Monday, June 29, 2009

The Calm Before the Storm

So, it's end of month at work... which means crazy crazy times. Also, I leave for San Francisco in 3 days, so I'm getting ready to start the pre-trip stress freak out. Tonight it pretty much my last night before crazy Katy kicks in. I was going to try write something fun and sassy tonight, but I think I'm going to chillax out with my book and my lovely new mug... who I've decided to call Nelly (don't ask me why, I don't know). So, I probably won't take the time to set up a blog roll or anything... but I thought I'd give you links to a couple of my favorite cooking blogs... I love cooking blogs...

Smitten Kitchen
The Pioneer Woman-I know I know... you all know about her already, but I'm still linking her.
Heidi Swanson
Simply Recipes-This is the first one I found and my most favorite.

If you make something from them... let me know. :)

I Would Like to Inform You

I have every intention of making this delicios looking creation.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

To Mow or Not to Mow

I got to mow the lawn today. It was the first time ever. I know... I'm 30 and I've never mowed the lawn before.

The house in Petaluma didn't have a lawn. Not really anyway. My dad had taken out the front lawn and built a brick wall, filled it in with dirt, and voila... a garden. He took the lawn out of the back out... put in a raised flower bed... and voila... a garden. :) The rest of the yard was a very steep hill.... so basically, no lawn.

When we first moved to Boring, we had a push an electric push mower... and quite frankly, that was a bit too much like work for me to ever try. However, shortly after we moved, the mower broke and my dad bought his version of a tractor... a John Deer riding mower. So, for the last 3ish years, I've been watching him and my mom mow the lawn on the riding mower.. and it looked both fun and intimidating at the same time. So today... as my mom got ready to mow, I asked if I could do it... and she said yes! So, after a quick lesson from my dad, I got on and spent the next hour in a half circling the yard and... dare I say it.. having fun.

Now, for the real reason I wanted to mow... laundry. I HATE laundry. I don't know why. I mean... it's not even something that takes that much work... but for some reason, I just hate doing it. I leave for San Francisco in about five days, and I barely have enough clothes to get through the week, let alone to get me through the weekend. But I can't bring myself to do laundry. I'm now "resting" on the couch watching Confessions of a Shopaholic. I wonder just how long I can procrastinate...

There She Was

I saw her on Tuesday. She was sitting there, alone in a crowd. Her quiet elegance stood out amongst the bright colors surrounding her. I took a double glance at her before getting in line to get my coffee.

She was there on Wednesday also. I tried not to look. Tried to ignore the pull in my heart towards her. I succeeded, but the memory of her lingered in my head throughout the day. I had a Starbucks card, so I knew I would be going the next day. I decided however, that I would go to a different one instead. I'll go Pioneer Square. It's only one stop up. It's a little busier... but I would not face temptation again.

Thursday started out as usual. Get up. Get ready. Race to get the right train. I am a creature of habit. I forgot. We rolled into 5th and Morrison and I departed the train. I walked through the doors of Pioneer Place and approached the glass windows of Starbucks. I stopped in my tracks. There she was. She was alone today. Simple and quiet. A peaceful calm amidst the craziness that is morning at Starbucks. I ordered my latte and tried to keep my eyes averted. As I added my splenda and sprinkled cinnamon on top of the white foam... I tried not to look... tried to ignore her pull. I was unsuccessful. I looked longingly before heading back out the glass doors. I knew it... if she was still there on Friday... I would approach her.

Friday started late. My first thought was to skip Starbucks and just make coffee at work. But I didn't have time to make breakfast and I had $12 left on the gift card. "I should save it," I told myself. I didn't though. I knew i had to go. I had to see if she was there. I approached slowly... afraid she might not be there... that I had missed my chance... but there she. Beautiful and simple. As I got closer I saw... the bright red standing out against the creamy white... my heart raced with excited.. could it really be... YES! She was on clearance... and they had just lowered her price by $2! I took her in my hands and caressed her gently... she was mine.



Yes, I know I'm crazy. But, I love mugs... it's a secret obsession. She makes me happy. I don't know why no one had snatched her up before... maybe it was because her lips weren't perfectly round... but really, isn't that part of life's charms... all the little imperfections make us each unique....