tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57483954181829350852024-02-06T22:58:01.932-06:00The Decayed GentlewomanShellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.comBlogger328125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-40254637375387624752013-05-15T08:50:00.001-05:002013-05-15T08:50:43.642-05:002 days!!!My anatomy scan is in 2 days!! The primary reason for this ultrasound is, of course, to make sure that the baby is growing and healthy. I'm feeling pretty positive about this- all signs point to a healthy baby so far- good strong heartbeat, LOTS of movement, and my general good health. <br />
Of course the plus side to this scan is that we will hopefully find out whether we are having a boy or a girl!! (Provided that the baby cooperates- it wouldn't surprise me at all if it crosses its legs just to torment me!) <br />
I'm finding the wait this week to be rather difficult!<br />
My guess is a boy, which is what my Mom is guessing as well. My dad and aunt are guessing girl. Benjy has no guess, or is at least not telling me what he thinks. <br />
So, any guesses? :) I like hearing guesses- it amuses me!<br />
I think that I tend to gravitate towards gender neutral clothes and baby stuff b/c I like the idea of being able to reuse stuff for the next baby, regardless of gender- and I gravitate towards themes of animals and travel in terms of baby decor, so I'm hoping I don't end up with a giant explosion of pink or blue once stuff once I know the gender. (That being said, I would totally put a little girl in blue stuff- it's been my favorite color since I was tiny!)<br />
Also, I found a T-shirt w/ a Viking on it and promptly told Benjy that Vikings are totally gender neutral- haha!<br />
<a href="http://image.hannaandersson.com/is/image/Hanna/39671_86M?$FlatFullW$" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://image.hannaandersson.com/is/image/Hanna/39671_86M?$FlatFullW$" /></a> I mean seriously, I can imagine a Viking shirt w/ a tutu looking pretty cool! Sadly, it sold out in a hot minute. <br />
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My first Mother's Day weekend was awesome. Benjy and I stayed at a B&B in the White Mountains and went hiking. The hikes we went on were gorgeous and we were able to see lots of waterfalls, cascades, and rapids thanks to the Spring Thaw. It was amazing. I've learned that being pretty active in this pregnancy makes me feel the best- when I don't at least go on walks and do yoga, I feel SO sluggish. Fortunately, the weather is getting nicer and nicer, so walking in the evening is a real treat. It's definitely preferable to hitting the treadmill when it's freezing outside! Yoga is always wonderful. :) So my goal for the next 5ish months is to get outside as much as I can!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOByClngph9cjJ9Y8ZTjd77rV57jz8XW0mR8uXklGZrMoU8zCWppFoLjJEK5FNa2_X9iyCAWJNCpzWrBpdzBDgGbP1-lPKDA9-0Wouz7fRUVsmYZQJmyVYEzKX0Sl9yvB9QzVjrlXFRCK5/s1600/IMG_2822.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOByClngph9cjJ9Y8ZTjd77rV57jz8XW0mR8uXklGZrMoU8zCWppFoLjJEK5FNa2_X9iyCAWJNCpzWrBpdzBDgGbP1-lPKDA9-0Wouz7fRUVsmYZQJmyVYEzKX0Sl9yvB9QzVjrlXFRCK5/s320/IMG_2822.JPG" /></a><br />
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Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-52390110406938363182013-05-02T14:50:00.000-05:002013-05-02T14:57:11.590-05:00A not entirely practical list of things I want to wear while I'm pregnantSome days, I really want to shop. Making a fantasy list helps me avoid needlessly spending money. Some of these things are remotely practical, but I will certainly not be getting everything on this list. :) <br />
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Also, I'm entirely sure this post is NOT what my mother had in mind when she said I should blog more about my pregnancy. :) <br />
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A <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=79556&vid=1&pid=333419002">long</a>, <a href="http://www.mexicaliblues.com/Skirts/Gathered-Waist-Jersey-Skirt/PAKFADLFPHABDGJI/3071/Product">hippy skirt</a> to wear low on my hips with a long tank top. <br />
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More <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=93287&vid=1&pid=484258022">maxi dresses</a>- mind you, I already have 3...<br />
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Something galaxy print- I'm obsessing over all the DIY stuff from <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/alannaokun/i-love-space">this post</a> on buzzfeed, so I may try to get an oversized black shirt from goodwill and DIY it. <br />
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Also, I found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/ELLAZHU-Graphic-Sleeveless-T-shirt-Onesize/dp/B009F6XS2M/ref=sr_1_8?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1367518772&sr=1-8&keywords=galaxy+print">this shirt</a> on amazon (galaxy print w/ a giant, crowned cat! OMG!) and I'm trying really hard not to buy it and wear it every day for the next two weeks at which point I'm sure I'll outgrow it. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Birkenstock-Womens-Boston-Footbed-Taupe/dp/B000JIGEA8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=15WSP9COO043N&coliid=I3H51NR0MMVNT8&psc=1">Birkenstock clogs</a>- since bending down is quickly becoming uncomfortable. <br />
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Converse- <a href="http://www.zappos.com/converse-chuck-taylor-all-star-seasonal-slip-ox-a-blue">slip ons</a> for the same reason as the Birks. <a href="http://www.converse.com/#/products/shoes/converseone/builder/chuTayHiCanMen1302_Digital,,,513881870">Space print</a> high tops b/c I'm obsessed. <br />
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<a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=242808&locale=en_US&kwid=1&sem=false&sdReferer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gap.com%2Fproducts%2Fgap-fit.jsp">Zip Front</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Champion-Womens-Favorite-Jacket-Pelican/dp/B00AHSA7MG/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1367523849&sr=1-1&keywords=champion+hoodie">Hoodies</a>- b/c my pullover hoodies aren't going to fit forever...<br />
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A maternity chambray shirt that isn't annoyingly gathered within an inch of it's life. (Can't even find a link for this one!) <br />
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<a href="http://www.sephora.com/dahlia-noir-P375305">Givenchy Dahlia Noir</a> Perfume. Love love love love love. Though I hate it when I fall for pricey scents. I blame Sephora free samples for this!<br />
Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-30422751497423087122013-04-15T08:29:00.000-05:002013-04-15T08:29:00.361-05:00News!It's been a while since I've blogged (which is how all my blogs seem to start off!) but I wanted to make sure I shared my good news here, even though I think anyone who reads this already knows....so it's more for posterity.<br />
