mmmm….

On the menu: vegetable egg scramble, home fries, sliced apples and mimosas.

yum!

Wow, Sunday night again! Where do the weekends go, people?!

Had a nice Sunday though. This morning, Casey and I went to brunch with Julie and Adam and Julie’s friend from grad school, Kyle, and her husband. Kyle is someone that I have been hearing about for about 4 years and she is just as sweet as I thought she would be. Julie always said that she thought we would get along and we did. I love meeting sweet people- makes me happy.

We went to Lucy’s in Brookline, it is very good and had some vegetarian options for Kyle. We all chatted like we were old friends and had a good time. Julie and Adam were also sweet enough to treat us all- very generous of them!

After that, Casey and I hung out for a while at Julie & Adam’s because we were supposed to go home and do some stuff and we were procrastinating. Plus, I haven’t seen Julie in a while so we chatted about wedding stuff and we helped her pick out her wedding linen fabric. (pretty brown fabric with a cool sheen to it, with cream napkins- they are planning a rustic fall wedding at her family’s farm in NH. It is going to rock!!)

Oh! I never updated the Germany situation on here! Julie and Adam are definitely moving to Germany in a few months, as long as he passes his security clearance. gulp. It could be in 2 months or more than that, they are not sure. They are excited but are also a bit overwhelmed with all the details of a big move! They were cute and introducing themselves to us in German- they started German classes on Thursday.

Casey and I finally quit procrastinating and went home to be productive. I had a pounding headache from a nasty contact lens that was giving me trouble so I lay down for a nap. (haha- when I say productive, I mean Casey…)

I had the most disturbing dream involving my deceased grandmother- why is it that you dream the strangest things when napping? or is it just me?

Anyway, Casey was great and tidied up the apartment while I was snoozing on the job. We also wrote 11 thank- you notes from the party the other weekend. (Yes, I know they are pitifully late but better late than never, right?)

Now we are supposed to be researching at least 2 possible locations for our wedding. We really have to get visiting locations if we want to have it next summer. (if it is not already too late!) For those of you outside of the States, it is quite possible that next summer is mostly booked already. The American bridal industry is nuts, what can I say?!

And because I am sure you care, here is a list of things that we want for our location:
1. Somewhere not too far away from where we live. (no driving 4 hours there and back every weekend to plan- uh uh.)
2. We must be able to have a party into the night. We’d prefer having the ceremony around 5 or 6pm and then party party party until we just can’t party no more. (I am so surprised at how many places say you have to clear out by 10 or 11 pm- gah! what?!)
3. Natural beauty is a must. Not really a big fan of urban weddings- not really “us” Maybe something overlooking the ocean for a ceremony?
4. Must have one room that can accommodate our full wedding (about 150 guests- how on earth did that happen?!)
5. Full bar
6. Good food
7. Not too fancy-schmancy. No gold chairs or candelabra.

So, I better get doing my part before Casey realizes I am slacking off.

Wish me luck!!

(If anyone has any ideas of locations in the New England area, please let me know! We seriously need all the help we can get.)

Ok… so remember the cake that I was baking yesterday into the wee hours of the night?

It turned out to be the ugliest cake that was ever created.

I am completely serious. The darn thing crumbled to pieces when I took it out of the forms… it is a flour-less chocolate cake and so I guess it was supposed to crack and expand when it was baking. I followed the instructions and tried to pat it down to smooth the cracks and, needless to say, it did not work. So, I just covered the hopeless mess in frosting and hoped for the best.

Here it is in all of its glory:

But here is a more honest depiction of the franken-cake:

The picture on the top is of Domo-kun, a Japanese character that Casey likes. I am also no artist- especially with icing. Ah. Such a sense of accomplishment. haha

Here is Casey, being a trooper: (He really looks like he likes it, doesn’t he?!)

Casey was a good sport about the whole thing and gnawed his way through his piece of cake with a gooey smile on his face.

We had a really nice time at dinner at Sel de la Terre, by the Aquarium in Boston. We had an awesome waitress and she gave us suggestions and even let me try a couple different wines before deciding what I wanted. (I am normally a red wine drinker but I feel like trying new things lately… I had a lovely Pinot Gris tonight.) The food was really good…mmm.

Casey also unwrapped his presents this afternoon. I am embarrassed to post a picture of them here because there are so many. In my defense, a few of those boxes are just socks. Okay?!

I spent too much money but I just can’t help spoiling the guy- he needed so much stuff! Oh well, more peanut butter and jelly for us. (oops!)

Well, we are supposed to be on the train to the airport in 5 hours (7:30 am flight!!) so I better finish packing and get to bed. I am hopefully going to be able to post from Bermuda…

Have a great weekend!

I love me some Reese’s Pieces. They are delicious.

They always remind me of E.T. and being a little kid.

Also, the other thing they remind me of is that some comedian (anyone know who?) has a joke about Reese’s Pieces/ Cups. He says that there is some guy around named Reese who could take them from you. It says they are his right on the container.

Ok, I didn’t say it was a funny joke.

yum! fake peanut flavoring!

Oh my goodness gracious, my tummy is so full of ice cream. OOOOOF.

I am officially hooked to Cold Stone Creamery ice cream. Oh the yumminess!

Do I care that it cost me $10 for 2 small cups of ice cream? No, not really. Do I care that I had to wait 10 minutes in a line that curved around the store? Nope.

Was I a little bit scared when the workers burst into song? Well, actually a little.

It is all good though… the ice cream is smooth and smoooshy. I got chocolate with cookie dough- nothing too crazy. I am a bit of an ice cream purist- simple is better, in my opinion. Some of those concoctions make my head spin! They have more toppings than anyone could use in a year. Seriously. Casey and our friend Michelle got the ‘cake batter’ flavor and were pretty happy.

