Coffee Talk #3

I'm just going to put this out there: this is going to be one of those "let's get real" posts. Because it's all I have in me today - sorry not sorry. I'm going to put the Coffee Talk picture on here, but it's definitely wine talk, because caffeine will just not help on a day like today. Amirite?

• I want to talk about how much I hate the weather but really I just so don't because I am so over it and every person ever is talking about it like they are the only ones experiencing it. Moving on. Spring starts March 21. Get me to that date, STAT. 
• I spent a large portion of my day listening to the new guy in the cube behind me talk to approximately 46 different people about how to "set up his phone" because right now it "belongs to someone else." Very effective use of time. 
• There are approximately 29 home projects that I would really like to do, but every one I think of leads to something else that needs to be done first (and more moolah that needs to appear out of thin air) and the solution to this is that I am doing none of the things. So whoever would like to give me a good 'ol fashioned kick in the rear to get started, I'd appreciate it. 
• Along the same vein, I am currently hunting for a tall, wide, not-too-deep table to put against one of the walls in the house. I have very specific measurements and a look I'm trying to go for, and I've looked at approximately 395 tables online and in HomeGoods, and none of them are the table. So frustrating. This is why I don't furniture shop. (Side note: we are doing a lot of approximating today.)
• Last night, I finished reading Orange is the New Black. Much better than I expected it to be, and I actually want to start watching the show again now. On to the next book: I downloaded The Execution of Noa P. Singleton from the library and will start it today. Anyone read it? 
• I have very little patience for people who don't do their jobs. It is one of the most frustrating things in the world to me. I don't care if you hate your job or you think you're too good for your job or whatever - it is your job, so do it. 
• I need people to stop trying to sell me shit on Facebook. I do not want to buy Scentsy, Thirty-One bags, Tupperware, or magazines. Get off my timeline. People like that are ruining Facebook for people like me who just want to stalk people from the privacy of their own homes. 
• Make these peanut butter cookies and then thank me because they are so easy and so delicious. You're welcome. 
  

That's all I've got, folks. Hope you're having a lovely Tuesday, and that it's warmer outside where you live. Because I am so over winter coats and snow boots!

So that happened...

As a new homeowner, I am aware that I have a lot to learn about my house.

Last night, I learned two very important lessons:

1. You can plunge a clogged shower drain.
2. If you plunge a clogged shower drain, the results can be rather.... explosive.

If you are a new homeowner, there may be a time when you find yourself facing a clogged shower drain. Said drain may be clogged with your own hair, because you shed constantly and refuse to get a pixie cut, but it may also be clogged with who-the-heck-knows-what because who-the-heck-knows-who lived in the house before you. It an attempt to remedy this issue, you can take a good old-fashioned toilet plunger to the shower drain. FYI: The sound of plunging your shower will sound like the ceiling is going to cave in. If you plunge good and hard, and there is, in fact, a big wad of goop* in the drain, it will come out.... a lot. And it will be nasty. And it will be everywhere.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Also, for the sake of saving your eyeballs, I did not take pictures of this event. You're welcome. I'll leave you with a cat picture instead.

Sleepy kitty

*goop is a good word because I can't stand to think about what else it was

WIAW: is winter over??

A "big" ice storm was predicted for us this morning, but, sadly, no such luck! It was off to work as usual for me, with a big mug of coffee & my boots on since all we really got was rain. I am a Winter baby through and through, but all this dreariness is really starting to get to me. I'm channeling spring today!

All weather-talk aside, it's time for our regular Wednesday programming: What I Ate Wednesday! Joining in on the fun again this week - thanks, Jenn, for hosting a great link-up!


Yesterday was pretty average, as far as eats go, but also delicious - it featured some of my favorites!

Normal breakfast - yogurt, (un-pictured) coffee, and a banana on it's very last legs. I choked that banana down - it was definitely a little too mushy for my liking. The yogurt actually ended up being my mid-morning snack, and held me over til lunch.

C & I had dinner with his parents on Monday night, and his mom sent us home with a bag full of yummy leftovers. That meant lunch - hooray! My mother-in-law was channeling summer (I'm telling you, the dreariness is getting old!), and made BBQ pulled chicken and my favorite pasta salad. It was delicious on Monday night, and just as good on Tuesday! That pasta salad is like Kryptonite... it's SO good. It's a family recipe that my MIL has shared with me, but I've never actually made it - she just has a special touch :)

Continuing to channel summer... dinner was burgers with guac! Moment of truth: C was horrified that I was taking a picture of dinner. He kept saying, "it's so ugly!!" and... well, that it is. But that doesn't mean it wasn't delicious! We pulled Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers out of the freezer, and C cooked them on the grill pan before topping them with guacamole and pepper jack. They were pretty good, but honestly? I've made a copycat version of these that are so much better (thanks to my BFF, Iowa Girl Eats!)- so I'll probably stick with making my own. This was the first time we've had the frozen TJ's version, and they were just... flat. Oh, well!

We had frozen broccoli with cheese sauce on the side, and shoe-string cheese fries that C made using our new mandolin (topped with ranch, duh). Truly, not pretty to look at it, but the whole meal tasted awesome, and helped me forget that it was rainy and cold outside. Plus, it was quick and easy, and you just can't beat that sometimes.

All in all, it was a day full of non-winter foods, and it was just what I wanted. I do love soups and stews, and I am generally craving carbs like nobody's business right now, but I am looking forward to the warm-weather foods! Can't wait for weekends of grilling out and lots of fresh veggies. Where are you, spring??

a lazy girl's guide to meal planning

To call myself a "meal planner" is probably an insult to actual meal-planners everywhere. What I do is nowhere near the in-depth, detailed, ridiculous planning that a lot of people do every week (or apparently every month? There are people who plan an entire month's worth of meals at a time?! Heaven help me). However, what I do is just enough for our (current) household to maintain the order that we need.

This is awesome, but... just.... no.

Here's what "meal planning" looks like at our house: 

Scene: Sunday afternoon / evening - couch / car / laundry room - whatever. 

Me: what do you want for dinner this week?

C: whatever you want. 

Me: ok. 

Twenty-ish minutes later

Me: here's what we have - chicken, ground turkey, blah blah...

C: whatever you want. 

Me: ok.

