Parsnip Soup

I haven't been eating very well lately. I also have totally fallen off my working schedule. Partly because I did something to my knee skiing a few weeks ago, so I've been trying to take it easy. There has been a lot of pasta, and cheesy things being consumed. 

Tonight I wanted something will lots of veggies. Something light, and also quick and easy (since I was dining solo). A salad was my first inclination, but being January and all- I wanted something cozier. 

Months and months ago the BF and I shared a bowl of creamy parsnip soup at a local restaurant, and it was so good, I have been thinking about it since then.

Browsing a few recipes I found a recipe for Potato, Carrot and Parsnip soup.

It hit the spot! I halved the recipe, didn't use as much 1/2 & 1/2, and increase the amount of parsnip, and ended up with a really tasty soup that was quick, easy and delish!

Check it out if you need a quick weeknight dinner! 

While we are on the subject of soups...anyone have their own recommendations? I personally love a pureed soup, or lentils! 

I am not sure I could have taken a more unappetizing photo! This does NOT do it justice! But let's all have a laugh at my lame photography, since I was in such a rush to eat my bowl of soup!

The First Time I Quit

Before I found myself living in DC, I had a short stint of living (by short, I mean about three months) in Houston. The same boy that asked me to move to DC lived there after we met in college to do Teach For America. To lessen the amount of time that we would be in a long distance relationship, I move to Texas for the summer.

Needing a job, and thinking of something I could transition to Seattle once I returned for my last year of school, I sought out a job as a barista.

I lasted 12 days.

Not even 12 consecutive days.I had to go to Atlanta (I think?) for a sorority thing after my first 5 days.

Being a barista didn't come easy. No one really was training me. I read some note sheets and then was making frozen beverages and using the cash register like my life depended on it during lunch. I was frazzled, tired ( nothing like working the 5am shift!) and not sure I was cut out for coffee making mastery.

It was a humid, soupy hot morning. I drove to the cafe, walked up to the entrances. The glass doors where dripping with condensation from the humidity, it was disgusting. Already 90 degrees at five in the morning. I knocked, since I didn't have keys and the store didn't actually open until 5:30. No one came to open the door. I could hear music, but no one was visible. I knocked again. Just more music.

I got in my car and drove home.

I didn't go back. I didn't collect my paycheck for those 12 days of work until 5 years later.

It is one of the only things I think I truly just up and quit.

Now quitting has a broad spectrum of interpretation. Yes, I've "quit" jobs. But resigned would be the more accurate term in my head. I've "quit" relationships. But I would say ended is more telling. I've "quit" violin, and soccer. But not in the way I walked away from that coffee shop that summer morning.

Many years into young adulthood my mom shared with me that a very close family friend had said that I was a unique little kid. He had never seen someone so determine as I was when it came to things I wanted or loved. I was diligent, dedicated and outright stubborn. (Which I will humbly agree with).
I don't like to walk away from something I started. I hate the idea of quitting anything. Especially in the manner of how I quit that job as a barista.That experience probably made me even more stubborn. Even more dedicated to trying to make something work a million different ways before I say " done". It is not my nature to do anything less.

But when is this a fault? When do you let go? When do you have a 5-AM-I'm-Not-Sure-This-Barista-Thing-Is-Doing-It-For-Me moment? How do you recognize that it is ok to let go of things that don't work for you? Because it is ok to do that...right?

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Your Starbucks Identity

There was a time where meeting a guy in Starbucks was my forte, my jam, my place where I apparently exuded confidence and radiance to lure boys to come talk to me.

One boy was quite successful and he woo'ed me as I studied for a Chemistry mid-term. We dated for about 9 months early on college, and while he certainly didn't end up being my "one", the story of meeting him in a Starbucks in Seattle, will remain a fun one to tell.

Not as cute as the boyfriend I met at Starbucks, was the creepster I had interrupt a girl date to share some wildly inappropriate words and his phone number. That was Howie. I still cry I laugh so hard when I tell that story.

I digress. I still spend a lot of time in coffee shops. I love them. I love finding a good one. I love working and reading in them. I love the people watching and the idea that you can be alone, but you are surrounding people other people, all wanting to be pseudo alone.

A friend had her Starbucks cup with an entirely different name written on it. When I asked her if she had grabbed stolen someone's drink she laughed and told me the reason behind the unmatched name. She said that it is a chance to be anyone. You can have another name. Another identity. As long as you play the part.

She has a Starbucks Identidy.

And she orders her coffee with a different name she has always liked.

I tried it out a few weeks ago. I wasn't too bold, considering I was afraid I would forget the name I gave the barista, so I went for Annie.

I kind of liked it. Maybe, Annie is the girl who attracts all those guys.
What do you think? Do you have a Starbucks Identity?

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There's No Place Like Home...for a Wedding.

A bit belated, but nonetheless less finally recapping the final part of the weddingpalozza that was my September. After being home for a few days I flew it to meet the BF in Kansas City to attend the wedding of our friends who we knew through a larger group of friends, but the groom had also been an apartment mate of the BFs.

