the areas his company is located, he mentioned one or two states he thought would be a good fit for us. A few weeks later, a spot opened up in MN. We went to visit last weekend, did a lot of sightseeing and neighborhood scouting....and it looks like it's a go.

Crappy outfit shot...Al is working on his skills ;o)

Shirt: Target
Sailor Jeans: Old Navy (from like...5 years ago)
Necklace: Modcloth
Purse: Urban Outfitters
Sunglasses: Ray-Ban
Spike ring: Asos
Watch: Urban Outfitters

Al is happy about it.

I'm excited about living 4 blocks from a Whole Foods and various Co-Ops, and even closer to the best coffee shop ever....Dunn Brother's! Yeah, when it comes down to it, I'm happy anywhere with my two favorite guys and good eats.

Bridge over the Mississippi

I Am An Introvert

2011-06-27T09:53:00.004-05:00

...and proud to be one.

Thank you, Moorea. I couldn't have said it better myself.

She also links this great article: 10 Myths About Introverts

It feels good to know someone gets it.

I love this stuff

2011-06-19T21:21:00.002-05:00

I thought I'd do a quick and easy Sunday post. Here are a couple of frivolous and great items I've purchased recently (and love enough to share with you):

These adorable and practical totes from Baggu

This badass bracelet from Allsaints:

This cute little invention for our outdoorsy pooch:

This comfy summer top from Threadsence:

(I've been looking for a cut-out shoulder top that was uber casual like this for forever!)

Also, I may or may not be moving in the very near future....to a new city in a new state. I'm very excited, but I don't want to jinx it, so that's all I'm going to say for now. :fingers crossed:

Good Dog

2011-06-14T20:08:00.003-05:00

For the most part, Rufus is a good dog. I often forget this simply because he does have a few issues that can be a little bit frustrating.

When you're a seasoned foster "mom" like myself, you go into every new foster experience a little more cautiously than the last. Of all of my fosters, only one came to me with zero issues and he was a 6 month-old puppy. Also, he happened to be the most irritating of the bunch. In summary, I prefer dogs with issues over innocent and perfect puppies. Story of my life.

Extreme close-up!

I don't necessarily want to make this into a dog blog (I already had one of those, and decided I didn't have enough material to keep one going for this specific reason...silly me). However, there's no way around the fact that I'm a crazy dog lady. I love rescuing dogs, I love my dog, and I work with dogs 5 days a week. All of this to say that I would like to spend a little more time writing in this category because it's something I'm truly passionate about.

Back to Rufus.

Rufus has two main issues that I would love to disappear: 1.) he's a growler, and 2.) he's a grumpy man.

I don't know if Rufus is so vocal because he's nervous or he really thinks he's a tough guy...oh wait, yes I do. I know that Rufus is all talk because his mouth has gotten him in trouble once or twice with the dogs at work. As soon as another dog decides they've had enough of the growling and takes action, Rufus retreats and surrenders like a big baby. So, ok...I know he doesn't mean it, but it's incredibly frustrating anyway.

Rufus growls when greeting almost all new dogs.

Rufus growls when he's unsure of a new human in his space.

Rufus growls at me and the bf (and the roommate) whenever he wants us to just let him sleep in peace already! He can't be bothered to move over or share the (human) pillow he's sleeping on.

....and then there's the fact that Rufus also growls when he's playing, happy, and excited about life. So confusing, that dog.

Catching flies the lazy way.

I was out of town this past weekend with the boyfriend, and we left Rufus in the care of one of my co-workers. I was mildly nervous, but I know he really loves this friend so it wasn't too hard to relax. Upon arriving home, I was told that he ate well, played like a champ at work (what??? this almost never happens!), and even got along with the dogs in her home who also happen to be territorial and grumpy. Way to go, Ru-Man!

So yes, I adore my grumpy guy. And yes, he almost always means well. It's nice to know that he's not some terror dog when I'm not around, and he can even loosen up a bit when mom's out of town.

Good boy

Book It!

2011-06-03T21:54:00.001-05:00

Does anyone remember those super awesome days of Pizza Hut's "Book It" program? If not, you missed out BIG TIME. Seriously....your parents must not have loved you enough to encourage the reading tons of books in return for delicious and nutritious food....like stuffed crust pizza! Mmmm.....

Enough about the good ol' days. I thought I'd take a second and share with you my summer reading list, because I still make those at the age of 26. Actually, it helps for me to make a list. If I don't, I tend to get too excited about too many great books, and end up reading bits and pieces and only finishing one or two. How lame of me.

Without further ado, here is what I have in store for my brains this sunny season:

Feel free to head on over to Amazon to learn more about all of these, because I'm far too tired on this hot and sticky Saturday night to write little blurbs. Sorry. If it helps any, I'm usually into historical and quirky info, quirky fiction, heartbreaking stories, and dysfunctional characters. All of these fall under one more more of those categories, so read at your own risk....or something. I've been mulling through "Sex At Dawn" for awhile. It's a really great read, but a little slow as well. I've decided to start "This Is Where I Leave You" as well to give me a little break from the history. Tropper is supposed to be a really hilarious and wonderful writer, so I'm excited to get a feel for his technique.

Happy weekend!

Tag, You're it.

2011-05-27T17:50:00.000-05:00

Even though I bought Rufus one of those generic bone name tags from Petco about 2 days after we officially adopted him, I couldn't resist getting him a fancy and adorable nameplate from the Etsy shop, Make Your Dog Smile.

I love all of the tags (and I'm still contemplating buying him the Mr. Wendal tag for those special occasions), but finally decided on the "Rocky" Tag:

So I ordered it and, in no time at all; got to open up this adorable little package:

Cute, right? And you'll just have to take my word that it looks exactly like this photo but personalized. I suppose I could post an edited photo of the tag with my number blurred out, but....nah. Instead, enjoy some far away shots of my handsome gentleman!

Dapper and disinterested as always. Oh wait, there are treats involved?? Awesome.

Anywho, I thought I'd share in case any of you dog parents out there were looking for a cute and fun way to spruce up your pooch's wardrobe. Have a great 3-day weekend, folks!

Everyone Looks Cooler In Shades

2011-05-21T17:56:00.001-05:00

My boyfriend is a firm believer in quality over quantity. While frustrating at times (because I heart presents in large amounts!), I also admire him for his patience, saving abilities, and overall better-than-me-ness.

Needless to say that when I mentioned that I was in the market for some new sunglasses, he immediately opened up his browser to the Ray-Ban site and told me to look around. In fact, he also offered to buy me a pair just to keep me from blowing $20 on a low quality pair I'd wear a handful of times before they broke or got lost in the mix of all of my crap. Yes, I called my stuff "crap."

Alex in his cool shades

So, I browsed. I found a bunch of really adorable frames, but the Signet design seemed right up my alley. While I'm usually attracted to large and in charge frames, I thought I should go for something a little more universal seeing as the plan is to wear these MOST of the time.

Cheezin'

All of this to say, that I love my new sunglasses. Thank you, kind sir.

Home For Now

2011-05-18T21:36:00.001-05:00

First dogs. Next? Children. But not yet.

I've always been interested in fostering, and definitely adopting my own child someday. I feel as though it's too soon for permanence, but I would love to be a foster parent for those that need a place to rest their heads, fill their bellies, and collect warm hugs and love. Yes, I think I would be very into that. All that to say I have been reading through this Tumblr for the past 2 days, and I'm completely enamored with this woman's heart and brain:

Fosterhood

I am not ashamed to say I have shed a few tears while saying goodbye to my foster dogs, so I'm sure parting with children would be 1,000x harder. However, like fostering homeless dogs, the benefits outweigh the hardships.

Sorry for the serious post, but I am looking to expand a little bit over here in these parts. Still expect frivolous posts about beautiful clothes and yummy food, but more about me. Things are about to get personal over here, folks. But not too personal...I'm no fool.

Mint Condition

2011-05-08T21:47:00.002-05:00

It's no secret that I favor the color green. Ok, it's probably a secret to all of you out there in the interwebs that don't know me personally. Anywho, take it from me: I heart green.

I am especially in love with this mint green surge that seems to be popping up everywhere. I think it's such a feminine shade that adds a little excitement to an outfit (or room). Here are some pieces I've been drooling over lately:

Culottes via Anthropologie

Knit Blouse via ASOS (this will be mine....in the next 24 hrs.)

Treehouse Dress via Spotted Moth

And a couple of cuties over at Modcloth:

Fl-owl-er Power Wallet

Perfect Photo Op Flat

Buttoned Up Beauty Skirt

There's something so dainty and fresh about this color, I can't get enough! I could also just be looking for any way possible to brighten up these dreary days we've been having lately. Whatever the reason, I dig it.

Fooding in Ann Arbor

2011-05-02T21:21:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday, folks. It was pretty hard to get back into the swing of things that is "real life" after almost a week away from work and everyday multitasking. But....all good things.....yeah.