I then open my "notes" app on my phone and open the "dinner" note. I toss some ideas around, then write out what I think we will eat, based on the main proteins we have, for Monday - Thursday. It looks something like this:

last week and the tentative plan for this week
last week is a bad example, because it was Restaurant Week and work was crazy

I usually figure that if I can have a general idea of what we are eating for most of the work week, by Friday, we will either be inspired to make something or we will be too tired to cook and we will go out or order in. I plan a main dish, and we go from there with sides and veggies as the week goes on. Sometimes, dinner one night involves a trip to the grocery store if we are out of a staple or there are no veggies in the fridge, but sometimes we just make do with what we have. We're flexible. 

Our version of "meal planning" is beneficial for several reasons:

• It saves us money. We are far less likely to default to take out if we have a general idea of what we are eating that night. 
• It decreases our stress. If we have a general idea what we are cooking, there's no arguing at 6 pm or raiding the fridge and pantry trying to decide what to do. 
• It saves us time. If I can prep C with a plan and the ingredients to carry it out, I can usually go to the gym or do whatever needs to be done around the house, because the dinner routine has already been set in motion. 

We don't always stick to the plan, and some nights things just don't work out the way we want or expect, but setting a plan for the week helps C and I both feel calmer and more confident - which is crucial when we generally have 12-hour days. I think it's also critical to say that our plan is not set in concrete: often, we are just ingredient-planning, and the meal comes together around that. For example, if I say that we are having Broccoli Chicken Mac & Cheese, and we get home and C says he would rather have buffalo chicken tenders with pasta and steamed broccoli, that's fine. (I'm not going to argue with a man who cooks!) The actual meal wasn't in my plan, but the ingredients we aimed to use were used. Both meals contain chicken, broccoli, and noodles, and we eat a good dinner. See? Flexible, but still on track. It's kind of like a game - what can you do with ingredients X, Y, and Z? Almost anything, if you're creative enough. It's still maintaining sanity.

Our "meal planning" doesn't look like much, and there's no beautiful binder full of ideas and hours spent writing it all out, but it works for us. It's part of our regular routine that keeps our heads on straight and our lives in order. Bingo!

• Do you meal plan?
• On week nights, do you cook or not cook? 
• Who does the cooking in your house: you, spouse / significant other, shared duties?

I'm a Dapper Dan man!*

*name that movie. This is relevant later.

The minute I saw the questions for the Boys Behind the Blog link-up this month, I knew C was going to like them. You see, movies and music are his thing (okay, and sports, but whatever). The man loves movies. There are very few times I've said to him, "have you seen....." and the answer has been no (unless it's a chick-flick - haha). I knew he would enjoy answering this month, and he definitely didn't let me down!

Before I get to the Q&A, can I just say one thing? (Yes, I can, because I own this place. Mwahahahaha!) I love this link-up, and I pink-puffy-heart-love how many bloggers I know who have started participating! It's so fun to read some of the guys' answers, and I love the little insight it provides into life, love, and relationships. So fun!! So if you're reading now, and you've never linked up, waiting are you waiting for? Grab whatever guy is in your life and play along!

Now.... onto the good stuff. Some insight from this handsome fellow, who always gives in to my request for a an iPhone selfie:

1. What was your favorite movie of 2013? 

First, I loooove going to the movies, but I'm so picky about it. I need it to be an EXPERIENCE. We don't decide to go to the theater to see a movie, we decide to see a movie at the theater. American Hustle? It was good. Did I need to cram next to hundreds of other people to see it? Probably not. But then I look back at The Dark Knight, which was by far the best at-the-movies experience I've had, and heeeells yeah. So explodey. That being said, my favorite movie this year was The Conjuring. Now THAT was an experience. I watched it alone, in the dark, on my laptop. I also didn't go downstairs for the remainder of the evening because ghosts. More on this later.

2. What is your all time favorite movie quote? 

Remember when these questions were only about breakfast? Anyway, too many to count, but:

• Red's speech to the parole board in The Shawkshank Redemption 
• Tyler Durden's "you are not your job" lines from Fight Club 
• I love lamp 
• All of Oh Brother, Where Art Thou (seriously, all of it) 
• Anything Robin Williams says to Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting

That's enough I suppose.

3. What is your favorite type of movie? (Action, scary, comedy, etc)

Scary. Hands down. Don't get me wrong, I love all movie genres (ok, most movie genres. here's looking at you former-funny-comedian-cross-dresses-movies). I tend to accept stories for what they are, so no matter how good the script/actors are, most movies don't really resonate past the theater or TV. But scary movies allow me to temporarily accept the paranormal, no matter how irrational the "movie explanation" is. Like I was saying above, I love being scared to walk around my house in the dark. I love going to bed underneath all of the cover because whoooooa monsters are definitely somewhere my room. Those are the movies that leave the screen.

4. What is your New Year's Resolution?

I don't really have one. New Years is a great time for personal reflection. And hey, if that's what motivates you to make changes for the good, hell yeah. I just think it's arbitrary. But here's a few things I learned this year (sorry for multiple lists):

• Don't be an asshole unless absolutely necessary 
• Tip servers 25% at least because, at minimum, you make someone happy for 15 seconds 
• Always pick the lesser of two evils. You always have to choose 
•  If you think you've had enough water, drink two more glasses 
• Never let a free nap get away (but don't ever steal one) 
• It's ok to make a point, as long as the other person doesn't know you're making a point 
• People give great advice with their body language, so eye-contact is good, but see everything 

That's not everything I learned, but again, lists (sorry).

5. Finish the sentence: This year I will....

Eat more breakfast.

I can't think straight at the moment

I apologize now for the lack-of-sense in this post. It is officially Day After Birthday and it would appear that my pesky cold from this weekend has returned with a vengeance. My head is slightly under water (or so it feels). I was feeling pretty good Monday - Wednesday, but today I'm sniffly, sneezy, runny, and cold. Bring on the cold medicine and tea... I'm fighting the battle again. Womp, womp.

As far as birthdays go, yesterday was pretty lovely. My wonderful team at work brought me cake (three kinds!) and some small gifts, and we grabbed a quick drink at a near-by bar after work. C was even able to join us!

On the train home, I finished my book for our January book club meeting (The Fault in Our Stars - yes, I was crying on the train as I finished it!). I asked C to surprise me and pick the place for dinner (I hate choosing restaurants - so much pressure!) and we had a lovely meal at Brock's Riverside Grill. It was our first time there, and we enjoyed it well enough that we will definitely go back and give it a try in the summer, when there are actually views of the river... details, details.