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I'm pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And super excited, obviously! :) <br />
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Little Baby L is due in October 2013 and Benjy and I couldn't be more thrilled. :) <br />
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My first baby purchase was a super cute (and super impractical) pair of cowboy (or girl!) boots suitable for a 1 year old. We love them so much we used them for our baby announcement. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuaLLv61DC2oS39E2hecCy9p4DHjMinc_hUMwxP9u7LQpJrxbgTetGg13C7Jb0U6QO6HSqfSoUmwlezerWkP-04titGthT4i0Cv9fvQ1GWy9lVDdM56Lckm4izkrwpP-z8diSwCZNRRb6/s1600/562003_10100180026622029_319829292_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuaLLv61DC2oS39E2hecCy9p4DHjMinc_hUMwxP9u7LQpJrxbgTetGg13C7Jb0U6QO6HSqfSoUmwlezerWkP-04titGthT4i0Cv9fvQ1GWy9lVDdM56Lckm4izkrwpP-z8diSwCZNRRb6/s320/562003_10100180026622029_319829292_n.jpg" /></a>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-24358353357849921922013-01-22T10:26:00.000-06:002013-01-22T10:27:40.050-06:00The Amazing Health Benefits of Complete and Utter NonsenseThings I have recently listened to people proclaim the health benefits of in person or on facebook.<br />
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<a href="http://www.snopes.com/medical/homecure/raisins.asp">Raisins soaked in Gin</a> for arthritis<br />
<a href="http://www.snopes.com/medical/homecure/honey.asp">A combination of Cinnamon and Honey</a><br />
<a href="http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/whiten-teeth-with-strawberries.htm">Strawberries for teeth whitening</a><br />
A combination of lemon, ginger, garlic, honey, pineapple, and cayenne in lieu of a <a href="http://statigr.am/p/374166094053549631_7925936">flu shot</a><br />
<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbo=d&biw=1280&bih=675&tbm=isch&tbnid=4JSNPSaRtwb9PM:&imgrefurl=http://www.avartsycooking.com/2012/11/fitness-nutrition-vol-001/&docid=xDBzpbM4QlJH_M&imgurl=http://www.avartsycooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/health-benefits-of-bananas1.jpg&w=598&h=639&ei=f7z-ULrQIebG0QGp_IGoCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=754&vpy=113&dur=1351&hovh=232&hovw=217&tx=146&ty=116&sig=114582505681216450363&page=1&tbnh=149&tbnw=139&start=0&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0,i:97">Bananas</a> <br />
<a href="http://wd40.com/about-us/myths-legends-fun-facts/">WD-40 </a> also for arthritis<br />
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Obviously some of these are less bunk than others, and most won't hurt you as long as you don't take them in lieu of treatments you've been prescribed (with the notable exception of spraying yourself with WD-40). <br />
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However, I'd really just like to see someone I know post a long missive or an infographic about the amazing health benefits of broccoli. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://iloveprettykeli.com/health/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/broccoli.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="328" width="450" src="http://iloveprettykeli.com/health/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/broccoli.png" /></a></div><br />
Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-64130601294007682352013-01-03T07:59:00.002-06:002013-01-03T08:00:56.055-06:00A Real Maine Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMK-9YJtr2IkJhg5PP5eFRIJDQ1hJTSuHGGWSuX6OBw4hOi-VXPUTjvfEOrjHByiYxiXIenVGfxT5Tt_y5pWtuemRDZEcdDyu3JQD3AhbFcfCG1ZYXyxOttsEZjkwbKLtHQcw9diXVCQCF/s1600/Portland-20121227-00041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMK-9YJtr2IkJhg5PP5eFRIJDQ1hJTSuHGGWSuX6OBw4hOi-VXPUTjvfEOrjHByiYxiXIenVGfxT5Tt_y5pWtuemRDZEcdDyu3JQD3AhbFcfCG1ZYXyxOttsEZjkwbKLtHQcw9diXVCQCF/s200/Portland-20121227-00041.jpg" /></a></div>It was seven degrees when I woke up this morning. And I walked my dogs anyway! (I think I've got the doggie-mom of the year award pretty much in the bank. :P) <br />
I've been saying that after last winter's mildness, I've been ready to tackle a "real Maine winter" and so far, it looks like I might get my wish. After two blizzards over the course of a week and this current stretch of bright, sunny, freeeeeeeezing days, I have a few thoughts. <br />
1) <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/other/rice-bag/12915">Rice bags</a> are essential. The one I made last winter has become my security blanket- I nuke it for a few minutes, then take it to bed every night. So toasty! (Benjy complains that it smells like cream of wheat, but that's a small price to pay.)<br />
2) Winter isn't so bad until I have to move my car. I've had two instances where it's taken about 20 minutes and the help of either friendly neighbors or Benjy to shovel and rock my way out of on-street parking. It's waaaay easier to not go anywhere. <br />
3) I've worn the same sweatpants and sweat shirt combo for several days in a row and I'm not ashamed. <br />
4) Ski socks aren't just for skiing. After carefully stalking Smartwool sales, I now have a pair for every day of the week. Their socks are expensive, even when they're on sale, but my cost per use is infinitesimal at this point. <br />
5) Fuzzy Slippers for Life! I splurged on a pair of <a href="http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/511926?nav=box474-hp">L.L. Bean Wicked Good Slippers</a> this year so I can wear my aging fleece lined <a href="http://minnetonkamoccasin.com/Products/Detail/cally-slipper">Minnetonka Mocs</a> as airport shoes. <br />
6) Just like last year, my urge to cook hearty food and not exercise is back in full force. It doesn't help that my gym membership expired. I definitely need to work up the motivation to move around more- if only so I can justify all the stew I've been devouring. <br />
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Anyone have any good cold weather tips? <br />
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Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-47670504588393090632012-11-01T21:11:00.001-05:002012-11-01T21:11:46.287-05:00The Artful DodgerI painted something today! I met up with some girlfriends at <a href="http://paintnite.com/">Paintnite</a> and made this beautiful work of art. :) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfosiT9cSXDgqo8db7AxVMZm_8sOIPDji-WIeyqyzCOe6fCmwQ-tu7dfC3QstRz2ydGvFh5rtYum4YCgYmBa7Hfx8KOU1ItavJ0iJQeICByi3VAFX226sd1UN_43DKlBRa5wWzTZSx_Ps/s1600/Portland-20121101-00636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfosiT9cSXDgqo8db7AxVMZm_8sOIPDji-WIeyqyzCOe6fCmwQ-tu7dfC3QstRz2ydGvFh5rtYum4YCgYmBa7Hfx8KOU1ItavJ0iJQeICByi3VAFX226sd1UN_43DKlBRa5wWzTZSx_Ps/s200/Portland-20121101-00636.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It was a lot of fun and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really like the painting I made. I've gone to paint your own pottery classes in the past (we won't even speak of the disaster that was my pottery elective in college) and ended up very dissatisfied with my creations (I'm so much more verbal than I am visual) so it was a pleasant surprise for me to actually like something I've painted.<br />
