Book Binge

I have a lot of reading to do.
Currently unfinished are Mrs. Darcy and the Blue Eyed Stranger (a book of short stories that is, thus far, excellent- I'd recommend it especially to people raised in the South. My darling fiance gave it to me for my birthday.) and The Orphan's Tale- In the Night Garden (This one has an overall plot but is also composed of a series of short stories- these are more like fairy tales though.) I've enjoyed both so far and intend to finish them.
However, I also need to read The Girl Who Kicked in the Hornet's Nest (because it has been loaned to me by my friend Margee), Stories edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantino (a birthday gift from my darling fiance's brother and his girlfriend), and Pope Joan (for bookclub, although my friend Steph just finished it and didn't like it, so I'm not incredibly excited to read it now).
So of course it's completely logical that I just bought The Secret History. In all fairness, it's been on my wish list since it was mentioned in an article on Jezebel, by one of my favorite of their writers, Sadie. (I really enjoy her taste in books and movies).
On Tuesday, my darling fiance found out that Donna Tartt is doing a book signing at the Ogden on Sunday and passed along the information, saying that The Secret History was one of his favorite novels in high school. His copy is apparently worn to bits from his reading and re-reading it, so I decided to buy my own. I also greatly enjoy his taste in books, so I am looking forward to getting the book, which will arrive this afternoon.
I feel kind of neglectful for planning to read it before all the others that are waiting patiently in line.

What books do you plan to read soon?

Houseboat

This weekend, along with my darling fiance and four of or good friends, I will be spending two nights on a houseboat in the Atchafalaya Basin Swamp. I am looking forward to reading, relaxing, and hopefully catching some fish!
As for reading, I just finished A Reliable Wife (for bookclub) and am in the middle of the Elegance of the Hedgehog. Up next is Orphan's Tale- In the Night Garden. Other recent reads have been Skinny Legs and All, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and The Russian Dreambook of Color and Flight. Last month's bookclub book was also terrific- In Other Rooms Other Wonders. I also traded in a bunch of my old book at a used bookstore this weekend, and have a ridiculous amount of store credit now, so I'm sure I'll be picking up some more books soon.
Any personal favorites y'all think I should keep an eye out for?

Run for Home

I didn't do very much this weekend. I planned to be productive on Friday afternoon until my darling fiance decided to make mint juleps at 4pm. Of course, he didn't have any mint, so we ended up sipping a combination of bourbon, simple syrup, and peppermint schnapps which was surprisingly tasty. We ended up having dinner at Ciro's Cote Sud- a little neighborhood french restaurant on Maple St. that I love. (And if you live in the area, they deliver!!) I almost always get their pate plate, but this time I had a bowl of french onion soup and the duck confit salad. I also split a tart tatin with my darling fiance for dessert.
On Saturday, we woke up prior to the crack of dawn because we were running the Run for Home 5K at Zephyr field in Metairie. Since I didn't pick up our race numbers on Friday evening (due to the "mint juleps" and the fact that I would have had to drive out there from my house at 5:30 pm), we got to the ball park around 6:45 because we thought there would be a line of people waiting to get their numbers. We were wrong. There were only about 50 runners in the race and we could have gotten there at 7:30 and been fine.
The run itself was nice- it mainly consisted of loops around a running trail that circled the ball park and Lafreniere park which is next to it. The weather, however, was pretty unpleasant. It was 80 degrees at 6am and incredibly humid- this did not change by the time the race started at 8. The only good thing was that it was really windy. Running into a headwind isn't great for time, but it did help to cool me off a little. We both did pretty well at the race and technically PR'd- my darling fiance's time was 27:10 and mine was 27:12. (I haven't run a 5 or 10 K race since last spring when I was just getting started, so it's not hard for me to PR this year. If I PR at any races next year, then I'll be excited- haha!)
The best thing about the race, though, was that it was an absolute bargain. For a $25 entry fee (proceeds going to Lighthouse for the Blind) you got a race T-shirt (which was actually pretty cute), 2 baseball tickets to a Zephyr's game, and entry into the raffle at the end of the race. They raffled off a ton of stuff and since it was a small race- the chances were really good. I won a gift certificate to Mr. Ed's Restaurant (And trust, me, I never win anything). I've never been there so I am excited to try them out! :)
I spent the rest of the weekend pretty much being lazy. I took a nap when I got home, then made pizza for dinner (I swear by the pizza dough you can pick up at Whole Foods- so good!). I did half spinach and goat cheese, half mozzarella, basil and prosciutto, and cracked an egg in the middle. I really prefer homemade pizza now because I love coming up with creative toppings. A few weeks ago I did tomato sauce, spinach, thinly sliced yellow squash and hunks of mozzarella and loved it!
After dinner, we remember that it was Free Comic Book Day and decided to take advantage of it by going to Crescent City Comics. We ended up getting some free comic books and buying a couple of other ones. The guys at the Crescent City Comics also gave us some free beer and had queso dip from Sarita's for people to try. It was excellent but extremely spicy. After that, we went home and sat on our porch and read comic books for the rest of the night.
On Sunday, we pretty much sat around the house all day and worked on our wedding website. It's almost done- thanks to my darling fiance who did *tons* of work on it! It has to be ready for when we send out our Save the Dates- but that still gives us some time because although we got them yesterday, I still have to address them all!
I actually really enjoyed the fact that I didn't really do that much this weekend. It's nice to stay home and I found myself on Monday wishing I had another day to hibernate.