The rest of the night consisted of Big Bang Theory re-runs on the couch and a little leftover cake that my co-workers sent home with me. It was totally low-key, but it was a great way to start off my 27th year. I don't need much excitement these days!

In other news, I thought I'd take a minute and share something new: the Typically Late board I just created on my Pintrest page. If you're not following me on Pintrest, I've love to have you do so. I'll be posting links to recipes and other things on that page, so that they are easy to re-pin and save for when you want to read something again or use a recipe.Let me know if there is something specific that you'd like to see there!

Last thing - have you entered my birthday giveaway yet?? It's easy to enter (no actions required by you but a click of the button) and open to anyone. I'm looking forward to putting together a fun little package for the winner! You have until midnight tonight to enter.

Love is a battlefield. Or something like that...

In honor of today being our "engage-iversary" (why is that a thing these days?? sheesh), I thought I'd share the story of the day C & I definitely almost did not get engaged. C originally wrote this for our wedding website, but I've never shared it here, and it's really too good not to post. It's a little long, but bear with me, because it's absolutely hilarious, and pretty much a spot-on representation of who we are - individually and together.

Join me, dear friends, as we travel back in time to December 2010, and revisit this potential disaster...

~~~

An engagement leads to thousands of questions. So many that, at times, I find myself slipping in a nupitally-induced coma. But before any of those questions can be asked, let alone answered, the question has to be popped.

Now, I’ve been trying to write this story for about two weeks now, but I couldn’t get past the first paragraph. Maybe because the story is awfully embarrassing—at best. Maybe because it’s tough to tell a story that hasn’t finished yet. Or maybe I’m just a bad storyteller. Either way, I’ve decided to skip paragraphs all together. So here’s a retro-diary of the proposal (dates and times are estimates):

December 18

I have the ring. Surprisingly enough, it isn’t that painful. I did some online research, familiarized myself with the four Cs, went to a jeweler, and bought it. But the hard part is figuring out the proposal.

I have ideas, even going so far as to talk to Ted Leonsis about surprising her at Caps practice, but nothing is panning out. After some time, I decide that the best place to propose is Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond. Lindsay loves it - even to the point that she wanted to have the wedding there.

I also have a crystal snowflake ornament to use as a prop for the ring. It’ll blend in perfectly with the statuettes at the Garden. I just have to find a way to distract Lindsay and set it up. With her attention span, it’ll be as simple as pointing one direction and scurrying off for a few minutes.

So it’s settled.

December 26

8 am

We wake up early. The Garden opens at 10 and I want to have plenty of time to pop the question, ogle some flowers, take some pictures, and get moving to Culpeper. The day after Christmas - or Boxing Day for all of our Canadian fans - is the perennial Cuccherini-family-gathering-extravaganza-reunion. Plus, we're going back to Lindsay's parents' for a night with close family friends. I figure it’ll be perfect. And then I look outside.

I had planned for a little snow, and really don’t think anything of it. But the weather decides to flirt between mildly obnoxious and potentially catastrophic. For those of you in the Northern Virginia area, between four to six inches. So I check the Garden’s website, and we’re a-go. Good thing we woke up early.

9:30 am

Let’s just say that when it comes to romance, I’m mildly transparent. Lindsay figures out where we’re going about half way down the highway - this feat alone is impressive because Lindsay knows where we’re going exactly 0.03 percent of the time.

When planning this excursion, I somehow failed to account for the dimensions of the crystal snowflake. Specifically, it’s shaped like a ninja star. I’ve wrapped it in tissue paper and tucked it into my jacket, but the ends are starting to dig in. Not. Comfortable.

The weather is getting worse the farther South we go. Four to six inches is getting dangerously close to eight to ten. But, like anyone in the Ninja Turtles/My Little Pony generation, I trust the information on the website. We pull up to the gates.

10 am

"Closed due to inclement weather."

10:01 am 

s$n&svr#*tsok!3bbf*0)$!! (not our WEP key)

10:02 am 

Time to call an audible. I don’t really know what to do. I was prepared for weather, not for a closing. I’m still set on proposing, I just don't know how, when, or where. At this point, my plan is to drive up and down the highway until I see a sign that says “Romance Here -->-->-->” in flashing neon lights. But of course, before any of that can happen, we need to stop for a bathroom break. "Burger King: Have Romance Your Way" - or something like that.

10:15 am 

Back on the highway. No idea of what to do. Peyton-Manning-audible time.

10:50 am 

We’re at our exit to get to my uncle’s house. Instead taking the correct exit, I decide to go East, because, so far, Wests haven’t been having the best luck. We’re going in the direction of Old Towne, Fredericksburg*. I mean, they put an “e” at the end of Towne, so it’s got to be lovey.

We’re driving, I’m scrupulously scanning every sidestreet, antique store, and café. I see battlefields. Irony.

*It doesn’t actually have the extra “e.” I made it up for effect. 

10:55 am

Battlefield.

11 am 

Battlefield.

11:05 am 

F#ing battlefields.

11:10 am 

Losing faith, we turn around. I figure I’ll give Olde Town another try. Now would also be a good time to mention that the tension in the car is borderline overwhelming. We’ve been wandering around Virginia’s innards for almost two hours with no end in sight. Lindsay is confused and annoyed. I’m tired and angry. The ornament is beginning to burrow. It's not going well.

11:20 am 

We stumble upon a quaint little overlook. Well, it might be quaint; I'm not sure because it's blanketed with snow. Because Lindsay is cold-blooded, she likes to keep a tropical climate in the car. Add that fact to my growing aggravation, and I decide that I need a literal and figurative cool-down walk. I park and ask Lindsay to join me. I can't aptly describe her ensuing look, but it wavered somewhere between, "I wouldn't enjoy that" and, "If you ask me that again, I'm going to stab you in the eye with the windshield wiper." She begrudgingly gets out.

11:35 am 

We start to walk toward the river and I'm out of ideas. I'd rather not risk pulling out a diamond ring in a couple inches of snow. Too many opportunities to fumble. Plus, Lindsay has absolutely no intentions of meandering anywhere that's unpaved.

Losing confidence, I direct us to a tiny, weathered cafe that sits on the riverbank. What's the worst that could happen? We walk up to the door to look at the menu. The restaurant's name: Tru Luv’s.

No. Freaking. Way. Maybe I'm just battered from the day's events, but this sure seems like sign from somewhere. We try the door. It's open - thank God.

Generally, Tru Luv’s seems like a nice place. Black carpets, black tables, white tablecloths. I mean, it must be alright, it has salad forks. The entire back wall is a window with a gorgeous view of the Rappahannock - and another battlefield.

(Editor's note: RIP Tru Luv's, now closed.......)

11:45 am 

It takes me a minute to realize how alone we are; the snow must have scared off any would-be Tru Luv patrons. We sit in tense silence. I'm trying to think of a way to Houdini this ornament from my pocket without looking like a moron. Then I realize we've been in the restaurant for about five minutes and I still have my coat on. So, yeah, I look pretty dumb already.

11:50 am 

There's no suave way to do anything with a winter jacket on. New strategy: dispatch Lindsay for a few minutes.

So Lindsay says, "Will you go out to the car and get my wallet for me?" Now's my chance.

I respond, "Why don't you just run out there real quick, it'll take you two minutes."

Jackpot. She's leaving - of course, by "leaving" I mean she stormed out muttering something under her breath about torture.

11:55 am 