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On other creative fronts, I've decided to do <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">NANOWRIMO </a>this year. I finished a (terrible) novel in 2008 that I'm very proud of (although no one can read it, ever) but this year I'm much more excited about my plot. Hopefully I'll end up with something that I'll let see the light of day. So far I'm 2795 words in. 47205 words to go! Wish me luck! <br />
Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-84308909090717826582012-10-03T12:38:00.000-05:002012-10-03T12:38:10.655-05:00We Can Rebuild HimI thought I'd write a quick follow up to my chair post. I ended up spray painting my chair a very shiny black and I couldn't be more happy with the results! It reminds me of the surface of a grand piano and looks lovely with my kitchen. The biggest problem with it is that I've managed to lose my shiny black cell phone by leaving it on the shiny black chair. (First world problems, again!)<br />
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There are a ton of spray painting tutorials online, so I won't bother adding another. But briefly, I bought a $1 plastic table cloth at Dollar General to protect my backyard- then proceeded to sand (w/ 100 grit sand paper), prime (2 coats of Valspar primer) and paint (3 coats of Rustoleum spray paint) the chair. After about 24 hours of drying, it was done. <br />
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Well, it should have been done, anyway. I learned an important lesson about trying to do touch-ups with a nearly empty can of paint. It splatters and then you have to let it dry, sand the messed up part, go buy a new can of paint since you emptied the last one, and respray a couple coats onto the part that you messed up. And once it finally dries and you put it in the kitchen, you realize that shiny black paint is incredibly forgiving and you shouldn't have been OCD about doing touchups anyway. Because a) you will always find a spot that doesn't look 100% perfect to you and b) no one else will ever be able to see it!<br />
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My other important learning from this adventure is that the can of primer was much harder to spray than the can of spray paint. I think it's a brand thing and may not use Valspar if I ever need to do this again. My wrist and hand hurt for several days after I primed my chair. <br />
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Anyway, I thought I'd end with a couple of photos of how the chair looks in the kitchen (guest starring Pancake, one of my cats!). I took them with my cell phone so I apologize in advance for the low quality!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NsDQ0kY33p4lV83XvQYOHGd_E-vyNzJ88m0R2IgUls2JY_VabOmNb2m_wizPzKMGEmvKJn-jySk7-9fk0p8yLHBJai-CvL8KlupZ0qo-OdYd5QTF-WVwACiZ0Kqw8HV1o5-BIXVP2eyU/s1600/Portland-20120920-00576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NsDQ0kY33p4lV83XvQYOHGd_E-vyNzJ88m0R2IgUls2JY_VabOmNb2m_wizPzKMGEmvKJn-jySk7-9fk0p8yLHBJai-CvL8KlupZ0qo-OdYd5QTF-WVwACiZ0Kqw8HV1o5-BIXVP2eyU/s200/Portland-20120920-00576.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLRCLg6eBvzDEYMAXa2TiZQaIRlVZeEaBIX0Wquk-1_2fb_I4uo1wmgTtn7yCAglwcqp8n35Duky0YtIpwTq7HMuZ_aHs2uPZDpewqOvIuyWsfO4_6iY7tGFu6PQCW_hk2S6OtacyuPJa/s1600/Portland-20120920-00577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLRCLg6eBvzDEYMAXa2TiZQaIRlVZeEaBIX0Wquk-1_2fb_I4uo1wmgTtn7yCAglwcqp8n35Duky0YtIpwTq7HMuZ_aHs2uPZDpewqOvIuyWsfO4_6iY7tGFu6PQCW_hk2S6OtacyuPJa/s200/Portland-20120920-00577.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-19871387365602345372012-09-14T22:47:00.000-05:002012-09-14T22:49:14.681-05:00Kitchen Chair <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAFbdV3riwnqIly8Tt3nBR42RzykqkwjwEcgvSUrDtyTALYvqzPbE6_ooN1gPqOCTTQop9cwkuAtTsfJKcxLUW09IihN9LiXgFp_p7leOZHw_cnSTkF5Eonl2OFX1dhPZ5QiUAFHDMJBq/s1600/Portland-20120914-00561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAFbdV3riwnqIly8Tt3nBR42RzykqkwjwEcgvSUrDtyTALYvqzPbE6_ooN1gPqOCTTQop9cwkuAtTsfJKcxLUW09IihN9LiXgFp_p7leOZHw_cnSTkF5Eonl2OFX1dhPZ5QiUAFHDMJBq/s200/Portland-20120914-00561.jpg" /></a></div>A lifelong dream of mine has always been to have a big, comfy chair in my kitchen. (Dream big, people.) I (obviously) spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and I've always thought that it would be really wonderful to have an easy chair in the kitchen. <br />
My current kitchen is pretty big and I've been lobbying hard to put an arm chair against the wall by the door, but Benjy has always thought that a chair that big would disrupt the flow. I've been keeping an eye out for a comfortable chair that isn't too big- and today, I finally found one.<br />
And I got it for $10!!!<br />
I've been wanting to check out the Habitat for Humanity Restore in Portland, and I finally got around to it this afternoon. There wasn't a ton of furniture (lots of cabinets, light fixtures, and doors, though) but there were a few wooden chairs and some nice dressers. I really liked the captain's chair that I ended up buying because it wasn't too big, but was nice and wide and had good arm rests. It's no easy chair but it has good bones and is a good size for the space I have in the kitchen. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKj5H0TXVm_3bm6eEazJ42I9sjqHG8X-7J1ZD_EFXW416YpI2tfXlBc0QGRGB3TWHWOHbu7rMD-cMle0jidycT-JQRLNNOLtYHoPRJKlX2OB1pZ2YophDIr0GDJmfxGDB1f_krKV_dblWg/s1600/Portland-20120914-00563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKj5H0TXVm_3bm6eEazJ42I9sjqHG8X-7J1ZD_EFXW416YpI2tfXlBc0QGRGB3TWHWOHbu7rMD-cMle0jidycT-JQRLNNOLtYHoPRJKlX2OB1pZ2YophDIr0GDJmfxGDB1f_krKV_dblWg/s200/Portland-20120914-00563.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I have to admit that the pictures I've taken are very forgiving and it <i>really</i> needs to be varnished or painted. But for $10, I really don't mind spending a little time to make it look shiny and new. <br />
The icing on the cake to this whole story is that when I looked up this kind of chair on the internet, it looks like they run about <a href="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=wooden+captain's+chair&hl=en&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&biw=1280&bih=675&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=13908504391891694243&sa=X&ei=MahTUOS3DbSy0AG94oDoDQ&ved=0CGgQ8wIwAA">$145</a> new. I am the bargain queen!<br />
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So what color should I paint my chair? <br />