First off, I have to say that the whole reason we went to Ann Arbor did not pan out. My incredibly talented and over-achieving boyfriend had an interview for a position working for his dream company. Of course, this is a company and a position that hundreds were interviewing for, and he did not end up getting the job. However, I keep telling him he should be so very proud to have gotten this far as a 23 year-old, semi-fresh college graduate. Seriously, he's freakin' wonderful and I have big dreams for him!

Ok...enough gushing.

During our mini-vacation, we did a lot of our favorite things: eating, drinking, and being outside as much as possible. The weather was iffy for that last activity, but we sure did have fun eating:

First up was The Chocolate Garden, which was more of a much-needed pit stop on our way to the city. This adorable truffle heaven is located in Coloma, MI. It's won a bunch of awards, and totally deserves all of them.

Alex is super duper excited!

The Solera Double Gold truffle = heaven in my mouth!

Once in the city, we ate our first night's dinner at a very new restaurant by the name Jazzy Veggie. Both Alex and I had the Muffaletta sandwich, and it was quite good. No pics, but definitely a place to check out if you're ever in the area.

Th next day, we grabbed a quick lunch at Cafe Ollie in Ypsilanti, MI. Alex had a faux barbecue pulled-pork sandwich (it looked and tasted soooooo good), while I had a simple VLT (vegan bacon, lettuce and tomato). Overall, it was a really cute little restaurant with some great food. Oh, and it was omnivore-friendly as well, fyi.

Barbecue sandwich at Cafe Ollie

Roos Roast is this great tiny coffee place that almost looks like an office, and the guy roasts and brews all of his own coffee. They have a menu with two options: 1. coffee, and 2. coffee with steamed milk. I am not a black coffee lady, but this stuff was so smooth, I had to take a bag home with me.

The founder of Roos Roast designs all of the bags himself

Happiness in a cup

Our last stop before heading home the next morning was at Arbor Brewing Company, a great microbrewery with quite possibly the best veggie food I've ever had. No jokes, folks. I don't kid around when it comes to something this serious...

I looked at the menu for maybe two seconds before spotting this beauty: a "beer-battered tempeh patty w/jalapeno mayo, coleslaw, and sweet potato fries on the side." Yes, please!

Washed down with a glass of Red Snapper ale.

Overall, it was a nice break from everyday life, but both of us were a little bummed as the weather (and the job) wasn't very cooperative. Maybe next time we'll go somewhere a little warmer at the end of April? Live and learn, folks. Live and learn.

Ru-Man!

2011-04-28T21:51:00.000-05:00

When I started fostering dogs, I thought it would be a wonderful way to save lives while also figuring out what exactly I wanted in a pooch of my own. I had always grown up with dogs, and moving away made it very apparent that I felt a little empty without one around to lick up crumbs or keep my feet warm at the end of the bed at night. Over time, I learned the following:

-I wanted a dog that was extremely social with other dogs
-Between the ages of 1 and 2, no older than 3
-Good with people
-Medium energy level
-Adaptable and comfortable in new environments
-Wonderfully unique

When we started fostering Rufus, both myself and the foster coordinator for One Tail agreed that he probably wasn't our forever guy. We took him home thinking he would be just another foster. Then we fell in love.....despite the fact that he is:

-grumpy and growly with other dogs. Rufus literally growls for every emotion, and always takes a moment to warm up to other dogs. He does play when comfortable, but he has to do it on his own terms. Also, he's a total jerk when meeting dogs on-leash.
- closer to four years old
-a little aloof with strangers, especially inside our house. Oh, and especially new men. However, there are times when he's perfectly wonderful with someone new right away. Again, I think he's just a picky and snobby jerk.
-pretty mellow, but also loves to play when the mood strikes. Long walks and hikes are our favorites. Oh, look! He actually met one of my credentials...
-ok with new situations. He gets a little antsy in the car, but it's really not too bad. He doesn't get anxious in new situations, but again, he's a little moody.
-Wonderfully (and frustratingly) unique.

The point is: you can't help who you love, and an animal is no different. Rufus is my best friend, and I absolutely adore him. Sure he has his issues, but I wouldn't give him up for anything in the world. I'm so grateful that animal rescue led me to him, and I look forward to making his life miserable with a new temporary or forever brother or sister very, very soon!

P.S. Ann Arbor was such a great "little big city", and I'll have more pics/updates soon!

Itty Bitty Road Trip

2011-04-24T20:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, so the boyfriend and I are going on a mini-vacation to beautiful Ann Arbor, Michigan on Tuesday. We actually had a completely different vacation planned a few months ago to Denver, but then said boyfriend got a once in a lifetime interview for his dream job. We quickly canceled our vacation plans so that he could make it to his interview/orientation thing. I don't want to say much more, because I don't want to jinx it...

But anywho, the interview folks are paying for him (us) to stay in a hotel and rent a car, so we figured we would make this a fun time! We will be staying in the area for just 2 nights and 3 days, but I would love to hear about any places we must go to from you Michiganders or passers-by.

Updates and photos to follow.

Painted and Pleased

2011-04-15T09:42:00.000-05:00

Have you been reading Moorea's "Paint Your Love" series? I thought this was such a great idea, and a philosophy I often apply to my own life. Sometimes we forget to take a little time to make ourselves feel good, and something as small as a fresh coat of paint on your fingernails (or toes) can really brighten your otherwise so-so day.

I work with dogs all day, Monday-Friday. Every single weekday, I'm dressed in jeans, tennis shoes, and either a t-shirt or sweatshirt. There is no reason to get dressed up just to be covered in slobber 5 seconds after I walk through the door at work, haha. I actually love my job, but it can get kind of monotonous fashion-wise for someone who really enjoys color, patterns, and cute shoes ;o)

All of this to say that yes, I paint my nails to help me feel a little more dressed and rad up even when I'm covered in dog hair and smell of kibble most of the time:

Awesome studded knuckle ring can be found here

Awesome old school Myspace"surprised face" can be found....oh, right here. Yep.

Happy Friday!

Vintage Make-Up Week

2011-04-11T21:31:00.001-05:00

It's "Vintage Make-Up Week" over at Lisa Eldridge's site. Lisa is a super famous make-up artist, and you can browse her page to see all of the wonderful looks she's created for glitzy celebrities and models. She has such a great demeanor, and I really love watching her make-up tutorials and skin care advice. While I definitely tend to lean towards the "natural" look, I do love how much fun there is to be had when getting all done up.

Since finding her site a few months ago, I can honestly say I've come to respect the art form a heck of a lot more. In fact, I purchased a tube of lipstick just last week...:GASP!!: I know...it's like I'm a grown woman or something.

So for the next 12 days, Lisa will be posting videos and blog posts about vintage make-up inspired looks, facts, and the history behind it all (for those of you that didn't know, I'm kind of a huge history geek). In the video above, she even showcases some of her own vintage collection! How beautiful is that rose powder jar? So cool.

It should be fun to see what she puts together. I just got way more excited about the the week ahead of me!

The Smallest Details

2011-04-09T22:00:00.007-05:00

The weather was absolutely wonderful here today in the good ol' midwest! While I didn't do anything too exciting, I had a pretty great day if I do say so myself. There's nothing like a little vitamin c to make this girl appreciate the little things in life:

Freshly painted fingers and toes:

Freedom!!

Essie's "Turquoise and Caicos"

Lovely Jewelry:

Vintage Owl Lockets via Verabel

Asos Triple Finger Ring in Copper (looks more like Rose Gold)

Green life peeking through!

My handsome guy enjoying porch season

How has the weather been in your neck of the woods?

Sunday Funnies

2011-04-03T13:22:00.003-05:00

Well, these seem to be the easiest posts for me to come up with. A little "location" humor:

Source link

Toothpaste for Dinner

Sad to see the weekend go, but excited to spend the day with one of my favorite ladies. Sippin' coffee, catching up, and munching on some lunch. Have a good one, folks!

Life (happily) Interrupted

2011-03-27T21:58:00.000-05:00

I had every intention of taking a few outfit pics over the weekend, but then this guy decided his arrival was waaaay more important:

He was totally right. This is my wonderful and adorable nephew, Aias (pronounced eye-us). I already love him to pieces, and he's super awesome.

Have a good week, ladies and gents!

Shop My Stuff

2011-03-25T23:27:00.002-05:00

I did a little bit of spring cleaning today, and I found a couple of items that either 1) don't fit, or 2) are getting terribly neglected through no fault of their own. Since I have a couple of pieces I'd like to pass along, I thought I'd post them here and see if anyone is interested...

Paid: $71.70
Asking for: $45 (or best offer) + shipping and handling

I bought this "River Island 50's Check Dress" on asos.com, and absolutely love it. Unfortunately, it's a bit large. I purchased the US size 10 (UK size 14), but it fits more like a US 12. The bottom is wonderfully flow-y, but my problem is the top isn't as fitted as I would like. I would suggest this for anyone in the size 12 range. It has never been worn, and will come in mint condition. Besides a little ironing, it's good to go.