A Weekend of Good Food

I have eaten so well this weekend! Coquette was amazing. They infuse their own alcohols and I loved their fig infused Brandy. I had it in a French 75 to start my dinner, and I had a bit of it neat along side my dessert. As for food, my darling fiance and I split three small plates: roast oysters, fried shrimp with grapefruit, arugul, and chili oil, and duck and foie gras ravioli; as well as one large plate- seared scallops with green curry, rice noodles and bok choy. Everything was delicious! For dessert, we split a brownie with cherry cream anglais. So good!
On Saturday, I really enjoyed the Disney exhibit. I thought that the backgrounds were amazing- especially in Sleeping Beauty. I also really want to see The Princess and the Frog now! Oh, and The Ruby Slipper was delicious. I had the Huevos Rancheros and really loved them.
The ballet was okay. I really liked the first part of it, but the second half wasn't my favorite.
Today, I got up early and ran a couple of miles with my friend who were running in the Mardi Gras Marathon. I ran a mile to the race, then ran two miles with my friends. I wanted to run 3, but I couldn't keep up the pace for the third mile- sadly, I am so out of shape! However, I am really proud of my running buddy Margee who finished in 3:52! She's so awesome!
This afternoon, my darling fiance and I walked around Audubon park for a little while (the weather was amazing today!), then got groceries. This evening, we tried to cook something new for dinner- Grilled Pizza! It was awesome! We split our pizza into two smaller pieces. I topped both with tomato sauce, cheese, and prosciutto, then added spinach and goat cheese to one, and tomato and an egg to the other. We cooked them until the goat cheese was melted and the egg was sunny side up. Delicious! I've included a picture- grilled pizza, wine, and no make-up. Pretty much my idea of paradise. :)
We also went to Blue Cyprus Books before we went to the park this afternoon before going to the park. I bought The Mandarins by Simone De Beauvior. I have so many books to read this month!
Anyway, I had a really nice weekend and I hope everyone else did as well. Congratulations again to everyone who ran the Mardi Gras Marathon today!!

Fall is in the Air!

