Good brains.

Growing up it was always Sunday dinner at Gramma's. No exception.
Every Sunday was something really fantastic.
But 2 all time favorites; Chicken soup and artichokes.


Not canned artichoke hearts mixed into something. Legit artichokes cooked and eaten as is. You eat the meat off the leaves then you eat the heart. Strangely satisfying. Tried my hand at it.
Cut the stems off. Loosened up the artichoke a little by rolling it around. Put a few garlic cloves throughout. A lot of parsley, some olive oil and salt and peppered it.
Stood em up in boiling/simmering water for (unfortuately) two hours.
Came out almost exactly how I remembered.
The point --- I think I ate part of something that I was not supposed to eat because I've got this crazy pinching in my throat. Just one spot. Ever since last night.
OH WELL! Still good!

What I've been doing?

Planning a picnic. Mostly.

Epicurious.com

I know it's old news but I swear I can find ANY recipe that crosses my mind, no matter how obscure I think it is, on this site. And then some.

My urge for a small outdoor meal of chips and salsa and sandwiches has turned into this way out of hand plan to make a full course meal of fruit and shrimp shish kabobs, fancy wonton sides, avacado BLT sandwiches, greek pasta salad, homemade granola, ginger mango sauces and crispy cinnamon chick peas with a raspberry peach pie to top it off.
And sangria.

This is more than a picnic now. This has turned into a massive cookout style ordeal. 15+ people are invited. Apparently. And I need you all to pick a really tasty recipe to make and bring. Ha. I guess instead of planning a picnic next time I should just design some invitations to an outside lunch party.


In other news:
This article is amazing.

I think everyone needs to be a superhero.
Tonight I'm going grocery shopping and making my mask.
See you on the streets.

What do I love?

This weather. And asiago cheese bagels with sundried tomato spread on them. Wraps with bean sprouts in them. The bike bar. Sitting outside. Strangely saving money. And feeling healthy. Yess.
Must lay in grass and pretend as if melting.


xo

Buzzin.

This is happening. May 4th, Diesel. $24. Shwayze, Mickey Avalon, and a "surprise guest." I could hope that it'd be Snoop Doggggg, but it's most likely just Cisco. The manager, not the thong song man. Either way, major dance party.

Following this is Cursive, May 5th. Same place. Can I do Diesel two nights in a row? ..... .. We'll find out. But it's CINCO DE MAYO. I feel like I should be spending that evening with margaritas and some Mexican hat dances!
Then again, I'm not Mexican. I'm not even sure that I have any Mexican friends.
AND;

While Cinco de Mayo has limited or no significance nationwide in Mexico, the date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. However, a common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day. Mexico's Independence Day is actually September 16 (dieciséis de septiembre in Spanish), which is the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico.

.... True story, Cinco de Mayo, May 5th 1862 was the day that the Mexican army defeated the French. An unlikely win.

The Battle was significant for at least two reasons. First, while outnumbered almost two-to-one, the Mexicans defeated a much better-equipped French army that had known no defeat for almost 50 years. Second, this battle was important because it would be "the last time that an army from another continent invaded the Americas."


Seems them silly American's care more about the day than the Mexicans.
Just another reason to get drunk during the week right?
Cool.
So, Cursive? Margaritas? I think House is on that night?
I suppose if I haven't kidnapped Shwayze and locked him in my basement, I'll settle for a chill night of Cursive albums on repeat and some chips and salsa.

Too early to tell. ... !

It's Earth Day! And I have so much to share.

I love it. I know you've seen em. The magnolia trees. My all time favorites. There was one in the backyard of my old house but for some reason it was always referred to as a dogwood tree. It's definitely not. But from what I understand, it's a common mistake. Magnolias. Prettiest things out there. Especially when their petals start to fall. I'd like to preserve the full flower on a branch but I'm coming to find that the only way I can find that is to go to downtown Pittsburgh and stare at the giant metal magnolia tree statues they put up.
Gorgeously realistic.


Well whatever. This weather is starting to turn around. I've begun my GYM regimine. So far it consists of trying to avoid other gym goers, walking on the treadmill at a near jog pace and incline (since I hate running AND elipticals), making use of the tanning booth, and watching the mens lift 100 lbs with their legs and adjusting the weights to 45 lbs for myself. It's great!
I even bought a sports bra. It was necessary.


Pretty bummed to be missing Kings of Leon tonight. My newest plan was to either WIN tickets or beat someone up for theirs. But I'm busy and fairly passive as of late so here I am... Not at the show.


HOWEVER -- Totally stoked for this weekend.
I will be attending my FIRST Art all Night event. I have to work at 11 the next morning so I can't fully take advantage of the "all night" aspect of it, but I'm really excited for it! Last year over 10,000 (TEN THOUSAND) people attended. You can submit your own artwork. People place bids. There are bands playing. And, it's all FREE. F-R-E-E. Take that "bad economy." We've found a way around your plan restricting advances.

For more information, PLEASE VISIT ARTALLNIGHT.ORG.

Hooray. Okay. Speaking of economy. Seems everyone is very much into crunching their numbers, crunching their plans, crunching their wallets. I feel as though I spend just as much cash money as what I have before BUT... Seems as though I'm not. Last pay period I found a strange surplus of money in my account. Enough to make me wonder what on earth I've cut back on.
The answer: Nothing.
I guess I just don't buy things that I only feel "eh" on.