Paid: $49.99
Asking for: $20 + shipping and handling

The "Gingham Garden Dress" from Modcloth in a size Large. I love this dress as well, but it's just too short for my liking. This dress has a great silhoutte, and again, has never been worn. If you want to read Modcloth's description, go here.

Paid: $17.89
Asking: $12 even

"Flower Graphic Tunic" from Forever 21 in size Large: Never been worn. This shirt has a great print, and the material feels like a higher quality than most F21 items.

Paid: $59.99
Asking: $25 + shipping and handling

"Wish I May, Wish I Stripe" cardigan from Modcloth in size M/L. Worn twice, this cardigan has a drape-y silhouette with a cute single button detail. To read Modcloth's description, go here

If you're interested in any of these pieces, please feel free to leave me a comment below with your email info, and I will get back to you asap. Payments will be made through Paypal. Thanks for looking!

Sunday Funnies

2011-03-20T07:00:00.007-05:00

I'm a huge fan of comics - from newspaper strips to epic novels. I thought I'd start sharing some comics that make me smile, think, etc. I found this first one over at the "Cat Versus Human" blog:

Even though I consider myself a dog person, I absolutely love cats as well. In fact, Rufus is really part dog (loves to run, play fetch, and sniff) and part cat (stubborn, lovable and cuddly only on his own terms, will sleep anywhere and everywhere). I love him and his nutty ways:

Also part human? Probs.

Happy Sunday, folks.

Sur-prize!

2011-03-10T21:55:00.002-06:00

So I recently won a little giveaway over at Selective Potential. Tieka gave away the same goodie bag passed out at the recent Michigan fashion blogger meet-up to one of her lucky readers. That lucky reader was me! :insert giddy little jig:

Skimpy tank and underoos via Skunk Funk
Fashion is Power sticker
Floral personalized notepad
Zebra pouch filled w/nail polish and nail files
15% off coupon courtesy of Lee & Birch
*not pictured: free issue of Lucky Magazine

Flower ring via Le Mode

I know it wasn't a million dollar giveaway, but it's the little surprises in life that seem to keep things interesting. The blogging community in general makes it possible to offer great deals and prizes courtesy of the tiniest (and sometimes not-so-tiny) DIY companies, and that really is a great thing. As I try to expand where I take this little blog of mine, I always keep in mind the possibilities and admire some of the great things that come out of reaching out to a bunch of wonderful strangers!

Bobble!

2011-02-28T08:39:00.000-06:00

Hey there! Just a quick Monday morning post to share one of my favorite purchases of the past few months:

My water bobble!

I bought these on a whim, but I'm so glad I did. These water bobbles are so flippin' convenient for those of us that either don't want to use plastic water bottles or need refills without filtered water in sight. The bobble has a built-in filter, so your water always tastes delicious. How cool is that?? The only critique I have is that they are squeeze bottles (no big deal), so they make a sucking sound after you take a drink. This is also no big deal unless you happen to be drinking out of one in a library. So yeah, don't do that...or do it but be prepared to get a glare or two. Worth it.

If you would like your own with an array of vibrant filters, go here now!

Litter

2011-02-19T20:48:00.001-06:00

This Is Litter from Litter SF on Vimeo.

Oh, the life of a vagabond. This video both inspires and enrages me. The inspiration is probably pretty obvious, but the anger? Well, that just comes from a lack of funds so that I can afford these incredible pieces.

I don't think I would ever rock leg jewelry (and definitely not ironic and glittery mustaches....), but the shoulder cuffs, earrings, and even the adorable headpieces are pretty spectacular!

Library Happenings

2011-02-12T15:08:00.001-06:00

I found this little blurb in my saved emails, an experience I had that compelled me to write it down. I thought I'd share it on my lazy Saturday afternoon:

There's this really sweet deaf man named William that visits the library regularly. More often than not, I'm the one who helps him. My co-workers conveniently disappear when they see him coming. I don't mind, because I truly enjoy his company.

At first, I felt proud of how patient I was with him, but then I realized that he's the one that should be given the pat on the back. How frustrating it must be to deal with someone who takes for granted just how easy communication is for them. This can also be said about foreigners in a new country. If you don't speak our language, shut up. What a ridiculous way to think..

So, we talk slowly...my mouth awkwardly over-pronunciating words so that he can get an idea as to what I'm trying to express. Usually, there's a pen and paper involved as well. From his handwriting, I can tell that he wasn't given the proper education because of his impairment. He sometimes writes letters backwards, and has trouble coming up with words to explain himself. However, we manage and get through the "conversation."

Today, he came in looking for new video documentaries regarding religion and diversity. Halfway through our paper conversation, he wrote "You look like stars!" I didn't really understand what he was saying, and he saw this in the expression on my face. A few seconds later, he wrote "HOLLYWOOD" in big, bold letters. I felt my face grow warm, gave him a big smile and mouthed "thank you" with my usual over-emphasis. It was sweet and genuine the way he wrote and then expressed it through his eyes. I honestly believed him, which is rare in the customer service world. Then I started thinking about how I've read on numerous occassions that when one sense is taken away from you, all of your other senses become heightened. After this restored epiphany, I took it upon myself to believe this man must know what he's talking about. Of course, I think this half-heartedly, but what a lovely thing for a semi-stranger to say.

He then proceeded to teach me, in a quick sign language session; how to say: thank you, you're welcome, goodbye, hello, Vanessa, William, see you later, wow, good, nice to meet you, and my favorite, jesus loves you/me. You have to love anyone that includes this in their basic vocabulary, no matter what your personal beliefs are.

That's all I wrote. I remember this guy so well, and I think I could've had a zillion more stories if I would've kept my job at the library. It was a spectacular way to meet tons of crazy and colorful characters. Working with dogs just doesn't have the same effect. Maybe I just need to get out more? Yeah, that's probably it.

And now, your moment of zen (yellow lab style, of course):

Happiness

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

2011-02-05T17:07:00.001-06:00

The Fantastic Mr. Fox by vdufoe featuring wrap bracelets

I bought this dress. I don't know why exactly, but I kind of fell in love with the quirky and simple design. It's pretty easy for a dress made out of sweatshirt material to look...childish? Frumpy? Ridiculous? Etc.

The key to avoid this? Chic and simple (and monochromatic) accessories. I kept it pretty tame, but I had to add these shoes for a kick - I just purchased them on sale as well, and they're pretty badass.

Say "Cheeeeeeese!"

2011-02-01T20:36:00.001-06:00

So, I successfully completed my 3-week vegan cleanse. Immediately following my last day, I celebrated with waffles in the morning, and then ate some M&M's, and just a few nachos w/cheese during a movie outing with my two favorite ladies. A few hours later, I started feeling that yuckiness (it's a word) that I have grown so accustomed to:

-lazy
-sleepy
-bloated
-hungry almost all the time

Can I just say, without making anyone uncomfortable, that while doing this cleanse, I did not have one of those horrid breakouts while PMS'ing? I got a little blotchy and a little cranky, but that was it. It was wonderful!

So, as you can guess, I realized that maybe dairy is a lot of the reason I have felt so mediocre lately. While I love my cheese, it's really no fun to feel so worn out all the time. While I can't honestly say I'll never have a double cheese pizza again, I can say that I am pretty positive that this will be a rarity in my life. I feel pretty good about this.

I live in the good ol' midwest, so I am currently experiencing the WORST SNOW STORM EVERRRRRRRR!! But seriously, it's pretty serious/awesome. The best medicine after taking the foster pup for a very painful, cold, apocalyptic walk?

Homemade hot peanut butter cocoa:
(adapted from Ohsheglows.com)

Serves 2
2.5 cups vanilla almond milk
1/4 cup cacao (or cocoa) powder
3 tbsp agave or maple syrup
1-2 tbsp peanut butter

Whisk like crazy! Seriously, your wrist should be throbbing just a teensy bit. Bring to a light boil, and simmer for a few minutes until steaming. Drink and enjoy!

Stay warm.

Busted!

2011-01-24T09:17:00.000-06:00

It will be three months tomorrow since we brought this grumpy old man into our home to foster. I am very attached, and we are discussing our next step.....

In the meantime, here's a glimpse at Rufus' softer side:

And a nice winter walk yesterday at the forest preserve:

P.S. I love my Droid. Geek.

Girl Crush

2011-01-15T10:56:00.001-06:00

I have had a mad girl crush on Michelle Williams since she starred in a movie with one of my favorite comedians, Michael Showalter; in "The Baxter." Shortly after that, she did "I'm Not There", and then "Wendy and Lucy." A heartbreaking story about a girl and her dog? You know I'm waaaay in. Duh.

I haven't been so excited for a movie since "Away We Go", and I can't wait to see her new movie, "Blue Valentine" with Sir Ryan Gosling. Unfortunately, I promised my bff that I wouldn't go see it without her, so I'm waiting 2 extra weeks even though the theatre is about 10 minutes away. Now that's true love.

