Friday Roundup

1. This week I finally took the plunge and signed up for Pinterest. After hours (no joke) of set-backs and Pinterest being a little B-word it finally let me sign up. I have to say I’m not as impressed or as addicted as everyone else seems to be. Don’t judge me, but I don’t really see the draw. Maybe because there is no school work to procrastinate? BUT I do have cleaning to procrastinate and so SO much time to kill since it’s break and I’m not working. Maybe I just don’t get it. I guess though, it is a good way to save random recipes and stuff I see on the internet. Is that the point?

2.  This song has been my JAM the past few days. Don’t mind the first 25 seconds…

Others on the list that has been playing on repeat: Shake it out – Florence & the Machine, Lights – Ellie Goulding (Dustin does a really great Ellie Goulding dancing impression. Have you ever seen her dance? She only has one move. It’s weird), We found love – Rihanna andddd that song with Lily Allen and T Pain’s audio tuned voice, it’s really catchy, 5 O’Clock. OH and also the She & Him Christmas Album!! Can’t forget that one!

3. I made Chex Mix this week, and it’s GOOD. So much better than the kind you buy in gas stations or as finals study “fuel”. You know, the kind that is reallyyyy salty. Here is the recipe I used in case you want to make some for yourself:

3 cups Corn Chex
3 cups Rice Chex
3 cups Wheat Chex (really though, you can mix and match these as you please just make sure you have 9 cups total of Chex)
1 cup Mini Pretzels
1 cup Nuts (I used peanuts)
1 cup Garlic Bagel Chips – broken into manageable, bite-size pieces (again, you can kind of mix and match these, if you can’t find bagel chips I think you could put in some extra pretzels and it would still be good)
6 Tbs. Butter
2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce (you find it by the BBQ sauce in the grocery store FYI)
1 1/2 tsp. Seasoning Salt (I used Johnny’s because that stuff is magical)
3/4 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp. Onion Powder

 

I baked mine, you can also make in in the microwave but that just seems weaksauce. So anyway, what you do is heat your oven to 250deg F, then take a roasting pan (I used a 13 X 9 cake pan) and put your butter in it and melt it in the oven. When it’s melted take it out and  mix all the seasonings into the butter. Then, because you’re a great multi-tasker you have also measured all your chex and pretzels and nuts and bagel chips into a big bowl together. So you take the bowl of goodies and slowly pour it into your butter mixture, mixing it all together while you pour (without crushing the chex – a spatula, like for flipping burgers is good for this – because it’s much easier to eat when all the chex are whole and not crumbles) and then when all of your ingredients are combined in the pan, you should probably stir it some more to make sure that it’s all coated really well!! After that you put it in the oven for 15 minutes. Then you take it out and stir it. Then you put it in again for 15 minutes and then take it out and stir, and you do this 4 times total, so your chex mix has baked for an hour total. And then you take it out and eat it and give it to your friends and it’s a delicious treat. And because it’s the giving season, if you want an easier to follow version, look HERE.And just for good measure, here is a really fancy iPhone picture of my final product:

 

But really, I did give a big bag of it to my boyfriend and he text me later that night saying that he went to town on it and it was delicious. This was after we had gone out to dinner (so it’s not like he was starving and anything would have tasted good). Moral of the story: it’ll probably bring all the boys to your yard. And it will give you something to do over winter break.

 

4. It’s Friday which means that it’s almost the weekend and also it’s the last day of finals at law school, WHICH MEANS maybe I will have SO MAN FRIENDZ to hang out with during the weekend! This whole hanging out alone thing has been getting boring. But I did go to happy hour at Tutta Bella with my friend (and sorority sister) Kate yesterday, and we had wine and italian pizza and it was delicious. If you live in Seattle you should go there. And also, you should eat their salted caramel gelato.

 

5. My roommate and I were talking last night about what to get a new boyfriend for Christmas. Isn’t that just the most awkward thing? Like, what if I get you something too big or too small or too awkward (anyone watch this week’s episode of New Girl??)? It’s really just so stressful. So we decided that an appropriate gift might be a subscription to the beer of the month club. Right? It’s not too sentimental, and also beer is delicious so it’s a win win. I think I got Dustin mugs last year. But that’s mostly because he only had one and we always had to share if we were having coffee or something and also I don’t think he got me anything (we had only been dating for like a month) and yeah. It can be so awkward. What do you guys think is an appropriate gift to give to a new boyfriend (or girlfriend) if anything at all?

 

6. This whole Friday Round Up stuff is hard. I don’t have 10 new things to write about. I haven’t been doing anything except deep cleaning our home and going on really long walks all week. So I’ll show you some pictures:

Above: Our house at Christmas time. All because of Kylee. Really, though. A purple and gold Christmas tree (go huskies?), a wreath Kylee’s mom made us and the only wrapped present under our tree.

 

Below: findings from my walk to Greenlake: a flamingo that should have been in my yard when I lived in the trailer park, a very gray Greenlake, Christmas randomness, and my Zoka (super watered down) eggnog latte + mitten/gloves.