Check it out if it is near you… just get the small. Trust me.

We also had a really nice time with Michelle- we lost touch with her for a little while and it is cool that we caught up with her again. It is amazing when you live in the same town as someone, how easy it can be to lose touch… every day just blends into another and the next thing you know- you haven’t talked to someone in 6 months.

Michelle and I have been friends since we were in college- she was actually the first friend that I made! She was really sweet and treated Casey and I to dinner at PF Chang’s in Boston. Ohhh lettuce wraps, why are you so good?!

I also hit a bit of a wall today with my strappy tank. I am in the midst of writing a pathetic email to Carrie- who I know has knit it before. Of course, I cannot do anything the easy way- I decided to knit the thing in the round when the pattern is on straight needles. (I am just addicted to my Addis!) Now I have hit the shaping for the arms and the pattern is telling me to do funky things… or I cannot read the pattern, which may actually be the problem.

The other thing that totally sucks about my new hours is that I cannot make it to my LYS before it closes at 6pm. I got there at 6:05 tonight and they were already closed… so no progress on the strappy tank. I am seriously ready to finish this project, since I have already knit the darn thing up to here once already! And I tried it on and it actually fits me this time- yay! I think it will be really cute if I can every finish it…

Well, I am going to put my ice cream belly to bed. night-night!

Another French barbecue last night. I decided that I needed to bring something last night because this is the second time they invited Casey and I for dinner, and last time we only brought beer. Classy!

So, I hauled a bag of potatoes and other fixins for potato salad home from Porter Square- ugh my achin’ back! I am seriously going to kill myself one of these days- I carry a backpack with my computer and my knitting in it every day and I am ok with that load. The problem arises when I decide that I need to pick stuff up on the way home… I need a massage.

Ok so here’s my potato salad- exciting looking, ain’t it?

I wanted to bring a typical American dish that people bring to a barbecue to share with the French guys. Living with young people does not give them a very accurate picture of American cooking, I don’t think.
(Americans eat other things besides beer and pizza?!)

Also, the guys buy the food for these things and they pretty much just serve meat: hamburgers, steak (with a super yummy marinade!) and kilbasa. (sorry, I have NO idea how to spell that!) So, I thought a side dish was in order.

People seemed to like it even though I overcooked the potatoes a little bit. That made me happy. I put lemon juice, dijon mustard, and some olive oil on top of potatoes, dill, a vidalia onion and an orange pepper. I made up the recipe and thought it turned out pretty good. I just need to master the cooking time on the potatoes!

I also got a nice shot of the French guys- handsome bunch, oui?

(clockwise starting from the top left: Cyril, Sebastien, Sylvain, Thomas, and Nicolas) [sorry, I just had to update this post because I wrote clockwise but then I wrote their names counter-clockwise! silly girl. It is correct now. 7/30]

Ok- better get back to work… can’t talk about potato salad all day! haha

Eating less? NO WAY?!

Read this short article on how the French keep the pounds off.

Interesting.

That sounds like a fad diet, doesn’t it? Eat cheese and pastries but stay skinny! Oh- but you have to watch your portion sizes… that would never work for Americans.

(from Chris)

Oh lovely Sunday brunch at Matt Murphy’s. How I adore you.

Irish music. Crunchy brown bread. Pork and vegetable hash. Casey. Knitting. Irish accents.

Sigh.

mmm… not so much.

The only thing worse than not having a 3 day weekend is coming back to work after a 3 day weekend.

I did get a couple cute pocket-y skirts from the Gap on sale which is cool.

My night with Casey made up for my blah day though. We went to 9 Tastes for some yummy Thai food… yes, we were too lazy to cook yet again.

Actually, I went on a cleaning rampage for some reason when I got home so that is why I didn’t cook anything. I have been meaning to give the bed nook (that is what Casey and I call our bedroom- “room” implies that there is actually room in there! hehe) a good vacuuming- it really needed it. The room is so small though that moving the bed is a huge pain in the rear end. Poor Casey was a bit confused when he came in tonight- I had everything out of the bedroom that I could pick up and it was spread all over the living room. Our nook is prettier now though!

We also went to the bookstore tonight and I bought a few things- yay! I have been on a ready frenzy- and haven’t been updating my “Reads” section- oops! I finished The Story of Lucy Gault a while ago. It was a quietly good book- bit sad though.

I also read Wonder When You’ll Miss Me by Amanda Davis. I really enjoyed this book- which surprised me actually. I usually do not do very well with sexual abuse scenes (rape, child abuse, etc…) but this one sorta danced around what happened to Faith in such a way that I could handle it. It did not diminish the enormous effect the attack had on her, it just portrayed it in a palatable way. I flew through this book and wished that it was longer when I finished it.

Lastly, I finally broke down and read Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. I was completely turned off by this book because it just seemed to be everywhere. I bought it a while ago for a book club that fizzled out and it just sat on my bookshelf for years. I picked it up because I was having a really hard time sleeping when I was sick and Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively was not holding my nonexistent attention span. Chevalier’s book did though. I really liked it. I especially loved the conflicted yet sensual way the main character felt about her hair… Can you imagine being turned on just by someone seeing your hair down? I don’t want to spoil anything by saying more but it was just fantastic. Another quick read.

So, I got a bunch of books at Wordsworth. They are quite fluffy but I am feeling in the mood for a little summer light reading. I also need to keep plugging away at Moon Tiger so I might need a break.

I got:

Sushi for Beginners by Marian Keyes (see, I wasn’t kidding about the fluff!)

The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Yay! I love having a stack of books to read. Nothing makes me happier. Well- almost nothing anyway.