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Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-52313252264158262152012-09-10T19:34:00.000-05:002012-09-10T19:37:54.691-05:00Tempeh is Amazing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs1NL2X7En5SjiACBlFbo19J32-fG_Z2cw_cDMa-GNYLXpbXMcnzELFPiHt0Iq_3dgoU58hCPkNQtJ3pPxtdLqgddMX6crlh5D641cTBBP3jjB1FWPHe7AMc4Ax36EXmKNSnNhPJJ4OFk/s1600/Portland-20120910-00555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs1NL2X7En5SjiACBlFbo19J32-fG_Z2cw_cDMa-GNYLXpbXMcnzELFPiHt0Iq_3dgoU58hCPkNQtJ3pPxtdLqgddMX6crlh5D641cTBBP3jjB1FWPHe7AMc4Ax36EXmKNSnNhPJJ4OFk/s200/Portland-20120910-00555.jpg" /></a></div>I'm not a vegan or a vegetarian, (Obviously- ask me about the two chickens I smoked this weekend- haha) but I really enjoy making meatless dishes and typically eat a meatless dinner a couple of times a week. My breakfasts and lunches are generally meatless, which is easy since I'm not a big fan of bacon or sandwiches.<br />
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I'm a huge fan of eggs and beans as protein sources, and I love tofu when I have it in restaurants- but I've never done a good job of preparing it at home. I've basically given up trying to cook it myself. <br />
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I've known about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempeh">Tempeh</a> for a couple of years now, but I've never been called to try it or to try to cook it (because I'm so bad at tofu- I assumed I'd ruin tempeh too) until my friend Chelsea told me that she loves to make sauteed Brussels sprouts and tempeh and drizzle it with sesame oil. I love browning Brussels sprouts in a skillet and I love sesame oil, so I thought I'd give her technique a try! Of course, I put my own spin on it so I thought I'd write out the recipe. This dinner was honestly a million times more delicious than I thought it would be (and a million times more delicious than it looks in the lousy picture I've posted), and incredibly easy. So next time you're looking for some meatless Monday inspiration, give this a try! <br />
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Marinate the Tempeh:<br />
<br />
Tempeh, cut into 1/4" thick slices<br />
1/2 C soy sauce<br />
1/2 C rice wine vinegar<br />
1 t Sesame oil<br />
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Combine Soy Sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil. Marinate the sliced tempeh from 20 minutes to several hours<br />
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Cook the sprouts:<br />
<br />
1 dozen Brussels Sprouts, halved<br />
Olive Oil<br />
Salt <br />
Pepper<br />
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Cook the Brussels sprouts in a skillet in olive oil until they are easily pierced with a fork and the flat sides are a little browned. <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/goldencrusted-brussels-sprouts-recipe.html">101 Cookbooks </a>has a great explanation of how to do this- just don't add any cheese to this particular batch.<br />
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Season with salt and pepper and set aside.<br />
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Cook the Tempeh:<br />
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1 shallot sliced (or half an onion)<br />
Tempeh in Marinade<br />
olive oil<br />
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Fry the shallot in olive oil until it is soft and a little brown. Add to the sprouts, reserving the oil. Fry the tempeh for about 3 minutes a side, until the marinade is reduced and the tempeh is golden brown and heated through. Add to the bowl with the sprouts and onions. Drizzle with additional sesame oil and squeeze a quarter of a lime over everything. Stir to combine and serve with mashed butternut squash (recipe below). <br />
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Mashed butternut squash:<br />
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1 butternut squash (peeled and cut into large chunks- I bought mine this way because I am lazy)<br />
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1 T coconut oil (or butter, if don't care that it's not vegan- I wanted to stick with the theme)<br />
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salt and pepper to taste<br />
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Microwave the squash in a covered bowl with a splash of water for 10 minutes. Mash the squash and add the oil, salt and pepper. <br />
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Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-14319953210562532282012-09-06T15:06:00.000-05:002012-09-10T19:34:27.050-05:00Winter is ComingSeptember has arrived and some cooler weather has rolled right in with it! I'm loving it- and loving the fact that my friends visiting from the south this past weekend got to enjoy some refreshingly cool temperatures! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpwxyi78abofWrW-8ZRVbBgCjQ3xIFFx4X2nlvd96SCa7YjnP3_iUqmxudWgrjXi9pA6unQCw9l3s0wQKAlVFC8YXuITUw46hrggEGr2UOxuh6l-TY7zrveq-mns26KwGblThBMoBisMh/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpwxyi78abofWrW-8ZRVbBgCjQ3xIFFx4X2nlvd96SCa7YjnP3_iUqmxudWgrjXi9pA6unQCw9l3s0wQKAlVFC8YXuITUw46hrggEGr2UOxuh6l-TY7zrveq-mns26KwGblThBMoBisMh/s200/IMG_1521.JPG" /></a></div>Of course, my enjoyment of the weather is tempered by the knowledge that it's going to get a lot colder before I know it! My issue tends not to be with the weather outside, but with the brisk 62 degrees inside the house. I maintain my office at a higher temperature (since it has a separate electric heater that is much cheaper than our ancient oil heating system) and the house warms up once I use the oven to make dinner- but the couple of hours before I start making dinner (we like to eat around 8pm) tend to be dark and cold. So, a reminder to myself: The gym is always warmer than my house! Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-87862625527942358472012-08-27T13:34:00.000-05:002012-09-10T19:35:51.224-05:00Kitties Love CouscousI made an excellent <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/moroccan-recipe-chicken-tagine-with-apricots-almonds-chickpeas-recipes-from-the-kitchn-175757?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+apartmenttherapy/thekitchn+(TK+Channel:+Main)">chicken and apricot tagine</a> last night (basically Moroccan spiced braised chicken served over couscous) and both cats begged shamelessly for bites of chicken at dinner. I reheated some again today and they were once again swarming me. It's pretty normal for them to be pests at dinner, but they usually leave me alone at lunch! My conclusion is that kitties love couscous. I also think that would be a great blog name. Feel free to take it! :) <br />