Time to set up the ornament. I get stage fright. At home, it seemed as simple as placing the stand into the base. At the restaurant, it seems more like a combination of Jenga, Musical Chairs, and Mousetrap. First, it's lopsided. Next, the waitress walks over and asks how I'm doing (I know, right? The nerve). Then, I can't get the ring out of my pocket because it's the box is buried in thirty pounds of tissue paper. Time is running out. She's walking in. I don't know what to do. If she sees it, she'll know what I'm doing, but it's too late to hide anything. What would Peyton do?

He'd obviously cover the whole contraption with a dinner napkin. So that's what I do. Bam. Done. Success.

Lindsay is standing by the table. She looks, umm, displeased.

Noon 

"What is this?" she mutters.

"Oh, just something."

"What is this."

"Just open it."

"Yeah, you want to get married and stuff?"

"I guess."

Please pay special attention to those last two lines. As mentioned, romance isn't exactly my thing. Apparently communication isn't either.

Moving right along, I attempt to put the ring on her finger. Wrong hand. Can anything go right today?

12:05 through the rest of the day 

We successfully get from the cafe to my uncle's, then to Lindsay's parents' house. Both of our extended families are thrilled for us.

So, in conclusion, the day was a success. Well, successful in the same way that the Titanic was the first ship to ever successfully use the SOS signal.

Coffee [wine] Talk #2

I've posted (and read) other "coffee talk" posts before, and now seems like a good time for another. What is "coffee talk"? Well, exactly what it sounds like - it's what we would talk about if we were having coffee (or wine... wine is good, too). Y'all know from WIAW that I love my coffee in the mornings, but I enjoy just as much to get together with someone on a morning or afternoon, and sip a cup, and chat. I don't get to do it very often (who has time for that?), but it is a nice treat. [Also, anyone want to meet for coffee in real life? I will make time :) ]

Sidenote: this post already has the most parentheses, ever. Hmm.

Grab your coffee (or your wine), sit back, and chat a while. Here’s what I would talk about…

• Like, um, everyone else, I can’t believe that Christmas is two weeks away. I have no idea how everything will get done before then. 
• My mom, my sister, and I are having a cookie baking party this weekend. By that, I mean, the three of us are getting together and baking approximately 37 types of cookies and I’m going to force them to listen to Christmas music for 12 solid hours and watch Elf 6 times in a row. Normal, right? 
• I hate to be like this, but… C & I have had some things going on behind-the-scenes lately that have been weighing heavily on me / us. It’s making it a little bit hard to write cheerful, happy holiday posts, because we’ve been dealing with some messes lately, but I’m trying. I truly hate to be cryptic like that (and other people’s posts / facebook statuses / tweets like that annoy the hell out of me), but, for safety reasons, I really can’t put it all out there. That said, this is coffee talk, and trust me, if we were together, I’d be talking about it. 
• I am probably one of the world’s worst gift givers. It’s not because I don’t like giving gifts – in fact, it’s the exact opposite. I love giving gifts SO MUCH that I really stress over what to give people, because I hate to give things that are useless or not what they really want or random junk. I want to give gifts that are meaningful, thoughtful, and a good use of money (for me and them). It’s very stressful. 
• Along the same line, I hate giving gift cards, because it seems so thoughtless and simple. At the same time, though, I know that that’s often the best method – giving someone the ability and funds to go buy something they really want is a nice gift. I fear, though, that it looks like I didn’t think about the person, and just grabbed a gift card, when really, I thought about it TOO MUCH. Ugh. It’s a conundrum. 
• I made meat sauce on Friday, and then C & I made lasagna with it on Friday night, and it was delicious. Like, sitting on the couch, shoveling it into our faces, telling each other how good it is, delicious. We make really good lasagna. 
• We are planning to see several movies around Christmas, and I’m really looking forward to them! Among the choices are “Saving Mr. Banks,” “The Book Thief,” “Anchorman 2,” and “American Hustle.” It’s been a while since I saw a movie in theaters. Any recommendations? 
• We had the worst kind of snow days on this week (at my house, anyway): rain, while everyone else got snow. Womp, womp. It wasn’t even pretty. Just wet. That said, I am very thankful for having a garage. And I enjoyed working from home in my sweatpants in front of the fire. That was delightful!
• I finally ordered our Christmas cards on Monday. Better late than never, right? If Shutterfly doesn’t produce and ship these quickly, our friends and family may be receiving New Year’s cards this year… whoops! I procrastinate with this every year because I just. Cannot. Make. A decision. Also, I stress over coupon codes because I am determined to get the absolute best deal possible. I placed my order on Monday, and, wouldn’t ya know, on Tuesday morning, an email pops up from Shutterfly with a code for 20% more off. Offffff course.

What's on your mind? Anything you want to chat about? I'm happy to share my coffee wine with you!

Here, have some.

WIAW: dinner debacle

This week has been... off. I don't even have the words to explain it.

Monday night involved tripping down the garage stairs and twisting my ankle (luckily, all is fine), as well as kind of backing into the garage door safety sensor and knocking the wiring all askew so it wouldn't work (a trip to Home Depot and a little handiwork later, all is well).

Tuesday night involved getting home 40 minutes late due to a broken down train (the joys of public transportation), pizza dough that wouldn't cooperate, and an impromptu sidewalk conversation with the neighbors that lasted 30 minutes.

None of that sounds devastating, but C & I are definitely creatures of habit, and we have a "routine" once we get home for the day... it does not involve any of the things that have been happening, needless to say. I'm hoping things get back to normal soon!

One thing that is happening as planned: What I Ate Wednesday! I have really been enjoying linking up with Jenn for WIAW, and hope you all don't mind if I stick with this for a while. It's kind of fun, and it's definitely interesting to see other people's blog posts featuring the things that they eat on a "regular" (or not-so-regular) day.

Breakfast for me was the usual coffee & banana, plus a special addition. My uncle brought some delicious loaves of bread from the grocery store he works at for Thanksgiving, and I decided to bring the last into the office to share. Of course, I had to have a slice before I set it out for my hungry co-workers! This one was Triple Berry, and it was very good.

Leftovers were lunch (as usual) - I dished up some of the turkey noodle casserole, and it hit the spot! I'm so sad that this is gone now... will definitely have to make it (or something like it) again soon. With a yogurt on the side for some calcium, it was just what I needed mid-day.

As I mentioned, we got home 40 minutes later than usual due to the train situation, so I knew I needed something in my stomach before I went to the gym. I snacked on some of my favorite pita chips and hummus while doing a few quick things around the house, then it was off to BodyPump Express for me. I had been planning on yoga, but, as I mentioned above, everything "planned" this week has been out of whack. BodyPump was a good substitute, even though it was a short class.

While I was at Gold's, C was in charge of making pizza with some TJ's dough I'd thawed... it apparently fought him back. I'm not sure exactly what was going on, but when I got home, most of the kitchen was covered in flour and the dough was on the stone looking... misshapen. I don't know if it was because it was frozen and then sat on the counter all day (maybe I should have left it in the fridge), but it just didn't want to roll out and form correctly. What we ended up with was a little wonky looking, but it still tasted good at 9:15 when we finally sat down to eat! Pepperoni and olives were all I had on hand - no creative toppings this time. Paired with a glass of red and a side of ranch (AKA the best way to eat pizza).