7. That’s really all I have for you. Also if you want to do your own Roundup you should. I’m linking mine up and you can too:

Wednesday Date Night

So apparently winter break means lots of time for blogging. Hooray!

Last night Dustin and I went on a date. Like a date date. I even wore heels!!

I don’t know about you guys but Dustin and I usually just make plans to “hang out”. We don’t normally make date plans. We’ll hang out and then decide to go somewhere to eat or whatever. I don’t know why it’s different, but I was excited for a date date in all of my winter break boredom. Mostly because it gave me an excuse to do my hair and makeup and put on a cute outfit. 

He picked me up after work and we drove to Greenwood because he made me choose where I wanted to go and I said Gainsbourg (really I said “the French place across from your apartment”). I was super proud of myself for choosing, because normally I’m a total girl about it and say “I don’t know where I want to go” about a hundred times before Dustin gets really frustrated and chooses for us. Whoops. Anyway, I chose and it was good until we parked and walked over there and it was all dark and there was a sign on the door that said “closed for improvements”. Whattheheck?! I chose and the restaurant I chose was CLOSED? Gah!

So, Dustin suggested we go to the brewery next door for a drink and a soft pretzel and a chance to re-evaluate our plans. He made me pull out my phone and get on yelp to decide where I wanted to go, round two. Gah! So much stress! But guess what guys? I chose TWICE in one night. When I was looking at places and getting frustrated because apparently I can’t use Yelp, Dustin said that there was a new wood fire/Italian pizza place up the street a few blocks in Phinney that wasn’t yet on Yelp. I was all, I WANT TO GO THERE! Because he’s always like “remember that one time we got drinks at that pizza place?” (when we walk by it) and I’m always like “no, I’ve never been there YOU’RE THINKING OF SOMEONE ELSE” and get all butthurt. And then he remembers it was him and Ben and Greg. Whatever.

So we finished our beers and walked up the street to restaurant #2, Cornuto, holding hands and it was good.

When we got there, there was one tiny booth left. Perf. The place was super small and dim and cozy and amazing. We ordered a pizza that was delicious and more beer (because I’m on breakkkk).

 
And while we were sitting at dinner and Dustin was telling me about work, I had this “I’m a grown up” epiphany. It went like this: I’m 25 and on a date with my boyfriend at this romantic little restaurant, and he’s telling me about his grown up job and I’m wearing bootie heels and this is what, at 15 years old, I imagined life would be like at 25. And it was weird. But also good. So good.

And then we finished our beers and pizza and talked some more and then held hands and walked back to his place and then he took me home and I drove to the airport to pick up my roommate, Erin.

And guys, it was the best date night.

update + video

life update: I went on a walk to zoka and pawned off cookies and then walked through wallingford and greenlake to the actual lake with an eggnog latte that was all watered down with nonfat milk and I saw someone skiing along the edge of the lake with roller skiis and propelling them self with ski sticks and I saw lots of un-lit Christmas decorations and beautiful houses and squirrels and my most favorite thing when I'm having a bad day: ducks. I loveee ducks. they were chilling on the lake and it was magical.

and then I came home to find this video of Danielle and Steffen's wedding highlights. and I love it. I think the video perfectly captures their day (and also almost made me cry again when it showed Steffen's surprise singing - I need to pull it together haha):

Danielle and Steffen's Wedding Highlight Video from Mat Sutor - Sutography on Vimeo.

and also Dustin asked me on a date tonight which made me happy. I of course said yes! I love dates with him.

now I'm going to make chex mix and maybe more cookies because there is more dough (and then pawn them off on Dustin) and clean our home and get ready for my date and I guess things are sort of looking up, and I think maybe I made it be that way. 

off day

I’ve been in such a funk lately. First it was finals, and then it was coming off of finals, and maybe that’s still what it is. Nothingness after so much. And I don’t know what to do with myself. And I feel so unsure about so many things and it’s scary and it makes me not want to get out of bed. Ever. That’s why it’s after 11am and I’m still here, in bed (well, actually I got up to get some water and yogurt because I was SO thirsty).

So after waking up and laying here for while just feeling sorry for myself, I decided to get on the internet, for distraction purposes. Because the internet is the most wonderful distraction (twitter and facebook and blogs and news and now recently pinterest, which is kind of a b-word). And I stumbled across this:

nothing is what we want it to be, but everything is what we make it

And it’s so true. And right now exactly what I needed to hear. Or read. whatever.

So now I think it’s time to end my pity party and get out of bed and take a shower and go for a bundled up walk (because holy F it’s cold outside). I will walk to Zoka to see friends (who are still studying for finals – bummer for you guys) and pawn off cookies on them (because we baked last night, me and my favorites from law school, and those skinny friends of mine wouldn’t take any cookies. SO now I’m going to force ALL the cookies on them, because no one can turn down some finals binge cookie eating). And then maybe walk to Greenlake with warm coffee. And it will be good. Exercise and fresh air and seeing things from a view other than my bed (even though my heat blanket is here, and I love my heat blanket, and there are good things on the walls in my room. It will all be here when I get back).