I'm somewhat dissapointed to find out that my flat iron needs a special type of cord that I can't get. It has a circuit board built into it for extra safety but I can't order a new one from the company and I can't pay them to fix an out of warranty iron. My vacuum repairman and I have agreed that we've reached a dead end and I need an new iron. I only have good things to say about the guys at <a href="http://allbrandvac.com/">All Brand Vacuum</a> though because they were wonderful sports about trying to fix it in the first place, and they aren't charging me a work fee since they can't repair it. I'll definitely be taking my ancient and lousy vacuum to them again if it needs work in the future! <br />
Does anyone have a suggestion for a good flat iron? It's been 6 years since I've purchased one so I'm not sure if I should get another Chi or if there's something better! <br />
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<i>Edited to ad that I ended up stumbling onto an amazing sale at <a href="http://www.ulta.com/">Ulta</a> and got a new Chi for $50. There are still some available for $87. The catch is that they are all in pretty garish colors and patterns. But since I was expecting to spent abut $30 fixing the flat iron, I'm pretty thrilled to get on for $50. Now if only I didn't use that as an excuse to stop at <a href="http://www.hm.com/us/product/03234?article=03234-A">H</a>&M on the way home....</i> Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-78756312325726951842012-08-22T15:37:00.000-05:002012-09-10T19:35:20.621-05:00Mr. Fix-itIn the past few years, I've started investing the time and money it takes to fix things rather than just to discard and get new stuff. I've always mended my clothes, but a couple of years ago I moved on to having my shoes and purses repaired by a cobbler. (I suggest this <a href="https://plus.google.com/111498141363288143731/about?gl=us&hl=en">cobbler in New Orleans</a> and this one<a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=roy's+shoe+shop+portland+me&fb=1&gl=us&hq=roy's+shoe+shop&hnear=0x4cb29c72aab0ee2d:0x7e9db6b53372fa29,Portland,+ME&cid=0,0,13036205124477736581&ei=-T81UNTHF4OR6wHw7YGgDw&ved=0CJoBEPwSMAA"> in Portland</a>.) About a year ago, I went to a vacuum repair shop for what turned out to be a new plug for my vacuum. It cost $8- way less than a vacuum! Lesson learned: I try to repair *everything* now. The latest broken item in my house is my beloved <a href="http://www.farouk.com/CHI/Hairstyling-Irons/Original,-Made-in-USA-CHI-Ceramic-Hairstyling-Iron.aspx">flat iron</a>. It's served me well for 6 years of heavy use, but now the part of the cord that swivels at the end isn't staying attached inside the iron, which means that it only turns on and stays hot when I hold it at a very specific angle. I've tried to find a small appliance repair shop in Portland, but there don't seem to be any. I'm unwilling to shell out big bucks for another iron since there are apparently a lot of counterfeits floating around on Amazon and I just didn't want to deal with it. I'm also reluctant to try to fix it myself since I'm not incredibly handy. (Worst. Engineer. Ever.) Finally it occurred to me to call my <a href="http://allbrandvac.com/">vacuum repair shop</a> to see if they could try to fix it since a cord is pretty much a cord. They told me that they try to stick to vacuum's but will help out on other small appliances when they can. They went on to say that they've fixed my exact problem on a flat iron before and would only charge $20 (way less than the cost of a new iron) to fix mine. SCORE! I'm going to bring the iron in on Friday and I'll update if things don't go as planned, but I think this will prove to be a smart move. The moral of the story- it never hurts to ask! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeLG2T51BpgXUKR-3w4vUoGedQxcZ81oo_bxqmxLSZQlwfC9EjQZfYaWWcPPs1fDnSXPs_foJPf-RQBlA4hyphenhyphenkRiSMQOdaNXcx37ZhA4ub4HjETcWAy-wwnjVRf8WS2RyO0AG7dI3HRreX/s1600/409702_946214586249_1970752010_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeLG2T51BpgXUKR-3w4vUoGedQxcZ81oo_bxqmxLSZQlwfC9EjQZfYaWWcPPs1fDnSXPs_foJPf-RQBlA4hyphenhyphenkRiSMQOdaNXcx37ZhA4ub4HjETcWAy-wwnjVRf8WS2RyO0AG7dI3HRreX/s200/409702_946214586249_1970752010_n.jpg" /></a></div><i>This cowlick must be tamed</i> Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-23578009397369102532012-08-02T13:43:00.000-05:002012-08-02T13:43:16.660-05:00Way to Go, Bill Murray!Just an update on Bill Murray because I'm amazed at his progress. He hasn't given me any more tomatoes but the second little green one is slowly turning red and he has several flowers now. Most of his progress has been in the form of sheer growth! I'm so impressed! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpifgufAp_FvS9mQqi0WIuYu0IAGezyJrs688zLyrEAafCW6neWssEFTQALWIRBtCS8xf83R4gmpoSiW2z-J67yArKF0Nj6CSrm23ojmscwwcY4lBXsamtSwsAQKOAv8_DfD0Mhl2mPUiZ/s1600/IMG-20120802-00509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpifgufAp_FvS9mQqi0WIuYu0IAGezyJrs688zLyrEAafCW6neWssEFTQALWIRBtCS8xf83R4gmpoSiW2z-J67yArKF0Nj6CSrm23ojmscwwcY4lBXsamtSwsAQKOAv8_DfD0Mhl2mPUiZ/s200/IMG-20120802-00509.jpg" /></a></div>
He's a behemoth!Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-91020733472479999842012-07-17T09:45:00.001-05:002012-07-17T09:45:18.301-05:00The Triumphant Saga of Bill MurrayI might have mentioned before that there are three big planter pots on my porch. If I did mention it, it was probably in same (figurative) breath as the fact that I am am incredibly skilled at killing plants, especially rosemary.
Last summer, my planter pots contained strawberries, lavender, and rosemary (because I love it and always want to grow it). I was pleasantly surprised to find that my lavender and strawberries survived the winter, and completely unsurprised when my rosemary failed entirely to thrive past October. That particular pot sat empty save for the corpse of my rosemary plant all winter and Benjy developed the unsavory habit of dumping the ashes from his grill and smoker into the pot.
This summer, I decided to plant a patio tomato in the empty pot. I named him Bill Murray because I thought I'd be more interested in keeping him alive if he had a name. I carefully dug out all of Benjy's grill ashes and charcoal and planted Bill Murray in the remaining dirt.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifzpRCXGbUUKc9b7IVu0M6BcByUBcS-uwY8ZOlFB8xMPuWz9H2OzGz-qQ6ZAV8dP8Iat1_H-SVo32r-rpDhXivSiqs6rGOMd64bCPKaCJzodOqSOpFNdZ_U3k6etFCdUKQIjrFPgkhvCI/s1600/165998_922167446909_1446366855_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifzpRCXGbUUKc9b7IVu0M6BcByUBcS-uwY8ZOlFB8xMPuWz9H2OzGz-qQ6ZAV8dP8Iat1_H-SVo32r-rpDhXivSiqs6rGOMd64bCPKaCJzodOqSOpFNdZ_U3k6etFCdUKQIjrFPgkhvCI/s200/165998_922167446909_1446366855_n.jpg" /></a></div>
He looked pretty happy for a few days but it soon became clear that something was terribly wrong. His leaves started looking withered and scorched and it was clear that poor Bill Murray was close to going the way of the rosemary. Benjy was either feeling guilty about the charcoal or just irritated by the sick tomato plant ruining the beauty of the porch because he kept bugging me to do something about Bill Murray.