I'm glad we decided to stick with the pizza instead of scrapping it - while it wasn't pretty, it still tasted good, and cold leftover pizza is always a good breakfast in my book. I guess you know what tomorrow's eats are now :)

Ever have those days where everything just doesn't go as planned? Can you bounce back, or does it throw you for a loop? Personally, I feel loopy this week.. ha!

WIAW: freezing cold edition

Y'all. We are officially in the midst of a cold freezing front! When I woke up yesterday morning, it was in the 50s, and by noon, it was in the 30s! I hear that some people even witnessed the first few snowflakes of the season. Feeling more like January than November around these parts, that's for sure. If you need me, you can find me snuggled under a blanket somewhere... or at least wishing I was.

I'm linking up for What I Ate Wednesday (WIAW) again this week, so.... bring on the eats!

3/4 of the items in this picture are real shockers, aren't they?? No? Well... whatever. That top-right picture should throw you off a bit, though! Yesterday at work, I kid you not, there were three giant boxes of doughnuts from Dunkin' and a giant bag of Halloween candy. The fact that I managed to go the whole day and only have half a doughnut should be considered nothing short of a small miracle. My sweet tooth was sad.

Lunch was leftovers, per usual, and was really delicious! Since we had Monday off work, we decided to grill, so I pulled a package of bratwursts out of the freezer. We paired that with steamed broccoli and mayo-less potato salad (which I absolutely love). The potato salad turned out better than usual - I may have to recreate and get that recipe up here for you guys! It's quick and easy, and makes a great weeknight side dish.

Mid-afternoon, I went for a paper cup of pretzels (like a kindergartner, right??) - these are actually "pretzel puffs" with air in the middle... kind of weird. They made my mouth dry. Not the best snack I've ever had. Womp, womp.

Dinner last night was exactly what we were needing, given the frigid temps outside: homemade chicken noodle soup, courtesy of my sweet husband, with cheese toast on the side. I had some smoked Gouda in the fridge that I needed to use, and I pictured this getting melty and delicious... ummmmmm, no. I think something about the "smoked"ness of the cheese prevented it from melting the way regular Gouda does, and it just started blistering and getting weird instead. It still tasted delicious, but it definitely wasn't what I was imagining. C'est la vie!

We've got lots of soup left, and it will make perfect leftovers this week. At this point in the season, I can pretty much just leave my soup pot on the stove, because it will be in use constantly! There is truly nothing like a warm, hearty bowl of soup / stew / chili when the weather gets cold. What's your favorite recipe?

No editing allowed

Annnnnd we're back! Very exciting news today, friends: not only is the government back in business, but my darling husband is back for another round of the Boys Behind the Blog! This link-up is hosted by Mal & Stephanie (where I guest posted earlier this week!), and offers an opportunity for readers to get to know the "boy" (husband, fiance, brother, etc.) behind the blog in his very own words.

Soooo (drum roll, please...) Without further adieu... five questions, five answers. Let's go!

I don't even think I need to provide commentary this month. Also, I was strictly told, "no editing!" Otherwise, you certainly wouldn't see anything about his favorite football team here... Dallas all the way!

1. Describe yourself in 5 words.
Pain in the ass husband?

2. What is your biggest fear?
Unprotected heights. Ladders are terrifying. How have we, as humans, not advanced simple ladder technology over the last forever? Those little nubbish things that you have to jam into the ground are really the best idea we've ever had ever? I understand that we have baskets lifts and man-movers and all that nonsense for industrial workers, and kudos to the guy that invented those (Skyler McCloud?). But that guy isn't showing up at my house in early December to hang Christmas lights. Nope. It's just me, the ladder, and fear.

3. What is your favorite candy?
Nerds. Hands down. I find the biggest nerds, regardless of flavor, and eat those first. That shows the little nerds that I mean business. I try to pick them off one by one, but then get bored and fling the whole palm-full at my face. Then, months later when I'm vacuuming the inside of the couch, I find the stragglers that thought they escaped death. Silly nerds.

4. What was the best Halloween costume you've ever worn? (include pictures if you have them)
Ninja turtle (Michelangelo AND Donatello, back-to-back years). My sister went as a picnic table once. That was different.

5. Who is your favorite football team?
Washington Redskins. But they're currently 1-4 and I hate them. Anyway, for an interesting take on the Redskins-as-racist team name, go here.

Coffee Talk #1

My mind is going a mile a minute right now. So many random thoughts that I'm not entirely sure how to reign in to create a logical post... so I'm not going to try.

Several of my favorite bloggers (including Gina and Casey) have done posts recently where they set the scene as "If we were having coffee (or wine), what would we talk about?" and I really like that. It's so real and honest - it's a "here's what in my head," "let's just talk" forum, without being a structured "I'm a blogger!!!" post. Sometimes simple is best!

So let's see. If we were having coffee (or wine, let's be honest), what would I tell you?

• The weather is terrible today. I've been working from home, and therefore not exposed to the rain we've been having, which is great. Today is the worst day this week - raining buckets, wind, just all-around nasty out. Perfect day for staying home, right? Sadly, that is not the case. Today, I had to go to the office. The commute was horrendous, which subsequently puts me in a horrible mood. Great for team work! Not.
• On Tuesday night, I used leftovers to create Cheeseburger Quesadillas. They were delicious, and I was really proud of the final result. I think the idea came to me from several other food blogs, but I'm not entirely sure which ones - I just know it was a great idea, and a very successful dinner.
• American Horror Story: Coven started last night. Anyone else watch it?? I totally love and hate this show. We've watched both of the previous seasons, and it thrills and terrifies me every time. I torture myself every week. This season looks in-tense already!
• I took CX Works (a core-intensive class) and BodyCombat (kickboxing on steroids) back-to-back on Tuesday, and I paid for all day yesterday. Every muscle in my body hurts... but in a good way. I think.
• We are starting to think about what should be the first big house project that we take on. After painting the basement, I want to paint everything. But I also want to rip out the carpets on the main floor and put down hardwood (or laminate... not sure...) and that seems like something we should do first.
• Smaller house projects: we currently have a broken toilet in the master bathroom and a dryer making horrible sounds. Seems like those two things should come before the big projects. Sigh. Joys of home-owning! 
• Have you heard of Lorde and her song "Royals" yet? I just came across her last weekend, and I'm trying to decide if I like the song or not. I think I do. I started a Pandora station based off her, and I'm kind of enjoying the mix I've heard so far. Her subject matter is pop-y, but her sound is different. 

So what's new with you? Pull up a chair and pass the wine... let's talk for a bit.

A bone to pick + Five for Friday

First things first: I have a serious bone to pick with Chobani.

Allow me to explain: for the last year and a half or so, I have cut sour cream out of my diet and replaced it with plain Greek yogurt.

(PS - if you haven't tried this, you should. Same taste, same texture, more protein, I don't feel bad about loading a baked potato with 1/4 cup of it... win, win, win, win.)