I don’t mean to sound all emo, friends, and I’m not trying to drag you into my pity party, I promise you that. But, I do think most of you can relate (especially if you’re a girl with SO MANY FEELINGZ). But really, it’s just that time of the year (especially when you live in Seattle and it’s rainy and SO dark all the time). And we all have our off days. So now I’m going to attempt to remedy my off day, because everything is what we make it.

XXOO

onelonemagpie love – rings and thingz

Today I switched things up a little and guest posted over at my real life AND blog friend, Marissa’s blog ONELONEMAGPIE (which is all about pretty shiny things)! She let me write about “rings and thingz,” literally, and I’m suchhh a dork.

Anyway you guys should check it out – CLICK HERE!

Oh and just for good measure here we are together:

I guess we don’t take normal pictures? Unless we’re with our other bestie, Beth, and it’s America’s birthday, of course:

 
Keepin it real. For America.

XXOO

The Morning Before No More Real Estate

I really should be studying. I have my real estate final at 1:30 today. But yesterday I learned ALL of real estate with Lisa. No jokes, all of it. It took us like 12 hours straight of studying, but WE DID IT! And as for the studying now (which I already did some of this morning, and also I made a table of contents for my 30 page outline because I’m THAT GIRL), that quote from bring it on comes to mind: “if you don’t have it by now, you don’t have it!” – anyone else love that movie? We used to watch it at cheerleading sleepovers and things in high school. Seriously.

So instead of studying I blog. And I read blogs. And listen to Pandora. Because it’s calming. And not anxiety inducing (like real estate – which I will never have to think about again after this test (except for maybe on the bar…)).

And while I was blog reading, I saw this sweater on Ascott Friday and I want (so like, if you want to get it for me for Christmas that’d be cool, I’ll give you my address if you promise not to kill me in my sleep, there are only 4 left so hurry) ha. I also might be being impulsive because it’s finals… WHO KNOWS?BUT it’s all native american-y and awesome, right? Right.

Oh and you can find it HERE. Because sourcing things is nice/the RIGHT thing to do (IP final Saturday).

Also, while I haven’t been blogging these last few days (I’ve mostly been studying.. but also) I’ve been cat sitting making cat best friendz, and things like this below have happened. I’m not really proud of it. Also my eye rabies still aren’t gone and I STILL can’t wear contacts and it’s basically social suicide. Mean Girls? No? Ok. Don’t judge (on so many levels):

Ok I’m going to go eat, and study, and drink coffee, and get PUMPED UP for my final! Like: pump pump pump it up, p-u-m-p pump it up!! Anyone? No. OK. Fair enough. Bye friends!

Not Studying

Thursday I went to school, drove to Dustin’s, picked him up, and we headed to Portland. Screw studying, a 3 hour drive with my favorite sounded soo much better.

We stayed at Edgefield (I had never been) and didn’t get there until late, but drank beer and walked around and talked in our room, because there was no tv in there and it was better that way. There was also no bathroom in our room. Weird?

Friday morning we got up early, got  McDs breakfast like fat kids and drove to Hood River. I dropped Dustin off at his parents’ so he and his dad could turn around and drive to Eugene for the UO/pack 12 championship game.

It was soo beautiful at home. Cold but sunny.

While Dustin was away I tried to spend my 23 hours at home studying but instead had some anxiety. So then I went with my friends to a screening of “Tales from the Hood” which is a 13 part documentary series about Hood River. Each part chronicled someone different doing something awesome in Hood River, and lots of those people were my friends (yay). It was directed by Manny Marquez who made it to accompany the 2012 Native Eyewear Catalog (also w/ the same name). And it was awesome, guys! It made me love Hood River more than I already did. If that’s possible? I’ll post the link to the video once it’s public.
Anyway, after that, friends and I walked out of the theater and into a nighttime Christmas Parade through downtown Hood River. There was Santa on a float and horses and people throwing candies that looked like butterscotch but tasted like yucky orange. And then there was a tree lighting and carolers and more friends. And it was awesome. And then there was some dub step and my phone not cooperating with life. But that’s whatever.

Saturday morning I woke up early and met Dustin in Portland. I picked him up and we headed back to Seattle. Then I studied and made us dinner and we watched like 1/2 of a movie while eating like 2 bags of popcorn. And then this morning I drove him to the airport. Then I studied. 

Maybe it’s good that he’s gone on a work trip during my finals week? That way I won’t unload all of my stress onto him or be tempted to hang out instead of study. And also I get to snuggle with BattleCat and be in his apartment all alone (hermit mode) when I’m tired of my corner desk in my room and smelling like coffee at Zoka. The perks of cat-sitting!

Also, while I was supposed to be studying taking a study break I found this. Oh. My. Gosh.

Discuss.