I thought the poor guy was beyond help but I gave in and went to Walmart to get a bag of dirt.
The first thing I learned is that dirt is only sold in giant bags that are entirely too heavy for me to carry up three flights of stairs. The second bit of knowledge I was gifted with is that it's a good idea to ask your husband to carry said bag of dirt upstairs before he sprays himself with dark tanning oil (not even joking) and sits out on his sunny porch.
Not only was the bag too heavy for me to carry upstairs, it was nearly too heavy and slippery for me to upend into my pot. Nonetheless I cut a hole in the top corner of the bag and valiantly struggled with it until I managed to maneuver it in place. It was at this point that I discovered the hole I cut in the top of the bag was too small to let the dirt pour out. I finally managed to get the dirt into the pot via a technique I like to call "madly stabbing the bag of dirt with a pair of scissors."
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8k9ZeA7jUYkqytJWRzAQqX7hGwN5O-RAaa4QHdRc1UrtMWpZygcV7um3QKbw5KvZUoVed8pnaFhSCKGJaSs2N161GJISVvJyEqs5TB9akh1s-Ks0EfwK-0cW6Hzr8JAuh0RrCLKjx8bC/s1600/IMG_0544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8k9ZeA7jUYkqytJWRzAQqX7hGwN5O-RAaa4QHdRc1UrtMWpZygcV7um3QKbw5KvZUoVed8pnaFhSCKGJaSs2N161GJISVvJyEqs5TB9akh1s-Ks0EfwK-0cW6Hzr8JAuh0RrCLKjx8bC/s200/IMG_0544.JPG" /></a></div>
As you can see, dirt ended up everywhere. It was actually fine because I had too much dirt in the pot after everything was said and done and had to carefully carry the extra dirt over to top off my other pots. You can infer from this that I ended up with as much dirt on myself and the porch as I did anywhere else. I also have to add that before I could put new dirt in the pot, I had to get rid of the old dirt. The end of this process found me covertly hauling trash bags full of old charcoal filled dirt down three flights of stairs and into the back yard and dumping it into a corner. I'm pretty sure I looked deranged at best and like I was disposing of a body at worst.
All of this work resulted in a sick Bill Murray perched inside a pot filled with shiny new dirt.
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He still looked bad the next day so I cut off all of his branches that looked sick so that he could better direct his resources to keeping the rest of himself alive. I didn't take a picture because he looked so pathetic and for a week or two I was still pretty sure that poor Bill Murray wasn't going to make it. I definitely used this as a reason to make Groundhog's Day jokes at parties because I am a scintillating conversationalist (i.e. deluded enough to think that anyone else gives a damn about my patio tomato plant). But finally, he grew fuzzy new leaves and started to perk up. And now, his first tomato is turning red! I'm so proud!
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And yes, of course I've named my strawberry plant Steve Martin and my lavender Dan Akroyd. Why do you ask?Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-19575943592346502932012-05-29T15:07:00.003-05:002012-05-29T15:12:04.116-05:00Silence!I'm just back from a nice vacation to D.C. and the Shenandoah Valley, and, of course, my cupboards are bare! An additional meal planning challenge is that Benjy is working nights this week. The nice thing is that he doesn't go to work until after dinner, but he has to sleep all day in the bedroom that is just off of the kitchen. I need to minimize my time in the kitchen and cook as quietly as possible. This means I need recipes that don't require a lot of chopping or stirring or standing at the stove.<br />
There are other considerations that go hand in hand with the night shift as well. He often takes some of the food from dinner with him to work- so grab and go type foods are key. It's also convenient to make foods that don't have to be reheated, since that saves time. And since he's going straight to work, garlicky foods are out! (I made<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/healthy-easy-calamari-at-home-151263"> roasted squid</a> dressed with chimichurri sauce last week and he couldn't eat it because it would have given him dragon breath on the night shift. It was sad!)<br />
The plus side is that aiming to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible (something that is generally anathema to me!) gives me a chance to play with some easy recipes!<br />
My plan for the week is to make a ton of <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/classic_baked_chicken/">baked chicken</a> (just to shake things up from my typical whole roast chicken routine) and serve it over the rest of the week with a variety of salads. I'm thinking <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/caprese-salad/">Caprese</a> or maybe a <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/the-transformative-power-of-bu-141082">Burrata</a> and tomato salad, roasted beets and goat cheese with spinach and walnut, and salad greens with avocado and hearts of palm.<br />
When out of chicken I'm going to make an Italian tuna salad with tuna canned in olive oil, capers, basil, red onion, white wine vinegar, and white beans to serve over salad greens.<br />
I'm also planning to make this <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-asparagus-with-parmesan-85201">truffled asparagus and boiled egg salad</a> for myself for lunches because I think it looks insanely good.<br />
Everything will be served with slices of crusty bread, although I may buy it instead of making it myself this week.<br />
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This sort of food would also work well for anyone having a busy week. I hope you can see how one night spent roasting chicken and beets (or any veggies you like!), and boiling asparagus and eggs can easy lend itself to a full week of healthy meals when you combine them with salad ingredients and a few pantry staples.<br />
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How do you cook around a crazy schedule?Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-62287901661385626452012-05-06T11:20:00.001-05:002012-05-06T11:20:01.292-05:00Creepy!I watched the Kentucky Derby for the first time yesterday (on TV, not in person, sadly). Prior to the race the camera briefly showed a brown horse with a white spot on his nose and I told Benjy that he was my favorite because he was a pretty horse. Finding out that his name was "I'll Have Another" led me to believe I'd made a good choice.<br />
And then he won!! I guess if this whole engineering thing doesn't pan out I can always make a living betting on horse races. ;)<br />
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However, apparently the Derby took a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/06/us/kentucky-churchill-downs-death/index.html">deadly turn</a> this year. This morning I also read an article about an <a href="http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/05/abandoned_pet_cemetery.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter">abandoned pet cemetery in rural Louisiana</a> that is the center of several murders. I guess it's been a good news day for all things Creepy and Southern.Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-7407363172649239552012-04-26T08:11:00.000-05:002012-04-27T10:55:57.047-05:00Seriously Want to Go ShoppingThings I need to buy: a new camera. Still. I think I want <a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/canon-powershot-elph-300/4505-6501_7-34505032.html">this one</a>, but I kind of hate gadget shopping. I'm such a bad engineer.<br />