As if being an incredible and smart actress with the best pixie cut in Hollywood wasn't enough, she also has incredible style. A few of my favorite recent pics to follow:

You can tell by her choice of similar silhouettes over and over again, she's a girl that knows what will look best on her body type, and I couldn't agree more. Love.

All photos found on JustJared.com

So this is the New Year, and I don't feel any different.

2011-01-10T19:17:00.000-06:00

Who has two thumbs and actually made resolutions for the new year? This lady!

or should I say, this geek?

I don't think I have ever actually made myself adhere to a resolution before, but mostly because I think they're kind of a joke. But, this year I wanted to do something different. I figured since I keep a blog, it would give me a little more inspiration to stick to certain goals. Nothing too life-altering, but here they are:

1. Participate in the 21-day vegan cleanse courtesy of PCRM.ORG.

*I have been vegetarian for 15 years, and I was also vegan for 5 or 6 of those, but fell of the wagon often. I eventually gave it up completely 4 years ago, but I do miss how clean it made me feel. While I try to eat healthy for the most part, the holidays kind of suck you into a sugar coma. I'm not saying this cleanse will turn me into a full-time vegan again, but I'm excited to see what the results are. I'm starting a week late simply because I wanted to stock up on 2 weeks of groceries in advance.

2. Utilize my closet, no matter what the occasion.

* I have a tendency to buy new clothes, even before I have worn everything in my closet. I also get into these ruts because I don't have to dress up for work, so my "jeans and a t-shirt" look goes straight into my weekend. This kind of sucks, because I truly love style so I am making more of an effort to dress how I want to in my free time. It also makes me happy, which is an added bonus.

3. Starting being more of who I want to be.

*I have plans to move by the end of the summer. I also have plans to figure out what the hell I'm doing. The past year has been great, because it's given me time away from school. It almost feels like a vacation (one in which I have worked the whole time), but I'm bored and ready to start using my brain again. I've always wanted to write something, so why shouldn't I? I want to go back to school as well and at least complete my Master's, and I'm starting to figure out what subject I'd like to study. I miss being creative, so there will be more of that. Oh, and lots of cooking, baking, and yoga as usual. Blah blah. I just need to grow up a bit, and it's time to set goals.

So, there you have it. Nothing groundbreaking, and all very attainable. 2011 better be a great year, damn it. Me and my awesome hat are counting on it.

The Girlfriend

2011-01-09T17:24:00.000-06:00

Happy Sunday! Tomorrow's a new week...and Monday, which kinda sucks. Anywho, these guys crack me up so I thought I'd share.

Sunday

2010-12-19T12:05:00.000-06:00

Over the past few months, I have developed a Sunday routine. It goes something like this:

Wake up
Take dog out
Feed dog
Start brewing coffee
Walk to convenience store to pick up Sunday paper
Coffee and something sweet for breakfast while watching The Food Network
Thrift store
Library
Home
Make easy lunch. Today? Vegan curried chick'n salad. Recipe.
Fetch in the backyard:

Snow nose

Movie of the day. Today? The Extra Man
Laundry
.....and then whatever else comes up. Dinner, yoga, absolutely nothing, whatever.

I kind of love this routine, and it makes me look forward to my last day off before the work week. This bitter cold makes the walks a little less enjoyable, but it wears the pooch out, so it's worth it.

Hope you're all having a wonderful and relaxing Sunday afternoon.

Putting this to good use.

2010-12-13T22:58:00.001-06:00

A common theme in my life: pine over something for weeks, decide you must have it, get it, and then never wear/use it for fear of ruining/losing/breaking/etc said thing. Case in point:

Cowl via Etsy Shop: Impossible Dreams

I plan to break this silly habit of mine - this thing is just too cozy and wonderful to hide away in my closet. Or hang on my wall like the piece of art it is. Hmm...not such a bad idea. Kidding.

Also, I decided to switch up my blog a little bit. While it is a semi-generic change, it's a little more lively than the very white layout before. We'll see how long it sticks...

'Tis the Season

2010-12-12T15:45:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and yet I still cannot get enough of pumpkin-flavored goodies. Over the past several months, I have made pumpkin scones, pumpkin pie oatmeal, pumpkin walnut cookies, and a delicious gingerbread pumpkin loaf:

Recipe at Ohsheglows.com

And don't even get me started on how many pumpkin spice lattes I consumed. Oh, goodness...

Another flavor I absolutely love right now is ginger. In the warmer months, I love adding fresh ginger to asian-inspired dishes, but right now, it's all about baked goods. This past week, I made these White Chocolate Gingerbread Blondies:

Recipe Here

I'm not usually a fan of white chocolate AT ALL. In fact, I kind of hate white chocolate as it tastes nothing like chocolate. It's a phony, really. However, I suspected the sweetness of the white chocolate chips would compliment the spicy gingerbread flavor really well, and I was right. These were a hit!

And lastly, I have found myself loving mint and chocolate together. It has taken me two decades to understand the appeal of mint chocolate desserts, but I finally get it. Peppermint dark chocolate mochas are so great, and I am currently sipping on this tasty beverage:

Yum. Do yourself a favor and pick up a jug for yourself, despite what you may think of soy products. It's so rich and creamy! Also, it's a lot cheaper than a certain coffee's shop similar concoction. :cough:

So, that's my holiday cheer for the moment. It's all about rich and warm flavors to get me in the holiday mood, not to mention help me recover from the hole in my wallet thanks to lots of gift giving. :sigh:

My Christmas Wishlist

2010-11-28T20:45:00.000-06:00

So, I follow quite a lot of blogs, and many of them seem to be posting their Christmas wish lists. I figured that I would join in. Some of these are totally unattainable, but I thought I'd list them anyways. You know, just in case some super rich, wonderful, and gracious person reads this. Hah.

I need a new digital camera so very bad. I have a pretty nice point-and-shoot, but I am definitely looking for something with a little more oomph. I used to be crazy about photography, and also a purist - digital? Yuck. Film or bust, man. Those days are behind me, so it's time for my camera to catch up.

The dvd. Do you know I've never seen this movie? I have been told on several occasions that I would love it, but I keep forgetting to put this on my Netflix queue. I have also never seen one Star Wars movie. I know, I'm such a loser.

This dress from Modcloth caught my attention as soon as it was posted on their website. The price is a little steep at $100, but I love how tailored it looks while the pattern makes it more casual and demure.

This isn't really on my Christmas list, but I dream of having a beautiful vegetable garden in my backyard someday, and a chicken coop right next to it. This chicken coop is just too cute and dreamy, I had to post it. Someday, friends. Someday my chickens will be the happiest chickens in the world.

Asos is my newest clothing addiction. They offer some great pieces (at affordable prices), and I love these dark washed flares with slit front pockets.

Oh man, do I have Vitamix fever!! All I want to do is juice all day. This will be mine. Soon.

Well, that's just the tip of the iceberg, but there is a new "Dexter" episode to watch, so I'm going to scram and watch a little heartfelt gore.

Weekend Wear

2010-11-21T14:14:00.000-06:00

So, I have finally gotten around to a mini outfit post. Working with animals during the week means lots of t-shirts and jeans (and hoodies), so I suppose weekend posts will have to suffice for now.

I am also trying to find the best place to take clear pictures at night as the lighting in my house isn't the greatest. So, here is what I wore yesterday for a nice leisurely evening of dinner and movie:

Scarf: Urban Outfitters

Cardigan: American Apparel

Boyfriend jeans: Target

Boots: Go Jane

This isn't the greatest picture in general, but it also doesn't do my adorable boots any justice. I absolutely love these as they are both sporty and girly with a heel. I could wear these all day, every day. Here's a pic from the website:

gojane.com

Today is going to be filled with sleeping, cooking, and gearing up for a crazy week at work. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Use It or Lose it.

2010-11-18T12:21:00.000-06:00

So, I'm starting to seriously consider grad school. I am leaning towards counseling with an emphasis in women's health or sex education. debtdebtdebtdebtdebtdebt....

Also, this is our newest foster, Rufus. I haven't mentioned him yet, but he's been with us a little over 3 weeks now, and fits right in. He's the definition of 100% mutt.

As you can see by his expression, he's also concerned about my decision to burn alive in a pit of student loans. Maybe I'm being dramatic. Probably not.

Walk It Off

2010-11-08T21:43:00.003-06:00

This past weekend was tough. My last childhood pet, Loki, passed away unexpectedly. I worked a lot, and am extremely exhausted from being "in charge" while the boss is away. I've just been sad and irritable, and the beginning of this week has left me even more drained. Ugh. I need some change. And soon.

It has been a "combat boots" kind of day.

Boys & Chocolate

2010-10-27T21:58:00.000-05:00

There are two things about me you should know: I love bearded men, and I adore gourmet chocolate. Imagine my excitement (understatement) when I read about these adorable fellows:

Mast Brothers Chocolate

Mast Brothers Chocolate is a small company based out of Brooklyn, NY run by two brothers that have a true passion for chocolate. Their beans come from around the world, and are made into amazing deliciousness with their own four hands.

