Thursday, December 9, 2010
It is time to Par-tay!
It is time for my work's annual holiday party. Along with that came the excuse to purchase a new dress, which I haven't done yet for any of these holiday parties I have attended. Year 1 I wore a yellow cocktail dress that I had for Senior year BD and then last year I wore my fabulous bridesmaid dress from Alli's wedding. This year I found this gem at Dillards.com:
I love her. We had a few minor issues with her at first, but things have been straightened out and I think I am going to love wearing it! I need to get cracking on finishing my feathered hair thing. I'll keep you posted on how the party (and the following morning) turns out.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Browned Butter and Mizithra Dinner
So while I totally understand that Old Spaghetti Factory (or The Fac. as affectionately called be me and MOH) is generic Americanized Italian food I have a deep, unwavering love for their browned butter and mizithra. Sadly The Fac. does not exist out here on the desolate East coast. Kind of problem when I get a brownedbutterandmitzthrafoodcraving attack. So.... I whipped up my own version of this tasty delight. I figured the ingredients could not be too extensive. So here is it for all of you mizithra devouring individuals such as myself.
Ingredients:
Butter (butter is love people)
Wedge of mizithra cheese, grated finely (the only place I have found it here in the DC area is at the Whole Foods on Duke street in Alexandria)
Spaghetti
Olive Oil
Directions:
1) Cook pasta according to package directions. Strain. Toss in a glug of olive oil so the pasta won't stick together if you decide to keep any for left overs.
2) While pasta is cooking, heat a small sauce pan and put in about a 1/4 cup (per person) of butter. Slowly heat the butter until it has browned (yes, it is normal for it to have almost burnt flecks in it, but don't go further than that!)
3) Put pasta in a bowl, drizzle butter on top and sprinkle cheese, toss all together and inhale!
Trust me, not the healthiest meal, but cheap and very very tasty.
Ingredients:
Butter (butter is love people)
Wedge of mizithra cheese, grated finely (the only place I have found it here in the DC area is at the Whole Foods on Duke street in Alexandria)
Spaghetti
Olive Oil
Directions:
1) Cook pasta according to package directions. Strain. Toss in a glug of olive oil so the pasta won't stick together if you decide to keep any for left overs.
2) While pasta is cooking, heat a small sauce pan and put in about a 1/4 cup (per person) of butter. Slowly heat the butter until it has browned (yes, it is normal for it to have almost burnt flecks in it, but don't go further than that!)
3) Put pasta in a bowl, drizzle butter on top and sprinkle cheese, toss all together and inhale!
Trust me, not the healthiest meal, but cheap and very very tasty.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Christmas Cheer
A few things to spread some holiday cheer.
First I have share a story about being the recipient of a random act of kindness. I was at Michael's Arts and Crafts picking up a baking sheet, sprinkles, and craft supplies to attempt a hair piece for my upcoming Holiday Party this past weekend. It was a mad house. The start of holiday shopping, no baskets available, people gawking and clogging isles. I was to my max frustrated and feeling a massive head ache coming on. I was standing looking at some holiday ribbon and this older gentleman comes over to me and in my head I am thinking " I do not have time for this. He places a coupon from an old receipt of his on my pile of things I am struggling to hold on to and says "maybe this will help with purchasing some of your items". It was a 40% off one item coupon! It was so sweet of him! I was stopped dead in my tracks by his thoughtfulness. Needless to say, it really brought into perspective the intention and underlying blessing that this season brings.
Now some images that make me smile. Maybe it is because I have a purple wall now, but I am loving this decorating scheme.
First I have share a story about being the recipient of a random act of kindness. I was at Michael's Arts and Crafts picking up a baking sheet, sprinkles, and craft supplies to attempt a hair piece for my upcoming Holiday Party this past weekend. It was a mad house. The start of holiday shopping, no baskets available, people gawking and clogging isles. I was to my max frustrated and feeling a massive head ache coming on. I was standing looking at some holiday ribbon and this older gentleman comes over to me and in my head I am thinking " I do not have time for this. He places a coupon from an old receipt of his on my pile of things I am struggling to hold on to and says "maybe this will help with purchasing some of your items". It was a 40% off one item coupon! It was so sweet of him! I was stopped dead in my tracks by his thoughtfulness. Needless to say, it really brought into perspective the intention and underlying blessing that this season brings.
Now some images that make me smile. Maybe it is because I have a purple wall now, but I am loving this decorating scheme.