I had an early flight and ended up needing a nap once we got settled into our hotel. The hotels that everyone was staying at we located on a central plaza like area that had a bunch of restaurants, bars and shops. After getting a good nap in, we refreshed and headed to there rehearsal dinner at a nearby Italian place. It was really fun to be included in the rehearsal dinner and having some time with friends. After dinner people headed to a bar close by. It was a neat bar (with a sleezyster guy there who would make your skin crawl) and an easy walk back to the hotel once we were too tired for anything more.
The next morning we want to see a bit of Kansas City, so we drove around a bit and found one of the nearby art museums that had some amazing sculptures outside.

Then we got down to business... Barbecue. Oklahoma Joes, completely a two hour wait, and approximately 20 minutes to scarf down the food before racing to not miss the wedding.

It was worth it. I think I probably smelled like barbecue at the wedding, and some friends of ours may or may not have snuck down the side isle moments before the bride made her entrance, but it was worth it. It was so good!

The reception was at a really neat modern art gallery and before the bride and groom got there we wandered the exhibit. Walking into the main exhibit I looked around and said "these photos are in Idaho!". Sure enough, and Idaho based photography exhibit, which was beautiful.

The wedding was a blast, complete with one of the best wedding cakes I have ever had.
The next morning we set out for St. Louis, as the BF had the thought to knock out seeing a few ballparks while we were in that part of the country. We made in just in time to watch the game.

After the game we went on a little walk just to see some of the area around our hotel and the ball park.

We decided to go up in the arch the next day as it was getting kind of late. So we went back to our hotel, changed and then headed to "the hill" to track down some Italian. We ate more than I could handle. Fresh pasta, chicken parm, soft fresh bread, and carbonara for days.

The next morning we did the Arch. It felt strange to be back, as I remember when I saw it on my move to DC, I thought how it could be ten of more years before I would be back. Butt here we were, five years later, looking at that arch thinking about the drive to the East. Funny how things can come full circle at times.

I forgot how teeny tiny those little capsules are that you ride up in. You can't think too much about it or you get a little queasy.

The views make it worth that kind of scary ride. When you are up there, and thinking about the fact that you are standing inside the top of the arch, you feel pretty amazing about it.
After that we piled into the car, found some lunch, saw a glimpse of WashU (and Brookings Boulevard, HA!) and then headed back to catch a Kansas City Royals game.

This ballpark was amazing. So different from most, complete with Vegas style water features and "crown vision" and their jumbotron.

It was a really fun game and a great end to our time in Kansas and Missouri.
We flew home the next morning, and then I catapult into the next phase of my life, and put in my two weeks notice. What a memorable ending to an awesome extended trip!

Read about part one of our trip in California and part two here. 

Read about my trip to Idaho in between the two weddings. 

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I am Thankful for Snow, Peanut Butter, Family and Lattes

(Not in that order, and not and not an all encompassing statement)

Like last year, the BF and I skipped out of DC for Thanksgiving and opted for some early season skiing, peanut butter pie, and a potato product for our Thanksgiving meal. It is like a tradition of sorts. We went to Utah last Thanksgiving and decided to do a repeat this year.

This year we arrived a bit earlier in the day, and while we still had some hashbrowns at the hotel bar, we were able to have a restaurant Thanksgiving meal at Faustina. We also were able to have my parents come join us the day after Thanksgiving which made the trip really special for me.

The day my parents were driving to Utah to meet us, we skied Alta so we could get our ski legs under us. We had some amazing weather, decent early season snow and ended up running into people who were on our same flight!

That evening we met up with my parents for dinner at Squatters, where they have the most delicious peanut butter pie! We knew we were going to have to back back after having it last year! (Their beer is really good to, but man oh man, that pie!).

The next day we decided to ski Solitude, which I really enjoyed last year. In turned out to be sunny, warm, and the perfect terrain for all of us to warm up our legs!

That evening we checked out a local pizza place, Davanza's, and they had the most amazing walls covered in cans.

The boys were into watching the football games and recaps, while my mom and I were intrigued by all the different can designs.

The final day of skiing out my legs to the test, and I can say I am happy I have been hitting the gym a lot recently!

The BF couldn't join us on our last ski day, so it was just my parents and I. After a lot of indecision we decided to go to Snowbird, which we had last skied at about 12 years ago! We lucked out with some sunshine, moderate temperatures and some great laps on the tram.

We skied until our legs fell off. Well, we stopped just before that, but we skied a full day and cheersed each other with some brews at the base.

With a snow storm rolling in, my parents got an early start the next morning to head home while we broke out the laptops for work.

I discovered a lovely bookstore/coffee shop that made my mornings. We got to do a bit more exploring:

Then to top off the food for the trip we went to an awesome pasta place that was just a hop skip from our apartment which was perfect since the snow had really started to pick up.

After dinner I braved the blizzard that had set in and went and picked up two more pieces of that peanut butter pie for us to enjoy in the warmth of our hotel.

Yes that is PB pie in bed while I read a novel on the iPad.

It was a great Thanksgiving and I was lucky to get to spend it with some of my family.

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