Take a breath. I know it's a lot to wrap your mind around.

They also happen to design and make (with help, I'm sure) all of their own wrapping paper:

How fancy and adorable are these designs??

Check out the link below that second picture to browse their website. I am thinking the $92 purchase will be well worth my money. I'll let you know after I buy myself an early Christmas present....

Pooch Propaganda

2010-10-23T10:43:00.001-05:00

If you haven't already noticed, I am annoyingly passionate about animal rescue and welfare. Since October is Adopt-a-Dog Month, I thought it was only appropriate that I touch on the issue before this month comes to an end.

A lot of people decide to go to breeders and pet stores because they want a puppy or a purebred dog, which is kind of funny considering shelters are almost always full of puppies. Not to mention, there are dozens and dozens of rescue groups specializing in purebred dogs. You can find all of this info and possibly your future best friend at Petfinder.com. In fact, if you look a few entries back, our last foster dog was a beautiful purebred boxer rescued from Chicago Animal Control. Booyah!

When I'm not busy with foster dogs and/or work, Alex and I try to volunteer at our local shelter when we can. A few pics from a visit in the summer:

Tyson, a pitbull mix. Super affectionate and a blast to be around. Adopted!

Angel, a yellow lab. Crazy about playing catch. Adopted.

Alex with the cute, mischievous puppy. Adopted (duh).

If you believe you're ready for the responsibility of owning and caring for a dog, please consider adoption. If you're not quite there, find a shelter or rescue organization nearby and volunteer your time and love. And if that's not enough to convince you, here's one more picture of a very sad and very cute shelter dog:

Snip?

2010-10-22T11:19:00.000-05:00

Well, I am officially in love with this choppy bob look via Miss Johannson, aka Mrs. Reynolds:

all courtesy of JustJared.com

Unfortunately, I literally just cut my bangs last weekend after growing them out for months:

Look how sad I am about this epic mistake (sarcasm)

I think the cut would look better with a side-sweep anyway, so I think we're looking at another couple of months until I can chop into this mane of mine.

Ebb and Flow

2010-10-12T21:29:00.002-05:00

Awhile back, I posted the trailer for "Breaking Upwards", a movie about a couple that decides to have days off from each other and see other people after their relationship stalls. It was actually a really well-done and honest portrait of two lovers who have let their own sense of "self" go, and need to find it again.

The trailer above seems to be taking on a similar subject - is monogamy really natural? Is it for everyone? I do believe in true love, being best friends with your significant other, etc. However, I struggle a lot with being everything to one person.

Not to get too philosophical, but this is a topic I am truly enamored by. My favorite movies and books seem to be a dissection of long-term couples and how they deal with all of the issues that come with growing up together and even growing apart - OR growing apart to find that all you wanted was to know for sure that you were meant to be together. I know the topic of open relationships is a touchy subject, but one worth discussing. I also happen to love Mark Duplass, the director of "The Freebie", and I'm excited to see what he does with this.

Another movie I'm crazy excited for? "Blue Valentine" with Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams:

Needless to say, I am not your average romantic comedy lady. Whoops.

Secret Heart.

2010-10-10T10:42:00.000-05:00

Do you know how much I love Feist? Not only is she incredibly talented and kind, but her style is kind of perfect as well. Alex and I saw her live awhile back, and it was by far one of the best shows I have seen. Grizzly Bear, one of my favorites, opened. On top of all of that goodness, it was at The Vic (in Chicago). Such an intimate venue for two incredibly heartfelt acts. Love.

Easy As Brownies: A More Accurate Phrase.

2010-09-30T19:34:00.000-05:00

Lesson of the day: pie is not as easy as....pie.

Seriously, folks. I have baked my fair share of goodies: cookies, brownies, cakes, muffins, and even little baby pastries. But today marks a food milestone for me: I baked my very first pie from scratch.

The recipe: Emeril's Apple Cheddar Cheese Pie

(this is obviously not vegan, but I wanted to make something decadent. I also thought that the cheddar cheese would give a really great kick to a classic recipe)

Golden brown

I really love how much detail and labor goes into baking pies. I think there's something very personal about making the crust, coring and peeling the apples, and cutting the aged cheddar into tiny 1/2 inch squares. My favorite part was filling the crust to the brim with these really fresh ingredients. My least favorite part? Making the crust. Ugh....what a tedious process. First it was too wet, then it was too dry, and then I ended up not quite making the top large enough. Oh well, live and learn.

Imperfect edges: signs of a true novice

End Result:

Not too shabby

Pretty good for my first homemade pie, but I think I would grate the cheese next time so that it's more evenly distributed. I also wouldn't mind a little more cinnamon and maybe a pinch of ginger. Yum, but not "oh my wow!" yum.

Still, I ate the whole slice.

Sweater Weather!

2010-09-27T09:57:00.002-05:00

As is the usual, Illinois seems to be completely dismissing fall as a viable season. Straight to winter? Ugh....

I will say that the chillier seasons are my favorite for clothing - I love sweaters, boots, and layers upon layers. That's the good news. The bad news? It's almost impossible for me to find a winter coat that is both my style and animal-friendly. More good news? I think I found the little sucker:

Double Jeopardy Jacket - Modcloth

While I usually stray away from black due to the dog hair situation we often have thanks to our adorable foster dogs, I just love the structure of this coat. On top of the classic shape, it scored a 4 out of 5 on the warmth scale, and it's wool-free! I am also thinking about switching up the buttons to make it a little more fun, but we'll see. It must be mine.

To keep with the clean look, I love this little hat and one of these eternity scarves to help me keep bundled up and super warm:

Bit-Of-Brim Hat - Anthropologie

Both scarves by Swak Designs on Etsy

But I actually really love tunnel scarves (and this cream color) the most:

This one is great, but I actually found one very similar at H & M for $10. That's how I roll.

Beefcake.

2010-09-24T09:44:00.000-05:00

Alex and I picked up our 7th foster dog through One Tail almost a week ago. On the car ride home, I was already smitten. Marino is a fairly mellow 4 yr. old purebred boxer who was obviously truly loved at one point in his life. He is so well trained and obedient -a dream on a leash, and really just a great dude.

Unfortunately he is not as dog-friendly as we previously thought (this is no one's fault as an assessment at animal control is not always the most inclusive way to find out about a dog's personality), and we've decided this is not the absolute best environment for him - we live downstairs from and share a yard with a 15 lb. mutt...

I have to admit I'm kind of heartbroken, and I plan on snuggling him for the next 48 hrs. straight until he's off to his new and wonderful foster home. I really do hope the dog situation is a fluke, but even if it's not, I know the rescue I volunteer for will only allow him to go to the absolute best home for his needs.

Love this face. :sigh:

No Small Feat

2010-09-13T11:40:00.001-05:00

Alex and I had a nice mini-vacation in Lake Geneva, WI which involved a friend's wedding reception, lots of yummy food, and our 6 year anniversary date!

Simple Cafe leftovers. Yum!

You've got a little spinach in your teeth.

How about me?

Ditto.

Prep.

Let's do this.

6 years!

Lake Geneva is a very cute and tourist-y town filled with little antique shops, mom-and-pop restaurants, and beautiful lakeside views. We had loads of fun, and I got to see some of my wonderful friends I don't get to see too often. Loads of food, dancing, sunshine, and love.

Not the most flattering picture, but definitely sums up our relationship perfectly.

Oh, and those glasses? A wonderful anniversary present from the boyfriend via Warby Parker. I absolutely love them, and cannot recommend the company enough for affordable and adorable eyewear.

The Almighty Boot

2010-08-25T20:38:00.000-05:00

So, I really love boots. Ankle booties, knee-high boots, and even rain boots! (I plan on owning a pair of fabulous Hunters very, very soon)

I think I love boots so much because they make an outfit dressier or tougher without the pain of heels. As much as I really like adding heels to an outfit, I just don't have the feet to wear them very often - they kind of injure me. A lot.

Anywho, I definitely wanted to get some knee-highs for the fall, and I already have a very nice pair of brown ones. While I'm always hesitant to buy shoes in black due to their lack of making an outfit pop, I decided to purchase these from Alternative Outfitters:

While I'm not a hardcore vegan anymore, I still very much believe in a leather, wool, and down-free lifestyle. I can't really explain why I allow myself to consume dairy while I refuse to wear leather boots, but for now, it just works for me.

In fact, I did actually cave and buy a pretty great leather belt second-hand at a thrift store once, but I just didn't feel comfortable wearing it. Needless to say, it was re-donated. You're welcome, stranger.

But yes, I am happy with my cruelty-free purchase and cannot wait to wear them over and over again.

Nesting.

2010-08-23T21:08:00.000-05:00

I had the day off today. You would think that I would jump at the opportunity to actually dress nice and put some makeup on (as I work with dogs all day - and let's face it, they could care less what you look like. Another reason I love them so much) but instead I went thrifting for decor!