That being said, I purchase the giant containers of plain Chobani - 32 oz - for about $5 at whichever grocery store I'm at. It lasts me a few weeks, and it makes me happy. Or, at least, it USED to! Apparently, Chobani has stopped selling these large containers of yogurt, because I cannot find them anywhere. The "big" containers now are about half the size, and about $4. Nothing about this is good! More money, less yogurt, not happy. It is a travesty. Because of this issue, I have been forced to try a new brand of yogurt (thank you, Wegmans, for selling the big containers), and I have yet to come to terms with this. We had a good thing going, Chobani. Why'd ya have to go and ruin it??

Five for Friday: Really Random

1. We have a To-Do list with approximately 9834 items on it for tomorrow / this weekend. I am confident that we can get it all done! But it is slightly daunting.... on the bright side, I do love list-making.

2. One of the things on the list is to hang my gallery wall. We have a great space in the main entry way that I have been picturing having lots of pictures up on, and I can't wait to make it happen. Currently, said gallery wall looks like this:

Not exactly the look I'm going for...

3. I made the most delicious bean soup one night this week. Thanks to Allison for the recipe! C & I both loved it, and it will be a great addition to our fall / winter weekly dinner rotation.

4. We totally pushed our social boundaries last night (really demonstrating my / our home-body-ness right now...). I found out that the local chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Club was hosting a get-together at a local bar to watch VT vs GT last night, so we went and met up with them! It was just C and me and a group of people my parents' age for a while... fun! But then Stephanie and her husband showed up, and it turned out that we had a blast! We only stayed at the bar til half time then headed home, but it was still fun to branch out a little and meet some people. The alumni club seems to be pretty active down here, so I'm looking forward to see what else that holds for us.

5. I'm burning this candle today and my house smells amazing:

Tomorrow is "do all of the things" day, and then on Sunday we are off to C's cousin's wedding in Leesburg. Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

 

I should probably stick to my day job...

Yesterday's Blogtember prompt was interesting: Write about a time you screwed up - a mistake you made. I read a smattering of posts from bloggers participating in the challenge, and I started to notice (what I felt was) an interesting theme. Most of the posts went something like this:

• Blurb about how everyone makes mistakes
• Blurb about how I (blogger) make mistakes
• Blurb about how what is important is learning from mistakes
• Optional: blurb about how God loves us anyway and thinks we are perfect no matter what

See the trend? Now, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with this kind of post - open-ended, non-committal, generalizations... I just found it really, really intriguing that, of the majority of posts that I read that went along with this prompt, none of the bloggers were willing to actually throw out a concrete example of a mistake that they've made. It's like no one wants to burst that bubble and admit to doing something wrong. The Sociologist in me found this fascinating. Anyone else notice a similar trend??

Anyway. I know I'm a day late with this, but I figured I'd go ahead and answer the prompt anyway - I'm more than willing to share a mistake, and I know there are about a million I could write about. (As someone with a horrible sense of direction, I could get lost trying to get out of a paper bag, and therefore have lots of wrong turn / missed exit / make a U-turn kind of stories...) The one I decided to go with is one that I still get shit for to this day... and it's probably well deserved!

Best I can do, because there is no photo proof that this occurred...

When C and I had just started dating, maybe 6ish months in, we were in college and he used to cut his own hair. It wasn't a big deal - he just took the clippers to it once a month or so and trimmed it all down. Once he decided he could trust me, he started asking me to do the back and clean up his neck for him... pretty simple. So, one fine day, he's cutting his hair, and yells for me to come into the bathroom. In I go, and he hands me the clippers and turns around. I notice that, on the back of his head, there are several patches where he missed chunks of hair because he couldn't see the back, so I think to myself, "self, you should go over those spots first and clean them up." What I fail to notice is that C has handed me the clippers with no guard on whatsoever, with the intention of doing his neck first... and (I see this in slow motion in my head now) I swipe those clippers straight up the back of his head, up from the hairline for about 4", before his reflexes (and mine) kick in and he jerks away, cursing. The damage is done, though....... I have created a giant bald spot right up the back of my sweet boyfriend's head. Ohhhhh jeez, he was mad. So mad! And so bald in that spot. There was absolutely no fixing it. I had removed all the hair from that section! There was no way to cover it up. In the end, he went to the barber, and had them cut all the rest of his hair suuuuper short, like as short as they could go without just shaving his head, and he wore a baseball hat for about a month while it grew back out. Lots of jokes were made on my and his behalf. Whoops!!!

More than five years later, I still hear about that one. (he kept me around, though, and married me in the end, so I think we're all good!)

Lessons learned from this mistake? 1) Check the guard on the clippers before I do anything. 2) C is now very, very clear with the instructions when he asks me to help with his hair (or he just goes to the barber!)

Anyone else want to 'fess up to a mistake? :)

I can't make this stuff up

I can't really believe this, but it's already the 3rd Thursday of September (mind = blown) and therefore, it's time for this month's installment of the Boys Behind the Blog link-up! I emailed the questions to C this morning, and had my responses before too long... I'll be honest, I considered giving them a little teensy edit, but then I reconsidered. After all, I do claim that this blog is a representation of who I really am, and, in turn, it's who C really is, too - and his answers this month are about as real as he gets. So... enjoy! Hope you get a giggle out of them like I did :)

Hello, handsome! (also, sneak peek at our basement!)

1. If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

An eagle. Because 'Murica. Also, talons. And flying. Can you imagine how freaking awesome that would be? I wouldn't have a lot of non-eagle friends, either. I'd be all like, "Come over to my house and watch the game." And my non-eagle boys would cry because my bitchin' nest would be hundreds of feet above theirs. They'd be pissy because they live in nest-apartments and I get the nest-penthouse.

(I was cracking up at my desk while I read this.... but it's probably completely true!)

2. What is your favorite meal?

Red meat.

(This one I don't believe... pretty sure it's lasagna or something. Though he does love a good steak...)

3. Do you use any forms of Social Media? What is your favorite?

Twitter and Facebook, yes, but I don't actively participate in either. I like Twitter because I can follow famous people and judge them on their grammar and nonsensical approach to us underlings. I also like sports. Twitter is great for that.

(I can vouch for the fact that, when it comes to social media, we are complete opposites. He reads Twitter all the time for sports-related things, but never tweets, and I'm pretty sure the last time he was on Facebook was to change his relationship status to 'married.' C'est la vie!)

4. Beer, wine, liquor, other, or none of the above?

Not wine. I like my beverages to be greater than 100 degrees or less than 40. Wine always settles somewhere in the middle. Liquor? Meh. Liquor has it's place, but it's for when I want to get drunk RIGHT NOW. Like, if I was 5 hours late to a rager, then I'd probably grab the biggest bottle of hooch (hahaha hooch) and chug it like the sickest bro at the brofest. Gotta play catch-up. Really though, it's beer for me. I like the fancy beers, but in moderation. I buy those "this shit's about to expire, mix it up BITCH" 6 packs from Wegmans. Those are sweet.

(Bud Light is pretty much water for C & his buddies - and he's a liar, because he drinks wine with me. Regularly. But it's true, beer is definitely his go-to.)

5. Complete the sentence: "Never have I ever..."

Nope. This is my wife's blog. A thousand nopes.

(Probably for the best.)

 