What I want are clothes, shoes, and bags. Disclaimer- I totally bought a pair of <a href="http://www.jcrew.com/womens_factory_category/shorts/PRDOVR~36234/99102225112/ENE~1+2+3+22+4294967294+20~~~205+17+4294966535~15~~~~~~~/36234.jsp">neon pink shorts</a> and a pair of <a href="http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/pants/chinoutilitypants/PRDOVR~29468/29468.jsp">cobalt blue pants</a> from Jcrew last week. They are fabulous. Especially the neon shorts.<br />
However, this has only whetted my appetite.<br />
Things I want- <a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=48596&vid=1&pid=673944">dark wash sexy bootcut jeans</a> from the Gap, a pair of <a href="http://www.toms.com/womens/classics/ash-canvas-classics-shoes">Toms</a> (b/c now that they've been around for years, I can finally embrace the trend), a <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=68334&vid=1&pid=828118&scid=828118002">maxi dress</a>, and a couple of slouchy bags- I want a grey one to replace the one I bought last year and have completely destroyed with overuse, and a buff colored one for the summer b/c I think it would play nicely against my awesome neon pink shorts. :)<br />
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What do you plan to wear this summer?<br />
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<i>Edited to add that I bought the camera and the dress online, and after some soul searching I've decided that I just don't need the Toms- I have a lot of cute flats already, so there's not a Toms shaped void in my life, or my closet. After some closet searching I realized that I have a tan hobo bag that I can totally use this summer- I just forgot it was back there! As for the jeans and the grey bag- the jury is still out. I really love my current grey bag and might see if I can get a tailor to fix it. And I think I should try the jeans on again before I decide to buy them, but I HATE going to the mall so I may just never bother. :) </i>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-75320619204515348032012-04-18T10:51:00.002-05:002012-04-18T10:51:27.524-05:00It's a Tough Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been really pleased with how much travelling I've managed to accomplish in the past year. Places I've been: New Orleans, Mississippi, Houston, Spain, Virginia, several places in Maine (I won't count the stops on the move up to Maine!), Ohio, Colorado, Arizona, San Francisco and Napa, Boston, D.C., and NYC. Do I qualify for road warrior status yet? :) <span style="text-align: left;">The picture to the left is from my recent trip to San Francisco. My Kristi, Lauri, and I are completely blocking a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. :)</span><br />
I'm incredibly grateful that I've been able to travel so much this year. I'm further grateful that I actually love to travel- it's something that came to me late in life. I used to be terrified of flying and pretty unadventurous in general. One thing I appreciate about growing older is that I've become so much more open to new experiences. Some of that is due to an increase in confidence, and some of that is due to a better ability to separate needless fears from legitimate concerns. But so much of the credit for my evolution into a travel loving person is due to Benjy. I was always the type of person to sit around and think "It would be fun to go to XYZ..." but would never go without someone to give me a push in that direction. Benjy loves to travel and was just the person I needed to give me that push. He's also incredibly fun to travel with- his companionship makes the trips we go on together a joy and has helped me establish enough positive connotations to combat any fear I have of traveling alone.<br />
Just one of the many reasons I am so supremely lucky. :)<br />
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The picture of us below was taken in Arizona at Christmas. Most of our recent pictures together were taken at arm's length- I thought this one was a bit nicer. :) </div>
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In other news, after 4 or 5 long years, my trusty point and shoot Cannon has bitten the dust. Can anyone recommend a nice compact camera? </div>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-55070994255447997632012-04-11T18:09:00.000-05:002012-04-11T18:09:52.592-05:00What a Year!So it's two days late, but I'd be remiss if I didn't blog about my first anniversary! Actually, I'm kind of remiss anyway b/c I was out of town for Benjy's birthday (for work) and our anniversary (I was on a girl's trip in San Francisco and there were no affordable flights that got me home by Monday). Whoops.<br />
Nonetheless, I'm very excited to have been married for a full year and I'm looking forward to spending Sat. with my husband in a lovely bed and breakfast in Camden, Maine. We're also going to eat at <a href="http://mistermeatball.blogspot.com/2010/07/searching-for-john-conte.html">Conte 1894</a>. I'm very excited about that as well.<br />
This has definitely been an exciting and challenging year for us. We honeymooned in Spain, moved 1600 miles away from our home in New Orleans, climbed a mountain together, skied down several mountains together, weathered our first New England winter, celebrated my birthday in NYC and his birthday in an Irish Bar at 8am on St. Patrick's Day, visited Acadia National Park, met friends in Boston, celebrated Christmas in Arizona, skied in Colorado, and returned briefly to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. It's been a big, busy, fun year and there's no one I'd rather have spent it with!<br />
Adjusting to the big move and to the Benjy's tough work schedule was the biggest challenge of the year. I have to give him so much credit for being willing to spend his spare time with me- traveling and exploring- instead of resting on the couch, which is probably what I would do if I were in his shoes. Despite all the challenges of his work, he's been, as always, a wonderful companion in this adventure. I'm so happy to have been married to the love of my life for a full year and can't wait to celebrate with him for many years to come!Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-72351996682262382522012-03-20T09:34:00.001-05:002012-03-20T09:35:19.410-05:00Happy Dance!Check out that <a href="http://www.weather.com/weather/5-day/04101:4:US">high</a> on Thursday!<br />
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<br />Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-28441202399651428022012-03-14T11:29:00.005-05:002012-03-14T11:29:39.350-05:0023.5 hoursI'm seriously loving this youtube video! Check it out, then go take a walk!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/aUaInS6HIGo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-57551817523592502072012-03-06T07:35:00.001-06:002012-03-06T07:35:31.532-06:00Every DaySpeaking of going to the grocery store every day, I did my full week's worth of shopping last night, then got home and realized I'd completely forgotten that I was almost out of olive oil. I was quickly reminded when I ran out of it while cooking dinner. Total first world problem, but now I have to go back to the store! Arg!<br />
I had a really nice weekend- I went skiing at <a href="http://www.saddlebackmaine.com/">Saddleback</a>, a mountain about 3 hours Northeast of Portland and stayed at a lovely bed and breakfast, the <a href="http://northcountrybb.com/">North Country Inn</a>. I highly recommend both the mountain and the B&B. Saddleback had great snow and a lot of fun runs. It also has a lot of black and double black runs with plenty of glades- I can't vouch for the quality of such runs b/c I can't ski down them, but everyone else I was with really enjoyed them. :)<br />