I think this sudden urge to make our house a little more home-y is due to the fact that we finally agreed to sign another year-long lease. Alex and I went back and forth for awhile about moving away and/or moving to a new place, but we are both in a comfortable place at our jobs, so we might as well hang around for another year and take this opportunity to save up some money for the big move! (Location to be disclosed at a much later date)

Ok, so I've definitely had the idea of making a "collage" out of random paintings/portraits, and hanging them on this huge and very empty wall in our living room. Just last week, I actually found a great pre-framed and matted print of "Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper, and hung it up on said empty wall. But, it just wasn't doing it for me. This painting now hangs above our faux fireplace, and an experimentation began with the infamous collage!

All but 2 of these were purchased today - the two president pics are actually photos I cut out of a children's book ($1.99) and framed. I just couldn't get over how great that JFK pic is - I love it. And how could I not frame FDR? I mean, come on.

The Neutral Milk Hotel album is actually just that - an album we've had forever that I thought would go great with the rest of the bunch.

The mirror was total improv. Alex wasn't a fan of one of the paintings I purchased today, but I needed a big centerpiece, so I grabbed the mirror from our bedroom. It doesn't look too bad, but I'm going to keep my eyes open for something better.

Like I said, it's still a work in progress, but I do like the feel overall. Up next is a new lamp - that one peeking up from the bottom is too tall for my linking.

Umm...the more I look at it, the more I want to change a few things around, haha. But seriously...how cool is that king picture? I love it, and I have no clue who it's by and who this king fellow thinks he is. If you happen to know, please fill me in!

I also picked up these cute little veggie pictures for the kitchen, and a mint condition mini-globe.

My next big project is definitely the bedroom - this is alway the room I slack on, because it's not really part of the "home" for other people who come over. However, I'm starting to realize how much I would love my bedroom to be more of a sanctuary and less like a dorm room. I guess that's part of growing up, huh?

Speaking Out.

2010-08-20T11:24:00.002-05:00

I recently took a trip down memory lane via my old blog on :gasp!!!: Myspace. I just don't have the heart to delete my account - there are too many embarrassing and wonderful entries I want to remember. I used to be able to write so candidly, saying whatever I felt needed to be said at the time.

This blog started (loosely) as a food and clothing blog, but I've realized that my real passion is to just write about whatever I want without worrying about if it fits into a certain category. So, I'm going to start doing that. There will still be pictures of dishes I make and clothing I love, but I may also post other viewpoints. This may also help me find the inspiration to write more than once every few weeks...:ahem:

Believe it or not, I found this "poem"(that word is always a little uncomfortable for me to use to describe anything I do) I wrote almost four years ago regarding my mom's passing away and how it has changed me - and I still really love it:

I was just sitting there, minding my own business

Filling my belly with everything you taught me

So that I could keep going for days

Without stopping

I live off of this: sparks of sighs.

I wanted so much to watch you,

Through the broken glass of the television

With nothing but ancient films to help me remember…

Oh, how you used to hold this all together

With the might of a thousand…well, you were more than sufficient.

I can remember when you weren't an image reflecting

On some mechanical machine

Or a glossy copy glaring at me,

Wanting so much for me to stop drowning you

With every splash that falls down from my face

It's getting harder to hear your laugh

To hear you sing. Awfully, you sang

But it was ok because you did it while smiling.

I look farther and farther back

Only to help me push forward

Every time I shake, it's because I'm lacking.

So many "Ifs" and not enough "This is what I have to work with"

Nostalgia can be a weapon of mass destruction if used incorrectly

I get wordy when I'm afraid to end a moment like this one right here.

Hold this all together, and while you're at, prop me up.

I need something. Quick.

This ache, this, too, shall pass

And I'll be left with the remembrance that I have expectations to meet,

An agenda that comes before my silly twinge and flinches.

There I go again.

But it's true, I am not pitiful nor am I someone to pity.

When I break open, there is so much more than just insides.

Somewhere hiding: the light that was passed on to me.

And when I shine, I'm blinding.

Four years later, and I really do feel the same way. Losing her has been the biggest challenge of my life, and while I do feel healed, I still miss and think of her constantly. I think we would have grown into each other - maybe I would feel the need to get married more, because she would be there to help with all of those motherly details. I know for sure that I would have convinced her to start rescuing and fostering dogs (I inherited my love and compassion for animals from her), and we would be an unstoppable mother-daughter animal crusade team! As for food? We both have/had hardcore a hardcore sweet tooth, but I do think we would've taught each other a lot in the kitchen as the years went on. Should've, would've, could've.

Here's my absolute favorite picture of my parents as youths in love:

Gotta love that yellow, velvet romper!

Bipartisan

2010-08-06T23:02:00.001-05:00

Cake Spy just added these adorable little buttons to their online store, and I am very tempted to pick up a few - if they were t-shirts, I would have already purchased one of each!

See, the boyfriend is very much a pie man. In fact, I have heard him utter the words, "I don't even really like cake", on several occasions. Totally outrageous. (and kind of a lie as he goes nuts over carrot cake, and loooooves cupcakes. Contrary to popular belief, cupcakes are just little toddler cakes. True story. I know, I just blew your mind!)

Me? I'm more of an equal opportunist. Bake me a pecan pie or a red velvet cake, and I'm putty in your hands either way. Buuut...more times than not, I'm gonna go with the cake. Sorry, pie.

*If you'd like, you can purchase some buttons of your own here.

One word, It's all you get.

2010-08-02T21:35:00.000-05:00

1) Where is your phone? Purse

2) Your hair? Shiny

3) Your mother? Light

4) Your father? Complex

5) Your favourite plate? Mediterranean

6) Your dream last night? Vampires

7) Favourite drink? Coffee

8) Your dream? Evolving

9) What room are you in? Living

10) Your hobby? Words

11) Your fear? Idling

12) Missing? Mother

13) Where were you last night? Home

14) Something you're not? Angry

15) Muffins? Poppy!

16) Wishlist? Camera

17) Where did you grow up? Byron

18) Last thing you did? Movie

19) What are you wearing? T-shirt

20) Your tv? Small

21) Your animals? Puppy

22) Friends? Goodness!

23) Your life? Progress

24) Your mood? Content

25) Do you miss someone? Yes

26) Car? Jetta

27) Something you don't wear? Perfume

28) Your favourite shop? Modcloth

29) Favourite colour? Green

30) When did you laughed the last time? Work

31) Last time you cried? Weeks

32) Your best friend? Cute

33) Place I would go over and over? West

34) Facebook? Yes

35) Favourite place to eat? Chicago Diner

Whoops- well, there was no way around that last one. This week - working 6 days, taking foster puppy to his forever home, writing, long walks, starting back up my running schedule, and lots of cooking! Here's a pic of our delicious and refreshing dinner last night:

Nearly Raw Tahini Noodles via Vegan Yum Yum

It's a chilled pasta, so totally perfect for summer. I also happen to really love tahini (which I know isn't for everyone) - the sauce was too, too good!

Life Saver

2010-07-25T13:47:00.000-05:00

Do you see this?

This little bottle of heaven is saving my life. Well, maybe not saving my life but definitely helping me beat this bug floating around in my head and sinuses.

Anytime I feel like I need a big boost of energy, I do one of two things: grab a Naked Juice or roast up a bunch of veggies and make a smoothie at home. I also turn to coffee, but that's more of a morning thing...and also needed for daily survival at this point...

Anyways, I usually grab myself a Green Machine, but I noticed this new flavor, "Berry Veggie Machine", and it actually seems to pack a bigger punch than my trusty and slimy old friend:

It tastes pretty great - the cherries and plum seem to dominate any other flavors. My lips are now stained red, but that'll come off in the wash.

Totally unrelated, but I got this adorable locket from Modcloth for my birthday (I basically just said "Get me this!", and Alex obeyed):

Since it's such a quirky locket, I figured it would only be appropriate to put an equally oddball picture inside. I'm still contemplating on that, but I'm thinking either a picture of a vegetable or some ridiculously cheesy celebrity such as Enrique Iglesias or Regis Philbin. Hah. If you have any other amazingly horrible suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

Well, I've really done it now!

2010-07-24T14:33:00.000-05:00

Guess what happens when I eat like garbage for almost a week straight? My body lashes out - I get the sniffles, a sore throat, fatigued, and a little nauseous. Did I mention my skin breaks out? So awful.

Alex and I haven't been grocery shopping in far too long, and we ran out of fresh veggies and protein (beans, tofu, seitan, etc)! When this happens, especially when we are so very busy with work and a foster puppy, we eat out way too much. Sure, there were a few good meals in there - a frozen Amy's meal, some delicious vegan gumbo left over from the week before - but most of it was not so good. Is it normal to eat ice cream 4 times in one week?