Allll of the emotions! Now it makes sense...

Today’s Blogtember prompt: Take this short personality test and respond to your results.

And so I did. In fact, I took the test two times – because I’m like that – just to see if I would get the same results twice. I took it once this morning and once tonight, and, as a matter of fact, I did get the same results. Interesting. So what am I?

I S F J

Introverted

Sensing

Feeling

Judging

I then read this write up of the ISFJ personality type, and was surprised to find that I generally agreed with the whole thing. I went on to read several other descriptions of ISFJs, and found that, while there were bits and pieces that I thought to be completely inaccurate, for the most part, I found that the ISFJ stereotypes fit me.

Here are some things that stuck out to me about ISFJs:

• primary mode of living is focused internally; takes things in via five senses in a literal, concrete fashion 
• live in a world that is concrete and kind 
• want to believe the best of people 
• value harmony and cooperation 
• have a very clear idea of the way things should be (and strive to attain that) 
• value security and kindness, and respect traditions and laws 
• tend to believe that existing systems are there because they work 
• learn best by doing, rather than by reading about something in a book, or applying theory 
• are extremely aware of their own internal feelings 
• has a difficult time saying "no" when asked to do something, and may become over-burdened 
• need positive feedback from others. 
• in the absence of positive feedback, or in the face of criticism, the ISFJ gets discouraged, and may even become depressed 
• when down on themselves or under great stress, begins to imagine all of the things that might go critically wrong in their life 
• have strong feelings of inadequacy, and become convinced that "everything is all wrong," or "I can't do anything right"

As I said, I do think that these descriptions fit me to a T. I don’t always believe in things like this, but the more I read about this personality type, the more startlingly accurate I found it to be. I also thought that the commentary on potential careers for ISFJs was interesting – clerical / managerial / communications work is generally a good fit, so I’m right in a good place for myself. However, several careers that I’ve always wondered if I should have pursued (i.e., teaching, nursing, counseling) are also highly recommended for this type of person. Maybe that’s why I’ve always had those things in the back of my head. I’m comfortable and happy doing what I do, but it’s nice to know that my personality type backs up some other ideas I’ve tossed around, too.

I think I’ll try to convince C to take this test and do some psych-analysis on him… wish me luck!

Have you ever taken a personality test like this? Do you agree or disagree with the results?

Five for Friday: Heatwave Edition

We are currently playing a game called "clean out the fridge / freezer / pantry by only eating / cooking what we have." It's gone well, so far - I have reached into the depths of my food supplies and pulled out ingredients I had no idea I had. However, the situation is getting a bit dire. Evidence: today's lunch consists of leftover cous-cous, a string cheese, and baby carrots. I think I'm going to have to breakdown and grocery shop a bit this weekend - otherwise we may not survive!

Anyhoover. As you may or may not know, Virginia is currently in the midst of a heatwave, much like the rest of the region country. I read somewhere yesterday that 47 out of 50 states were expected to see temps of 90 or above. Between the temperature and the dew points, the heat index is regularly hitting 110 and higher. That added to the god-awful humidity makes going outdoors almost unbearable. Last night, I ran on the track while C played his flag football game at a nearby high school, and my 3.5 miles felt like it was going to kill me. When we were leaving the field at 9:15 PM, it still said "feels like 102" on my weather.com app. That is just not right.

Everyone around here is doing anything and everything they can to stay cool, so I thought that, for this edition of Five for Friday, I'd give you my Top 5 "Beat the Heat" necessities. Read on, and, if you need me, I'll be hiding in the shade somewhere trying not to sweat on everything. Ew.

Five for Friday: Heatwave Edition!

1. Iced coffee

The thought of drinking hot coffee when the temperature is this high makes me almost nauseous. However, I still need my AM caffeine fix! Enter: iced coffee. Obviously delicious if procured from somewhere like Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts, but just as easy to DIY: I brew my K-cup in a coffee mug, fill a large Tervis Tumbler with ice, and pour the coffee in. Problem solved.

2. Sundresses

I have several similar to this one from LOFT, and you better believe it's just about all I'm wearing these days (when I'm not at work). The light, airy fabric is perfect for the times when you'd really just prefer to be naked than have any fabric whatsoever touch your skin, but it's not socially acceptable to be naked in public. Sundresses are the answer, my friend. Dress it up, dress it down, whatever. Good for any occasion!

3. Sunscreen

There is not enough sunscreen in the entire world to protect me from the evil sun which is out to fry my pale porcelain skin. Any time I'm going to be outside for more than a few minutes, I am lathering every inch of myself in SPF 50 or higher (I once received SPF 100 from my sister as a gift). It is no secret that I fry in a completely unreasonably short amount of time. I've accepted it, and now I protect myself from it!

4. Box fan

For whatever reason, the airflow in our townhouse is simply awful, and while we keep the thermostat at a lovely 72 degrees, we are always battling the fact that the downstairs is cold and the upstairs is stifling. If C and / or I are going to sleep a wink at night, there must be a giant fan on, pointed directly at the bed. Also good for white noise - totally cancels out anything happening in our neighborhood (or the cat crying at night, which he's recently started doing. UGH).

5. Otter Pops

Betcha weren't expecting that one, were you?? That old standby summer treat (also known simply as "freeze pops" in our house) is perfect for a heatwave. The moment when you come inside from the oppressive humidity and just need something cold right. then. is exactly when the Otter Pops come in handy. We have a bunch stashed in our freezer, and they always do the trick! It's pretty cheap to pick up a big box of them from Target or the grocery store, and they seem to last forever. I'd like to have one right now...

What are your favorite "beat the heat" tips and tricks? Any unique ways to stay cool on the hottest hot days? Let's hope the dog days of summer are almost over!

*all images from Google Image Search

Why I may resort to wearing a bag over my head...

I am currently having a serious #firstworldproblem - my hair. UGH.

Me, every day.

Everything about my hair currently bothers me: the length, the color, the cut, the dryness. Those are my usual issues, though. I'm never happy with it (which is why I've been a serial hair-colorer since I was in 8th grade). I'm not pleased, and maybe that's why it's making my newest issue seem so much worse.

The humidity in NoVa / DC has returned. With a vengeance. And it's only May! This morning when I woke up at 6 AM, it was 70* and 84% humidity. I kid you not. And my hair just cannot handle that.

I let my hair air-dry every night and then straighten it in the morning. I apply some Moroccan oil and some John Frieda Split End Repair Serum while it's wet, then Dove anti-frizz serum after it's dry and straight. And these things are NOT working. In the 15 minutes it takes me to walk from the train platform to my office building, everything has gone to hell in a hand basket. Frizzy, poofy, weird little kinks around my temple... it is not normal. And I'm about 2 steps away from just bringing my straightener to work in the morning and doing it all when I get here. Which, I gather, is not "office appropriate." But I'm at my wit's end, y'all.

Not ok.

Anyone have any serious fixes for humidity-stricken hair? I cannot live all summer like this.

*all images borrowed from Google images

What I know.

First things first... a big ol' happy birthday to my mama! Love you!

Hope your day is just as good as this one was :)