Via Decodir.com
I have always wanted a winter wedding that is just drenched in white and snow. I love some of the features of this table scape and decorating scene:
via apartmenttherapy.com
I know I know...
It was like i disappeared or something! I haven't blogged in what feels like forever! I will make the excuse that I am living in the dark ages right now- without internet or cable! I have been able to use a weak signal from someone else's apartment for 5-10 minutes a night but not nearly enough to write any sort of blog. Tonight we are at the Starbucks that is connected to my apartment building (t-r-o-u-b-l-e) for a few hours.
The new place is treating me well. Still no furniture. Things have felt slightly out of control and frantic as they always do towards the end of the year. So they only progress made has been painting one wall purple and buying the grey paint to attempt stripe on another and to paint a wall in my kitchen. The kitchen is pretty much unpacked but I am still in need of a microwave.
I have done well walking to and from work. The walk really isn't much further than my old place and I welcome the opportunity to kind of zone out and think about things on my mind. It has been brutally windy and cold the last couple days and I do worry that if I get chilled I may start getting colds but we will see if I can tolerate walking until I go home for the holidays.
I did buy a new TV. MY VERY FIRST TV! And I adore it. I watch a few tv shows (on DVD) before falling asleep, and it is blissful!
After many days of searching I also found an awesome deal on a gorgeous blue and teal print fabric shower curtain from the Crate and Barrel outlook.
Things are coming together slowly and surely and once I make the venture to IKEA to purchase the furniture it will really start to feel like home.
And the one and only photo of the purple wall so far! The wall that is still white is the one that we are going to attempt to paint grey horizontal stripes on. (Dad be proud. Your daughter owns and can operate a laser level!)
The new place is treating me well. Still no furniture. Things have felt slightly out of control and frantic as they always do towards the end of the year. So they only progress made has been painting one wall purple and buying the grey paint to attempt stripe on another and to paint a wall in my kitchen. The kitchen is pretty much unpacked but I am still in need of a microwave.
I have done well walking to and from work. The walk really isn't much further than my old place and I welcome the opportunity to kind of zone out and think about things on my mind. It has been brutally windy and cold the last couple days and I do worry that if I get chilled I may start getting colds but we will see if I can tolerate walking until I go home for the holidays.
I did buy a new TV. MY VERY FIRST TV! And I adore it. I watch a few tv shows (on DVD) before falling asleep, and it is blissful!
After many days of searching I also found an awesome deal on a gorgeous blue and teal print fabric shower curtain from the Crate and Barrel outlook.
Things are coming together slowly and surely and once I make the venture to IKEA to purchase the furniture it will really start to feel like home.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Time to Play House!
So things have been a little...rocky to say the least with some other areas of my life right now. So moving things over to the new apartment hasn't been going as planned. But tonight I conjured some energy and lugged some of my packed boxes into the car and drove over to the new place. $50 later (my "welcome to your new home" gift courtesy of DC) I can say I have moved in about 45% of my "stuff". Furniture will follow on Sunday. Hopefully tomorrow I can move a few more things over and avoid another damn parking ticket. Ugh. Seriously. So. Not. In. The. Mood. For. That. Naturally I cried. (Doing a lot of that these days). And declared myself in the "hate" side of my love/hate relationship with DC. Why DC? WHY!!!??!
But in good-giddy-it-is-time-to-be-a-big-girl-and-play-house fashion I present the new apartment!! It is pretty stark. A total blank slate to make all mine!
This is looking in from the entryway.
Closet which could easily allow me to hang every article of clothing that I own. I will refrain. Maybe.
Looking out of the closet
Kitchen!! Seriously about twice the size of the one I have now. I am thinking I will find something to extend the counter space on the right side and possibly do some more pantry space. Mini stove but regular sized fridge.
My fridge with a bottle of water. Got to stay hydrated!!
Yes. One of the first things I moved in was beer.
Looking into the entry way from the kitchen.
Standing in the hallway taking a photo into the new place.
I am so excited to get in there and start making it mine! Paint color samples to follow so you can all help me pick since I can't seem to make up my mind!!!
But in good-giddy-it-is-time-to-be-a-big-girl-and-play-house fashion I present the new apartment!! It is pretty stark. A total blank slate to make all mine!
I am so excited to get in there and start making it mine! Paint color samples to follow so you can all help me pick since I can't seem to make up my mind!!!