When you're body is used to eating pretty well for the most part, this can be a big shock to the system. And when I woke up this morning with a sore throat, I immediately went recipe hunting and put together a very happy grocery list. Here are some recipes I found and will be making this week:

http://veganpandamonium.blogspot.com/search/label/salad

http://veganpandamonium.blogspot.com/2010/01/soy-ginger-gardien-with-quick-fried.html

http://www.girlsgonechild.net/2010/07/eat-well-garbonzo-beans-with-www.html

http://veganyumyum.com/2008/07/nearly-raw-tahini-noodles/

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Wild-Rice-with-Wild-Mushrooms-894

I believe all of these are vegan minus the last one, and I will be replacing the chicken stock with vegetable stock, obviously.

Even if I'm not eating so well for lunch and dinner, I have been having this super easy breakfast on most weekdays for the last month or two:

Vegan (or not) Overnight Oats

I adapted the recipe from the one over at Oh She Glows. Sometimes I make them vegan, but my favorite way is to add some Greek yogurt to the mix:

1/4 cup oats

1/4 cup steel cut oats (these are going to be a little crunchy, but it just adds to the texture

1 or 2 tbsp ground flax seed

1/2 cup almond milk

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

1/2 tsp vanilla

cinnamon to taste

1/2 banana, mashed

*caco nibs, blueberries, almonds, raisins, etc. for garnish (optional)

Whisk all of the ingredients together, and pop in the refrigerator overnight. Eat in the a.m.

You can add the mashed banana the night before, but I add it in the morning - I just don't enjoy eating brown banana chunks. It kinda grosses me out.

It might not look appetizing, but I really love it. It's not too sweet or too dull, and it keeps me full for hours and hours. Also, cacao nibs are my new favorite topping! So good and crunchy.

Lazy Bones

2010-07-12T20:24:00.001-05:00

So, how lazy do I look? After just writing a blog about maxi dresses, I feel the need to mention how I much I would love to own/wear these pants at least 5x a week:

Kimchi Blue Trouser Sweatpants - Urban Outfitters

In my defense, these are by far the most adorable and fashionable sweatpants I have ever laid my eyes on! I mean, come on - the trouser cut, cuffed leg, and heather grey color? It's the best of both worlds in my opinion. Honestly. Need these.

In other news, my foster dog has me completely exhausted. He's up by 6:30, needs at least 3 very long walks a day to be happy (or two walks and a dog park visit), and gets into EVERYTHING. I know, I know - he's a puppy. All I have to say is he is lucky he's so damn adorable, or I just might have given him the boot otherwise.

Ohhhhhhh! It's all making sense now - I want to live in sweatpants (trousers) and nightgowns (maxi dresses) because this little guy has me ready for bed by 10pm every night. Seriously. Me? Exhausted before midnight? This has never happened in my life. Ever. If I ever have kids, I'm going to be a straight-up zombie!

The Boys

2010-07-09T11:59:00.000-05:00

This is our newest foster pup, Louie. He is a 5-6 month old pointer/basset hound mix. He has spent half of his little life in a shelter, so his curiosity in everything is incredibly sweet AND exhausting at the same time :o) He's a little wild, but adorable and a total blast. Oh, and he really loves Alex - which, of course, is the cutest relationship ever.

Here's Lou lounging on the steps on a warm summer's day:

Awesome.

Maxed Out

2010-07-03T18:32:00.001-05:00

Thanks to the heat and my sheer hatred for having to shave my legs every SINGLE day, I have recently fallen back in love with the go-to Maxi Dress.

Unfortunately, I only have two maxis so far - both black. My favorite one is made out of 50/50 t-shirt material, and fits like a glove. I bought it at Free People online a few months ago - they were out of the navy blue, so I couldn't buy two. I love, love this dress. However, I really wouldn't mind owning more fora little variety so that I can switch it up once in awhile. Here are a few of my favorites:

I Dye! Maxi at Modcloth

Another black number, but I think it's pretty adorable. The "granola" factor of this one is pretty high, but I can take a few giggles if it means being crazy comfortable.

Crazy Love Maxi via Free People

One of my favorite color combos - purple and green.

Liberty Stripe Dress - Piperlime

Frock Star Dress - Modcloth

Ok, this one isn't a maxi dress (and it's also black) but it looks just as comfortable. I love the flow of the fabric and the detail!

Pins and Needes Chiffon Maxi - Urban Outfitters

This one is my favorite. I'm not a huge fan of strapless, but I love the soft, girly pattern so much.

My birthday is coming up, and I happen to have a pretty generous boyfriend, so I'm hoping one of these are in my not-too-distant future. Off to munch on some bruschetta and sit in front of the fan - it's a hot one today!

The Dog Who Found Me

2010-06-28T14:26:00.001-05:00

This dog makes the list of loves of my life. I've already written about her far too much, but I will just say that I saved her life, and she continues to repay me every single time I get to visit her. She's now 10-11 years old, and shows no signs of slowing down. Totally neurotic, but hilarious and happens to favor me TREMENDOUSLY over everyone in the world.

Outtake. OMG!

The feeling is mutual.

If I knew my next place of residency would accept a 60 lb. husky, I would steal her away from my father in a heartbeat. Too much is up in the air right now for the future. For now, long walks and SUPER nerdy photo shoots every few months will have to do.

I actually visited people I love this weekend as well, but alas - I never remember to take photos of those good times. What a dorkus.

Chicago, I love you.

2010-06-23T11:43:00.000-05:00

Saturday, Alex and I decided to ride the Metra into the city. Chicago is about a 20 minute drive from our house in the suburbs (15 minutes to the Goose Island Brewery!), but we decided to save on gas and parking and utilize good ol' public transportation.

The Metra takes us straight to the action - the business district. Now, I love Chicago, but I love it for it's amazing neighborhoods and communities. The crazy, enormous buildings part just isn't my cup of tea, but it is my cup of coffee (cheesy):

Intelligentsia (which I already mentioned previously) is a very wonderful coffee company that believes that a good cup of coffee is nothing to joke about. While I went for a simple iced mocha (very subtle, not crazy sweet like most mochas), Alex got the chemist brew. I believe he repeated this phrase at least 5 times: "This is the best cup of coffee I will ever have." And I agree, his black coffee changed my way of thinking completely:

The flavor was so smooth with a nutty aftertaste. Yum! I love when he looks disheveled.

Then, we took a the CTA to one my favorite neighborhoods that just happens to house one of my absolute favorite restaurants ever, The Chicago Diner. I decided on The California Reuben Sandwich:

Agave-mesquite “turkey” seitan with
vegan cabbage-carrot-parsley slaw,
Daiya cheese option on toasted marbled rye.

Oh wow. So good. The coleslaw was the perfect, sweet compliment to the "meatiness" of the "turkey" (how many quotations can a vegetarian use when describing one meal??).

And this is what Alex decided on:

The Halfpipe:

An open faced hoagie with country fried seitan steak,

french fried onions, lettuce, tomato & 1260 Sauce.

While a little difficult to actually eat, it looked pretty great! I actually only got a nibble of the fried onions (delicious!), but I will say he was very pleased...and totally dominated that thing.

Then, we proceeded to walk 100 blocks to finish off with dessert from The Bleeding Heart Bakery. Ok, it wasn't actually 100 blocks, but it was sooooo flippin' hot that day that it felt like it. Also, we completely underestimated how far the two locations were from each other, so a short walk turned into quite the hike. Needless to say, it was totally worth it for these little gems:

Alex and I both decided on one these amazing little red velvet donut holes - melt in your mouth smooth with just the right amount of creaminess - and a cupcake each.

I took a recommendation from the brilliant owner, and purchased this Veruca Salt cupcake (above) - caramel meets a hint of saltiness and a great buttercream frosting. Honestly, when the owner says it's her favorite, you listen! I'm no fool.

Alex absolutely loved this Lemon Rosemary concoction:

Isn't that little sprig of Rosemary the cutest decoration ever? Tart desserts are a weakness of his (he will do just about anything for Key Lime!), and this was no exception.

A few record stores later, a quick water break, and a few stops to pet various puppies walking down the street, and we made the long walk back to the station for a sleepy ride home.

The Way.

2010-06-21T13:58:00.000-05:00

Remember Fastball? I never really cared for them too much, but plenty of my friends did in high school.

I have two incredible lady best friends in my life, and lately, lots of changes have been taking place in our lives. I'm only a two-hour drive away from them, but that's a long time when life gets in the way. Late night conversations are the best, and my favorites have been with them.

I guess it's just one of those "nostalgia mania" days.

In modern news, I had the Cadillac of coffees over the weekend:

Intelligentsia Coffee is brewed in this wonderfully geeky way, and the result is nothing short of phenomenal. Now, I am not a black coffee kind of girl, but this stuff has me rethinking my teaspoon of creamer in the morning. Could I go au natural? For this stuff, heck yes!

Chicago Diner was also consumed the same day, but I think I'll save that for a separate post.

A Little Piece of Heaven

2010-06-14T16:01:00.003-05:00

Thanks to one of my absolute favorite food blogs, CakeSpy, I was recently introduced to a cute little truffle company, The Smallest Bite.