~~~

Day 2: Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at.

If you asked my mother, she’d probably tell you that I know a lot about everything – or at least I think I do. I’ve always been that way – I’ve always been the smart one, the know-it-all, the one quick to correct others when I’m positive pretty sure that I’m right. It’s a character flaw, I know. When I read this prompt, though, I was stumped. Educate others? On something I know a lot about? Or do well? What the heck. I drew a complete blank. I know nothing! I was sure.

And then, out of the blue, a memory came to me. A distinct memory, from somewhere deep in the recesses of my brain. In third grade, we had show-and-tell with themes – animals, hobbies, what I want to be when I grow up… you know the deal. One month, the theme was “teach us how to do something.” I don’t remember what any of my classmates taught, but I’m sure they were the usual things: how to tie a knot, how to make a PB&J, how to jump rope. When it was my turn, though, I did as I always do, and made things complicated. I knew just what my lesson should be: I wanted to teach my classmates how to make a milkshake. Yes, really. It was something we did regularly at home – milkshakes, blender drinks, smoothies; we were always throwing things in the blender and giving it a whirr. So, naturally, that’s what I wanted to share with my class. Never mind that a ten-year-old can’t really bring a blender to school, and that the ingredients needed to be frozen, and that, generally, this was about as complex as show-and-tell could get. I had my heart set on it.

My mother, the saint that she is, indulged encouraged me, and helped me figure out a way to get it done. I brought a big plastic bowl and wooden spoons and a whisk, and we made arrangements to keep my necessities in the freezer in the cafeteria. A little while before show-and-tell, my teacher and I retrieved the ice cream, and left it out in the classroom to soften. When my turn came, I got up there in front of the class, put all my ingredients in the bowl, and stirred and stirred until it was finally “milkshake” consistency. Then I doled it out into little paper cups and served it to my friends. In retrospect, I’m sure it was terrible, but at the time, it was perfect. I was so proud of what I’d accomplished. Even in third grade, I knew that a hair-brained idea just takes a little persistence (or pestering of your mother) and a little manual labor (no idea how long it took me to STIR that milkshake up), and you can make it happen. Plus, I “taught” my classmates something really cool!

Moral of the story is, if anyone wants to know how to make a milkshake, just let me know… I’m something of an expert.

Disclaimer: this may or may not be an exercise in creative non-fiction... the details are the facts, as much as my brain can recall them. I did email my mom this morning to verify that it was a real memory, so that's good... Take it or leave it!

And now I’m singing “my milkshake brings all the boys to yard…….” – and so are you!