Yesterday a cold front passed through New Orleans and it is glorious! I had a wonderful run last night, slept with the windows open, and I didn't get all gross and sweaty walking the dogs this morning. I'm loving the cool weather!
This weekend was a lot of fun. We went to Oktoberfest on Friday night and I feasted on 3 different kinds of cabbage (cabbage rolls, sauerkraut, and purple stewed cabbage- divine!). After Oktoberfest, we went to the Balcony Bar and I also ate part of a fried appetizer with hot wings, fried mozzarella sticks, and jalapeno poppers. So bad, but so so good. :) On Saturday, I was worried about the weather, so I postponed my run and instead tried the Piyo (Pilates + yoga) class at the Reily Center. It was better (i.e. much more challenging) than I expected, but I thought the music was kind of cheesy (it sounded like 80's aerobics music). Saturday night I went to my friend Anne's birthday party. I also bought a sweet pair of dangly silver earrings while I was supposed to be shopping for a gift for Anne. Oops!
On Sunday I finally got around to tackling my 8 mile run around 2 pm. It wasn't very humid, but I guess it was hotter than I thought outside because that run was brutal. I felt really slow and tired the entire time and couldn't snap myself out of my negative thoughts about how lousy the run was. Sometimes my head just isn't in the game. But the important thing is that I pushed through it and ran further than I have ever run before! I ran my usual 4 mile run last night and at first, I felt like I was really slow and I felt the specter of my crappy run just hanging over my head. Fortunately, after a mile or so, I got warmed up and started to just enjoy the run and the weather and ended up with a pretty fast pace overall. I was so happy to have a good run! This week is my "cut back" week and I am supposed to only run 6 miles this weekend. I am not sure that I'll get to run at all this weekend because I upcoming travel (see below) but hopefully I'll at least get in some time on a treadmill.
I am traveling this weekend because I am going to Tulsa to celebrate my dear boyfriend's grandmother's 80th birthday. Of course, I spent Monday night having my semi-annual "I hate my clothes" pity party (which seems to happen every time the seasons change) and decided to go into work early, so I could hit the mall after work and before my run. I speed shopped and picked up 2 dresses (sadly I can only find a link to one of the dresses- the other has a maroon abstract floral print, a deep V in the front and back, and cap sleeves. Super cute!) and a cute purple shirt with ruffles on the front from Macy's, and a pair of light pink chinos from Jcrew (they were on sale for $19!!). I feel better now. :) One of the dresses and the pink pants will definitely be a part of my Tulsa wardrobe this weekend. I'm also really hoping to wear my trench coat because it will actually be cool in Tulsa!!
While I was shopping I also tried on this tunic and thought it was really cute, but I just didn't see myself wearing it that often. I tend to find it difficult to translate "trendy" items into something that looks realistic on me. Maybe if I find it on sale later in the year I'll pick it up but $40 was a little steep for something I'm not sure I'd actually end up wearing.
Other than that, I finished reading The Wide Sargasso Sea (which I loved) and have started reading Anathem, and am really enjoying it so far.

Bookworm

My bookclub meeting/ Tea party last night was a lot of fun. Everyone liked the food I made, and Sarah had a really good list of discussion questions about the book. Now that it's over and done with, I'm going to go ahead and review the book (before I forget that I meant to).
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is a murder mystery that features Flavia, an 11year old girl, as the narrator and main character. Flavia lives in an old English manor house and has to solve the mystery of a stranger she finds dying in her cucumber patch. Armed with her love of Chemistry and her trusty bike, Gladys, she is able to solve the mystery, acquit her father (who was arrested for the murder) and save the day. I really enjoyed this book and found it to be a quick, and generally light-hearted read. Flavia is a very compelling protagonist- the book club decided that she was equal parts Harriet the Spy, Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird, and Angela Lansbury. She is precocious, opinionated, and appealingly bratty. I have to admit that she reminded me a great deal of myself at age 11. This book is written for adults but would also be suitable for older children and teenager. A bonus is that there are supposed to be more Flavia books in the works!
Since I hosted this month's book club meeting, I got to pick the book for next month. I chose Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil because I recently watched the movie and really enjoyed it. We all also thought that the voodoo element to the story would be appropriate for October, especially since our next meeting is going to be close to Halloween. I went on a bit of a shopping spree today and bought not only that book, but also The Wide Sargasso Sea (another one I was considering for next month) and Anathem (which I've been meaning to read but don't know if I would subject my non-sci fi nerd friends to). I love books. :)
Also, I did make it to the black light party this weekend, although I didn't stay very long. Here is a picture of me with my dear boyfriend for your entertainment. We're glowing!

Looking Forward

I have a lot of things to look forward to in the next few weeks. This coming weekend, I have a haircut, and then a Coolinary dinner at The Pelican Club on Friday.
On Saturday, a group of us are going to Monroe, La to our friend Jon's family's farm. We're going to swim, barbecue, ride 4 wheelers (and maybe horses), and do some serious relaxing.
The next weekend I am attending a secret event for a family member who shall remain nameless, then running in the Crescent Connection Road Race on Sunday. It's 4 miles across the Crescent City Connection Bridge, which spans the Mississippi River and connects New Orleans to the West Bank. This will likely be the last time I race in my current running shoes b/c they are getting pretty old.
Finally, my friends and I are starting a book club! Our first book is going to be "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie." I plan to post my thoughts on all of the books I read for the club, so feel free to follow along and let me know what you think of the books!