Based out of Rhode Island, this company specializes in vegan, organic, and fair trade chocolate. If you don't know, I am kind of in love with everything chocolate, especially when said chocolate treats are also vegan. I couldn't resist or decide on just one, and so I ordered all three flavors:

Original Organic Chocolate

Blackberry Pretzel

and my favorite, Toasted Coconut & Salted Pistachio

All of the truffles were so very rich while still having that strong dark chocolate flavor, but the taste really stood out in the coconut and pistachio mix! I love love pistachios, so I may be biased, but these are the winners in my book! The blackberry pretzel flavor was incredibly subtle, and I was a little disappointed at how muted the pretzel flavor seemed to be. Still delicious, but not as strong as I would've liked.

And when they say "The Smallest Bite", they aren't kidding around:

(no, I don't have giant hands )

Not that this is a bad thing - in fact, my favorite way to eat dark chocolate is this way - in tiny nibbles I can really savor. This is also nice for us who only want a little treat without going overboard.

Overall, The Smallest Bite is a great company with high quality chocolate, and I would definitely recommend it to other chocolate maniacs like myself. Even if you're not vegan, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Yum!

One Last Note: While we're on the topic of veganism, I just wanted to mention my favorite vegan apparel store: Herbivore Clothing. I have been a faithful buyer for what seems like forever, and have bought this graphic on 3 different shirts in the past 7 years:

This adorable purple v-neck version being my favorite so far. I wore the last two OUT simply by loving them too much. I have also purchased a few great totes, and a book or two. Great customer service, and they also have an actual store in Portland now. Neat! They are a great company, and I cannot say enough great things about them.

Ok, now time for a coffee boost. This rainy weather is really slowing me down.

Odds & Ends & PUPPY

2010-06-09T20:26:00.001-05:00

Despite these random rainy days, I am declaring that it is officially summer. Because summer has always made me feel a little more lighthearted and free, one of my favorite things to do is get lost in stories late at night or mid-afternoon while basking in a little sunlight. That being said, here is a stack of books that made my "summer reading club" cut:

A few books about food, a few heartbreakers, and a classic or two. This is just a work in progress, but I feel like they're all great picks based on reviews, summaries, etc. And yes, they are all from my local library, because libraries are kind of my thing. They're magical, really.

I also cannot stop baking cookies from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar. My most recent attempt: Chocolate Chip Chai Spice Shortbread cookies:

These cookies are so, so good! The chai gives it a delicacy that makes the cookie a little more sophisticated while still being a classic favorite. I will be making these over and over again. I am not going to post the recipe, because I believe every cookie lover should own this little gem of a book.

I know, no outfit/real recipe posts again. FAIL. But guess what? Here's an adorable picture of the puppy that lives upstairs, so you can't be too disappointed, right?

That's what I thought.

Gimme!

2010-06-02T22:04:00.003-05:00

Love, love these shoes by Urban Outfitters. Casual meets Cool meets Quirky? Yes, please!

In badass-er news, I finally took the plunge and started watching "The Sopranos" series from season 1, episode 1. Verdict? I'm already in love. I never really doubted that I would like this show, I just didn't want to commit to the 7 seasons I would have to watch back-to-back. Well, consider me in a serious relationship with Mr. Tony Soprano (and Paulie, my fave!) for the next several months.

Good Day, Sunshine

2010-05-28T15:49:00.001-05:00

Well, I think it's official - Summer is here!

My yard is very green, my spirits are high, and I can't stop listening to My Morning Jacket, Polyphonic Spree, and Edward Sharpe. It feels good to feel like myself again.

Jeans: Lauren Conrad, $20

Blouse: Target, $20

Belt: Thrifted, $0.00

Shoes: Zoe and Zac, $19.99

Necklace: Forever 21, $4.99

Earrings: Thrifted, $1

I have a busy weekend ahead - A possible show tonight, Alex's graduation ceremony on Sunday (followed by dinner and margaritas, etc. at night with friends), and a barbecue at his mom's Monday afternoon.

One last tasty note:

Alex and I marinated and grilled up some portobello mushrooms last night, and they were soo sooo good! Any reason for a vegetarian to bust out the steak knives is cause for celebration!

Sweat Shop Conditions

2010-05-26T12:03:00.000-05:00

Yes, this is another food post. It's so much more fun to take pictures of yummy food than it is to take pics of myself...but I will have an outfit post soon. Promise (ish).

We made our first "complicated" dinner of the summer, and oh my gosh! I was not prepared for how much harder it is to cook when it gets hot out...lots of sweat, lots of water breaks. It was kind of like running a marathon, but the finish line was WAY more delicious, so I think I'll stick to cooking.

Potato and Kale Enchiladas with Roasted Chile Sauce:

with extra chile sauce, so good.

Filling: red mashed potatoes, steamed kale, and toasted pumpkin seeds. The mashed potatoes totally dominate any cheese filling that usually goes in this dish. The creaminess and texture is spot-on, and the kale and pumpkin seeds help to balance that out with a little bit of bite. Also, these are great for leftovers!

This recipe came from one of my favorite vegan cookbooks EVER: Veganomicon. You should really just buy the book, but you can also find the recipe HERE.

*My goal for the end of the summer is to be confident enough to not only make up my own recipe from scratch, but also be able to walk into a grocery store and come up with something pretty great off the top of my head - improv style. :fingers crossed:

I Dig It

2010-05-20T16:11:00.000-05:00

Just thought I'd take a moment to list some things I've fallen for in one way or another. First, two pretty adorable dresses via Modcloth:

Bow-Dacious Dress

I really, really love this little number. I am not usually a fan of large, blunt patterns, but the way this dress drapes makes it worth-while to be covered in bows.

Tea Leaves Dress in Sage

I think the name alone for this dress makes it worthy of its greatness. I am also thinking that I need to get this asap. Yep.

Straw Fedora

I'm on a hat-collecting mission. Also, I am determined to NOT get a horrible, horrible sunburn this summer. I don't know why, but my skin is uber sensitive, and I have had more than my share of sunburns. I've decided being semi-pale is just fine if it means my skin is happy.

Laelia Quilt @ Anthropologie

I have been meaning to get a new comforter or quilt for a long, long time. I would love something bright and fun, but I may have to compromise with my man friend. We'll see how convincing I can be...

And then there are my current food crushes:

I recently made a "raw" pasta sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, and I'm pretty sure they were the secret ingredient that made the sauce flippin' tasty. I never really gave much thought to them before, and I'm embarrassed and ashamed to admit that. Sorry, sun-dried goodness.

Last but not least, ground cloves! I had to buy this spice for a pumpkin dish, and now I pretty much add it to anything that calls for cinnamon and/or nutmeg. A little goes a long way, but it just makes whatever I'm baking taste a little more fancy. Nothing wrong with that, folks.

Yum-tastic!

2010-05-17T17:51:00.001-05:00

Just a quick Monday recipe post:

The General Tso's Tofu recipe turned out pretty great. The tofu was marinated so perfectly, and the texture was spot-on thanks to the cornstarch. I had never used cornstarch when cooking tofu before, so it was a nice little surprise.

Also, I have no reference to the original chicken-based recipe, as I went vegetarian so young and my meat experience is very, very limited. My diet before the age of 11 consisted of lots of chicken nuggets, fish sticks, and the occasional piece of bologna - I know....yikes.
Even if it might not taste like the original, I'm pretty confident you'll enjoy it regardless :o)

I actually found a very similar recipe online, so if you're interested in making it just click here. Just in case it's not clear, "red pepper" refers to red pepper flakes. Other than that, just add some steamed rice and broccoli, and you're all set. Enjoy!

Hats, Shoes, and General Tso's Tofu

2010-05-13T17:18:00.001-05:00

For a very long time, I have gotten into the habit of pulling my hair back and slapping on a headband whenever I don't feel like doing anything at all with my hair. This is especially true on days I go without washing it. It's no wonder I got a little bored with this quick fix, so I decided to switch things up a little:

Invest in some more-stylish-than-beanies hats! This is obviously not a huge revelation, but it's one I'm having fun with. I bought this little guy from Target for $14, and I really love it. Lots.

Awkward face.

Another one of my "get out of your comfort zone!" fashion exercises is to break away from my everyday shoe wear:

(flats, in case you didn't get the hint)

Instead, I'm trying to switch things up more often. And just like that, I found these puppies at a thrift store for $3.99 earlier this week:

They're a smidgen too big, but I'm hoping that taking in the straps a little will fix that. Is it weird that I haven't owned wedges in like...7 years? I really like the casual look to these, so they're actually pretty perfect.

Tonight, I'm attempting to make General Tso's Tofu thanks to a delicious-sounding recipe in VegNews. If it turns out to be half as good as I'm hoping, I will post pictures and the recipe in case you want to try it yourself. :fingers crossed:

Button shirt: Target, $20

Hat: Target, $14

Necklace: Thrifted, $0.50

Shoes: ?

Feather Earrings: H&M, $3.49

Watch: Target, $12.99