After a weekend of ski food (aka burgers, grilled cheese, and pasta) I wanted to make dinner as green as possible. I opted for Mark Bittman's <a href="http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/recipe-of-the-day-shrimp-in-green-sauce/">shrimp with green sauce</a> (mostly parsley and garlic) with some sauteed asparagus stirred in. Unfortunately, it was just ok. The hubby liked it more than I did- I thought it was a little bitter. I'm not sure if it was just that the sauce and the asparagus didn't mix well or if the sauce was out of balance or what. Part of the problem is that the shrimp in Maine are just not that good. I think I may redo this in the future with fish instead of shrimp and maybe with basil as the green component of the sauce.<br />
Of course I've got plenty of ideas for meals for the rest of the week. Up next are <a href="http://www.thebittenword.com/thebittenword/2011/12/chicken-tinga-tacos.html">chicken tinga tacos</a>. After that I'm planning to modify this <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/09/roasted-tomatoes-and-cipollini/">tomato, onion, and white bean roast </a>(which is one of my favorites) to include artichoke and asparagus b/c I'm in the mood for lots and lots of veggies. (Hopefully the asparagus doesn't betray me again!) Other meals for the week will be blue cheese buffalo chicken burgers (not the lightest preparation, but I want to do something fun with my leftover ground chicken from last week- basically I'm going to mix blue cheese crumbles, green onions, and some wing sauce into my chicken, then cook it.), a <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001493.html">garbanzo bean quinoa bowl </a>with the awesome dressing from my lentil barley bowls, and a quinoa bowl with<a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2012/02/26/cozy-millet-bowl-with-mushroom-gravy-and-kale/"> kale and mushroom gravy</a>. The latter will likely be for lunch since the hubby doesn't share my love of mushrooms.<br />
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Anyone making anything tasty this week?Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-28737603518967932892012-02-27T09:04:00.001-06:002012-02-27T09:14:43.547-06:00PoachedThings I have learned- I cannot poach fish to save my life. My mom bought me a cool <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X8WNVS/ref=asc_df_B000X8WNVS1915739?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B000X8WNVS">fish poacher thingy</a> for Christmas. Sadly, it did not come with instructions and I used it to absolutely ruin a salmon filet last week. So, anyone want a slightly used fish poacher?<br />
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This week I'm planning to eat the leftovers from Saturday's party for lunches, and make some <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001560.html">barley risotto</a> (with walnuts, orange, and arugula) after that.<br />
Dinner entrees this week will be <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/10/baked-chicken-meatballs/">chicken meatballs </a>with spaghetti squash (I'm psyched to use the meat grinder attachment on my mixer!), <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/george-stella/anaheim-shrimp-scampi-recipe/index.html">Anaheim shrimp</a>, <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001567.html">garbanzo burgers</a>, and probably some more coconut-oil sauteed cod- this time with<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/03/magazine/mag-03Eat-t.html?_r=1"> capers and tomatoes</a>.<br />
Last night I enjoyed a lovely departure from health food- a fried oyster and shrimp poboy at <a href="http://www.poboysandpickles.com/">Poboy's and Pickles</a>. It warms my heart that I've found an excellent poboy joint in Portland. It's the perfect cure for homesickness!<br />
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Do you meal plan or just wing it for your weekly meals? If I didn't plan my meals in advance I'd end up stopping by the grocery store every day- and wasting tons of food and money.Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-24870023365029947192012-02-26T12:47:00.001-06:002012-02-26T13:01:48.737-06:00FiestaYesterday, my plans for the evening solidified into hosting a get together for a dozen people about 3 hours before people would be arriving. Of course, the house was a wreck and there was almost nothing in the fridge. I knew that since it was fairly nice outside, the hubby would want to grill out, but that it was cold enough that we couldn't have an entire party on the porch.<br />
In a moment of brilliance, I came up with the perfect food theme: Taco Night! I quickly ran to the store for charcoal, fish, chicken, and various taco toppings (tomatoes, cheese, onion, etc...). When I got home, I marinated the chicken in some salsa, marinated the fish in olive oil and lime juice, and chopped up my toppings. I also made a quick batch of <a href="http://thedecayedgentlewoman.blogspot.com/2010/08/slaw.html">cabbage slaw</a> and a fruit salad with chopped strawberries, pineapple, lime juice and honey. I spent the next two hours *quickly* cleaning my house (while listening to the Shakira Pandora station to be festive) then put a pot of black beans on the stove right before people came over.<br />
Set up was a breeze- I put chips and salsa in the front room for people to much while the hubby grilled, then just set out bowls of taco toppers, microwaved some tortillas, and let everyone assemble their dinner once we brought in the chicken and fish.<br />
It was super easy and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I think a variation on this theme that would work equally well would be to do a baked potato party with chili and other toppings.<br />
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Do you entertain on a whim or prefer time to plan?Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748395418182935085.post-57950437658954996442012-02-23T08:15:00.000-06:002012-02-23T08:15:15.159-06:00GreeniesJust a quick post to say that my eating plan is going very well this week. I'd forgotten how good Green Monsters taste! I'm currently mixing about 2 cups of fresh spinach, 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder, half a banana, 5 strawberries, and 2/3 cup of almond milk in mine (for a total of about 200 calories if anyone is keeping score at home). So good!<br />
Dinners so far have also been awesome. I was blown away by how much I enjoyed the Lentil Bowls. I don't typically cook vegan dishes, but this has encouraged me to branch out and try more because I loved this. (I also didn't get any complaints from the hubby.) I think the key ingredient was nutritional yeast, which was the ingredient that initially put me off of making this dish. I loved its savory flavor (it's the closest thing you can get to vegan cheese) and it's nutritional statistics. 7 grams of protein, 60 calories, and 70% of your daily B12 needs in 2T!<br />
My cod and Brussels sprouts cooked in coconut oil were also excellent. The coconut flavor didn't really come through after cooking, but the sprouts browned nicely and the cod was very tender and flaky. I topped it with sort of a thai chili sauce, but I want to make this again and try different sauces because I think this technique is very versatile. Basically I halved the sprouts and cooked them in virgin coconut oil over medium high heat face down until they were a little brown (8 min.) then stirred them up and cooked them, stirring occasionally for another 2 or 3 minutes.<br />
For the cod, I cooked them in virgin coconut oil for 5 minutes on one side and 3 minutes on the other until they were nice and flaky.<br />
In terms of the sauce, I just simmered about 1/4 cup of light coconut oil with sriracha, and ginger and basil from a squeeze bottle until it thickened up a little, then spooned it over the fish and sprouts. <br />
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Eat anything exciting this week?Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408929681739560085noreply@blogger.com0