Meatless Monday: incredible eggs

 

Ok. How amazing does this look?  I think I've just discovered tonight's dinner recipe. Mexican flavors + eggs + avocados?

You had me at avocados.

winter wreaths

So, I'll be honest. My previous post was my own little "giddyup" to myself. I can feel winter creeping up, the holidays, and all their frenzy. This time last year, I had an inexplicable "holiday spirit"-type bug, or something. I was all in the mood and making lists before we were even ready to plan Thanksgiving menus.

This year, not so much.

But, I'm gonna try. I have to say, I had a lot of fun last year, and I'd like to chase that feeling. Maybe we can help each other, friends! I need to get in the holiday swing of things somehow. So, here goes...

What do you think of holiday wreaths? Maybe what I'm ok with is more of a "non-wreath-wreath." You know, less greenery, more unexpected? I was absolutely captured by this one.

I'm also fairly in love with the textural simplicity of this stick wreath. It might look stunning on our dark front door...

But, let's face it: my DIY time and motivation is precarious, at best. Also, there is the issue of materials. Would I love to go for a long walk in the woods and gather up pine-cones or sticks to assemble into one of these fetching wreaths? You bet. Will I? Um, no.

But, there is a very real possibility that I have (or could have, in a few weeks) the appropriate amount of wine corks for this wreath. Perhaps it is the non-wreath-wreath that speaks most directly to my essence as a "person with holiday spirit." Or something.

yep...

...it's almost winter.

cough and cold care

Hey there, friends! Sorry it has been so long between posts, but I've been feeling a bit under-the-weather lately.

Against my will, I've managed to contract a gnarly cough--probably because it's been floating around the university since the beginning of October. I guess I should be impressed with how long my immune system held out! For now, though, I'm trying to lay low. Dress comfy. Take care of myself.

I've been drinking cups and cups of tea, mostly this kind and this kind.

I've been eating cough drops like candy, my favorites are these. But, I would love to try these homemade honey "cough pops" pinned first by Jess.

Last but not least, I've been trying to dress myself cozy--sweaters, layers, etc. Today, hilariously, I didn't realize until I was already out the door that it is 65 degrees out today.  I'm either burning up because of my four layers, or I have a fever. Or, both.

So, here's to a healthier rest of the week! I do hope you are all feeling well:)

book talk: good ol' mystery novels

So, I'm about halfway through this book:

I picked it up from the library, as it is the first book in the Stephanie Plum series, and I'd been reading reviews for Finger Lickin' Fifteen all summer. The cover for that one is pretty cool, too. Cooler than book one, for sure.

But, before I can leap into a series, I usually want to read the beginning first. So far, I'm intrigued by the spunky protagonist, Plum, and am willing to read a few more volumes to see how she develops. She is at the start of her journey in this first book, and so she has a lot to learn about the business she's gotten herself into (bounty hunting). I'm hoping she gains some confidence, some smarts, some ass-kicking ability. I guess, all things considered, it's good that I'm rooting for her. (it is reallyreallyreally hard for me to stick with a book where I despise, or even halfway-despise the protag.)

Usually, I turn my nose up at mystery novels. Aren't they formulaic? Aren't they for grandmas? Despite the fact that I've read a couple of scenes now where I've (literally) yelled at Stephanie Plum to be more alert--there's a guy in your bathroom, fool!!!, I've also been sucked into to the story and now have to see how it ends. Is this what reading the mystery genre is like? Is this why it is such a popular and lucrative genre? It's the equivalent of literary crack?

Because of my addictive tendencies, I'm now more determined to read a book that's been recommended to me for over a year:

 Anybody read it? Thoughts? Is it worth reading the series? What about mysteries in general--for or against?

Meatless Monday: feeling autumnal

Hey friends. Happy Monday! (ugh.)

I can just tell that this week is going to be a doosy. This past weekend was really, really nice--complete with friends, family and rest. And then, the week sort of hit me in the face.

So,  I'm craving comfort food, big time. Yesterday, I made my mom's apple cake, which I managed to slightly burn, but it still tastes good. Actually, over at smitten kitchen there is an apple cake recipe almost identical to my mom's--just leave out the walnuts, and layer the apples with the batter, so they're inside the cake rather than on top.

The funniest part is that Deb mentions that it is "her mom's apple cake," also. I see. Well, mom's of the world, unite with your delicious apple-cake recipes!!!

Tonight, I think I'm going to make a now-classic in our house: spaghetti with kale and parmesan. But, I did not invent this dish. Oh no, I was inspired by Molly Wizenberg's story about how she learned to love kale...

...now, at the time (our first year of marriage), I had never tried this mysterious ingredient, kale, before. This article made it seem so accessible. I've been obsessed with it ever since.

If I can make it by the store on my way home, though, I might pick up some black beans to try this meatless chili recipe that caught my eye instead:

It just looks super-easy and comforting. A win-win.

What about you? What are some of your chilly-weather, feeling *schmeh* comfort food recipes?

Audubon Birds

great blue heron

blue birds

flamingo

Aren't these prints breathtaking? 

As you can see, I've been a bit bird-obsessed these days. Maybe it's all the migrators, floating and swirling in the sky over the freeway as I drive to school. Maybe it's their hollow bones and bright plumage. Birds are just cool.

Hope your week is cool and swirling by nicely so far!