But, I've decided, if everyone else is cutting back, perhaps I will too. So instead of buying mall food every day of the week, I've decided to buy food via grocery store and bring it into work. Saving on average $2-5 a day. I like the odds.
So today I brought in my Kashi Garden Vegetable Pasta ( $2.50 ) and my peppermint tea bags ( $1.67 -- for a box ). I would have gave myself a pat on the back except after eating my really delicious dinner ( surprised? I was. ) I went upstairs to the candy store and loaded up on $4.98 worth of Asian rice crackers and seaseme sticks.
Making my total for today, $8.75 (roughly).
OH WELL!

I've just been introduced to Mint.com.
It's a site that will calculate all of your spendings and put them into a nice little pie chart for you so you can see where you spend most of your money. You can even set weekly/montly limits for yourself and it will send you a warning via e-mail when you near that limit.
I'm curious and terrified all at the same time. Not so terrified to find out when and where I spend my money.. But terrified of all the money thoughts consuming my every day life. Sometimes waking up is stressful in itself. I don't think I want to add the conscious thought of $$$$ to my every day life. I'd just get sick to my stomach to feel as though I have to NOT spend money ever because "times are tough," or whatever. Maybe it will work for some people, but for me, simply not thinking about my money is the best way for me to spend/save properly. Perhaps I'll try it for a month and cancel it afterwards. Just to test the waters.



So long! So many other things coming up! Must blog about soon (tomorrow).
Go hug a tree and kiss the ground!

Shews?

All of a sudden, $200 seems so petty.







How bout that. I can even venture as far as to say that I HATE wedged heels, but I think I can make an exception.

More later.

Uhh uh.. Uh.

I guess a lot has been going on!
Pirates (legit), Pirates (baseball), Easter, family, joining le gym, car inspections, new cars? New coffee/ice cream place!

AHHH! Let me gush about that one.
Oh Yeah Coffee and Ice Cream. Similar to Cold Stone where you pick your mixins BUT they have the most bizzaro mixins to date (hops, bacon, future, coffee grinds, turkey jerky, figs... along with a lot of other really GOOD ones)... and instead of smushin all the hard ice cream together on a slab, they throw it in this blender of sorts and serve it to you like soft serve. BEST.

I got vanilla soy with ginger snaps and nutella.
Heaven.

They also serve belgium waffles. Buckwheat, butter milk, or Cinnamon. You can put any of the mixins in these too.
My aunt, cousin and I split a cinnamon one made with raspberries, strawberries, and magic... Still delicious.

To top it off, it's ALL organic. I will be a frequently returning customer for sure.
It's in Shadyside on South Highland Ave.
Go.

Now I'll express my swooning love for this;





I've got baby wrists and for some reason they love super huge chunky bracelets provided that they are small enough to not fall off.
I also like to wear matching bracelets on each arm. Strange, yes. But when this sucker goes on sale, you better believe I'll be getting two. .. . . Maybe.

Later.

Cookies and rainboots.

Almost a month ago while out to dinner with my parents I mentioned "All I want for my birthday are GIRLSCOUT COOKIES."
That was fact.


As of late I've been feeling awkwardly chubby. Only right smack dab in my middle. A lot of things have factored into this. Obvious things, stress, and with extended family being in town, slight overeating on occasions.


May I mention, I have the best father in the world. Last week as I was leaving home he handed me a large cardboard box and said "This was your birthday present. Tired of it sitting here!"
Four boxes of girlscout cookies.
Four different kinds.
Four kinds that I asked for.
Hug and kiss goodbye and I'm off. Once home.. All four boxes get opened. I like to have options. And variety.
If anyone has checked out the nutrition facts on the side of a girlscout cookie box, you'll know where I'm going with this.


Perhaps this little big of extra tub is attributed to thin mints, tagalongs and the newest dulce de leche cookie. So good.
I even considered, with it being Easter and all, that perhaps I was partaking in the second immaculate conception, but no. It's girlscout cookies.
I hid the boxes. I hope I forget about them until I have a miserable day and the only thing that will cheer me up is a father's thoughtful, fattening, birthday gift.


I feel like I've been listening to the Posies, Mason Proper, and Nirvana non-stop lately.
Tonight my cousin and I may venture into the city. I want to show her around a little. I love her. I hope it doesn't rain all night. If it does... I think it's the perfect time for some GALOSHES. That's a great word...

Mine.

I'd like this for.... Easter. Please and thank you.
If not by Easter then I guess Christmas will suffice. Or a Fourth of July present.
I'll name it JuJu. Like a ju ju bee. ( candy ).

K, later.

Do math, son.

see more pwn and owned pictures

I'm going to collaborate with my brainiac brother and write all my checks like this. 2009 Goal #1.

Forever.

They say you never know what you've got until it's gone.
But I knew what I had. Just didn't expect it to ever be gone.
Why? Because.
Because some things are just so good that you never expect them to end.
You know it's silly to believe because obviously all things come to an end, but it was nice to pretend.
So it seems as though one of the best things in my life has gone on to do other things with his time.

Which leaves me here to focus on all of the best things that I have left in my life.

That being said, I guess I can re-enter the real world tomorrow. However, I should warn, the forefront of my mind is a little preoccupied with what I've missed, what I've gained, what I've learned, loved, lost and found.
I have a focus on something that's not 100% clear yet. There's a goal that isn't completely developed that I'm working on.

Quiet time.
But I need to share this;




Good, girl.
This is what I have.
It's not a lot, but I'll get it back soon!

Maybe I'll scan it.

3/23/1921 - 4/2/2009
xo.


Never go to bed angry.