Summer Reading

I am reading Gone With the Wind. I'm really a horrible Southerner for never having read it or having watched the movie! I tried to read Gone With the Wind several years ago, right after my divorce. However, I went through a period of several months during which I couldn't focus enough to read anything because I was so distraught, so I never got past the first few pages. (I finally finished a book- The Secret Garden, which I'd read several times before- 4 or 5 months later.)
Now that I am finally reading Gone With the Wind I am really enjoying it. I can't believe I waited this long to read it- it's wonderful and right up my alley. (My alley being "any books or movies set before 1930 and preferably involving dramatic and beautiful clothes.")
Right now, our neighbors just set off a bunch of loud fireworks, and my dog Bernie went nuts! The cat wasn't too happy either. The worst thing is that the fireworks were just loud- not pretty at all. Lame.
In other news, I had a lovely lunch with my friend Xiujuan. I love going over to her house because I get real Chinese food. So yummy! Her little boy, Tate, is 4, and she is expecting to give birth to her little girl, Ola, in November.
I also got some scary news this evening. Apparently my little brother (he's 24- so not that little, actually) and his friends took my dad's boat out to Horn Island in the gulf for the 4th of July. They were on their way home when a huge storm blew up. They knew they wouldn't be able to make it to land in time, so they had to go back to the island (with waves so tall they were crashing over the boat), anchor the boat, put on life vests, and sit on the empty island until the storm passed! My mom called me because they'd called everyone before they got to the island, but their phones were too wet to use after the storm had passed and so my parents called the coast guard and everything. Fortunately, they made it home safely- but I've been told that they are all very tired! I plan to call my brother tomorrow so I can hear all about it! (And of course, I plan to call him Gilligan for the next several months.) I'm so happy he's safe!

Finally

After work I went to TJ Maxx and finally found a frame that will hold two 5X7 photographs. I've been meaning to frame the pictures that my dear boyfriend and I ordered from the Crescent City Classic, but I've had a very hard time finding a) the time to look for picture frames and b) a frame that suited my purposes.

I actually wanted a frame that would stand on its own, and the sticker on this frame said that it would, but it was lying. We had to hang it on the wall. On the plus side, it was only $8, so I can stomach a little deception for a good price. :)

Anyway, here is a picture of the pictures of us crossing the finish line.

I also got a new wallet at TJ Maxx because my old one was falling apart. I was very fond of my old wallet (it was pink snakeskin!), but it was time for a new one. This one is teal leather (or fake leather, who knows) and actually will hold more stuff than my old wallet, so hopefully it will last a bit longer before I completely destroy it.

I am habitually hard on wallets. I keep too much junk in them and the resulting strain tears them apart at the seams. When I was in college, I actually carried a men's wallet and either stuck it in my backpack or tucked it in my pocket, but once I started relying on a purse again, I found the men's wallet to be way too bulky. This wallet, like my last, is long and skinny and will actually fit in my bags without making an unsightly lump.

When I first walked into TJ Maxx I thought "Why don't I come here more often? There is so much cute stuff." After I had to rip myself away from an adorable Lesportsac bag for $25 that I did not need I had my answer. There is just too much cute stuff there that I want!

I did make a couple other purchases today. I saw a health food store in the corner of the TJ Maxx strip mall that I hadn't seen before and went in to check it out. They were about to close up, but I picked up some ground flax seed to add to my cereal and oatmeal. Flax seed is full of fiber and omega 3 fatty acids, so it will be a good healthy addition to my breakfasts.

I also ordered a couple of books from Amazon.com to read on my vacation.
I ordered The Forgotten Garden and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. The latter book is supposed to be pretty creepy- the author also wrote The Haunting of Hill House, which I read and enjoyed in high school.

Aside from that I've had a pretty calm evening. I made maple glazed salmon with rosemary; whole wheat couscous with spinach, walnuts, dried figs and dried cranberries; and roasted zuchinni and squash for dinner because I was feeling pretty creative. It was a tasty meal!

Now I'm relaxing with a glass of white wine and settling in to finish planning our Maine vacation. I have been making a spreadsheet with all of the places we may want to go, along with pertinent information like their address, hours, and entrance fees. I'm such an engineer. I am really excited because in a week, I will be relaxing and hopefully chowing down on some lobster! :)