Marvelous Mondays

- I want this salad!  I wish I was in Florida for citrus season.

- If you've seen the Trident Vitality commercial, you know you love the song.  I did some research and here's the full song by Martin Solveig and Dragonette, Hello.

Start an herb garden... or a complete container garden?

This past Saturday, I went to the most inspiring lecture about herbs.  You'll notice in the picture below that there are people here, in the DC area, that have a lot of luck growing their own herbs (and there were at least 4 tables full of plants such as these as well as take home treats for the participants). 

Now, I can't tell you I'm not still intimidated and overwhelmed; in fact, I am mostly terrified.  I don't want to fail- no more witnessed plant deaths please?  But I met such wonderful people (and even got some free, started plants like eggplant, mustard greens, and squash) and a few of them agreed to help.  So now, I am the proud gardening buddy of two new friends in MD! Horray! 

See, sometimes I would just get the suggestion: READ this BOOK!  I've learned about myself that I need human interaction to learn, and I would much rather see a demonstration than look at a diagram. So these buddies mean the world to me.  

As for now, I'll start planting spinach, lettuces, and snow peas next week (yep, I've moved beyond herbs into container veggies! Hopefully these guys will help me in the future (see below):

my take home garden collection

I left the Montgomery County Mini-Conference feeling high on gardening, and even daydreaming about going back to school for a degree in agriculture.  Now, if you know me, you know this is a bit odd.  But, I think it just may be the next move...

Things I Love Thursdays

visitors to DC - America's Next Top Model marathons - sunny days - fluke 70 degree weather in February - Kayak.com and looking for deals on flights out of the country... I could do this for hours - weekends trips with Ben

Annapolis for Valentines Day weekend

French Onion Soup (I haven't had it in soooo long, but it is soooo good!) 

informational interviews - walking around downtown DC, makes me feel important - dinner with new friends - THAI, especially drunken noodles - daytime runs - personal training (just wish it wasn't so expensive) - red lipstick, every once in a while - Gatsby parties, pictures to come

All in all, despite a horrible haircut and stolen wallet, its been a good week! 

Marvelous Mondays

- I want an ice cream machine just so I can make this gelato!  I tried pecan gelato once before and it is amazing.  Is it obvious I love ice cream (even in the winter).

- I think I need to add an ice cream maker to my wishlist! 

- These drink recipes worked out really well at the party this weekend!  I especially liked the Mary 

Pickford.  

Things I Love Thursday

dogs, even though she wines a lot 

quick dinners at home that are even better than going out

I love ORCHIDS! 

Thrift store finds that fit perfectly!

my talented, adorable friend that makes super cute hats! 

stolen:(photo by Danielle G.)

Marvelous Monday

- I think I mentioned in my first Monday post that I loved looking at dogs in costumes.  But what I've realized is that they don't have to be in costumes to be the cutest things ever.  Check out this awesome DC pet photographer here.

- I admit it, sometimes I look at Etsy.com for inspiration knowing that I can't really afford to be buying art with no income.  Here's my latest obsession- lighting, especially this.

- If you live in DC and you like wine, this store is amazing.  I'm no connoisseur but the owners of this place sure are.  They have limited hours, but stop in, and you will be pleasantly surprised.

- I want EVERYTHING from HomeRule, seriously.  If you ever want to get me a gift, I can assure you I would love absolutely anything from this place.  Soooo cute!

Try 15 New Recipes: Seared Steak and Spicy Rice Noodles

Wow!  I am sooo late with this posting.  Ben and I made this meal what seems like FOREVER ago!  Since making it this time, we've already made it again because it is soooo delicious.

Let me take a minute to tell you about CHOW.com.  I first found this site when I was looking for ideas for appetizers for our holiday party.  They had some great recipes (with wonderful photography, which I am a huge sucker for).  But check it out!  You can even create your own profile and save recipes to it.  I have at least 25 recipes saved that I hope to make at some point.  And CHOW is how I found the recipe for Seared Steak with Spicy Rice Noodles:

  

I started by collecting the ingredients for the vinaigrette and set Ben to work putting it together.  Although often I would substitute some of these ingredients if I didn't have them, I made a point to buy them all and they worked perfectly together.  I wouldn't change it if you can avoid it. 

    

Then onto the bok choy, which I had never made before, and now love.  It adds the perfect crunch!

Who can say no to a mid-preparation drink?

    

Steak, noodles, and the finishing touches...

a little mix...

Top with chopped peanuts and a lime wedge, and there you have it! 

 A perfect meal.

I recommend this meal whole-heartedly.  Because this is most definitely not my recipe, I haven't listed it here.  But find it here at on CHOW. 

**one more quick note: I rarely follow recipes, I'm horrible at it.  I like to take creative licence.  But I forced myself to follow this recipe perfectly and it was DELICIOUS.  My only change would be to make the noodles and bok choy later (they got cold).  I would start them just after starting the steak.

Update: Start an Herb Garden

My herbs died.  For real. I don't know what I did wrong, but they are no longer.  Fortunately, I'll be going to a gardening workshop later this month!  Hopefully they'll renew my zeal.

Things I Love Thursday

French butter dishes - dinner with friends - Bodega - craft stores - Apartment Therapy 

check this out! it keeps the butter at perfect spreading temperature

 Ro-monster - crocheting (although I can't do it myself just yet) - dreaming about Brazil (even though I'm not going to go right now) - lazy mornings - sleeping in - sunshine in the winter - COLUMBUS! - inexpensive beer - rice noodles - Honey Bunches of Oats - pecans - brushing my teeth - a reason to wear glasses all the time

I was feeling sick all this week so it was a little harder to find things I love- here's to a new week!

Marvelous Mondays

- What do you think of avocados in cupcakes?  Check out a recipe here. (from Danielle)

Who doesn't love avocados?  And everyone loves Danielle!

looking funky

- I am almost entirely sure that you had no idea a sheep could run like this.

- I just learned about this TV show on Sundance Channel called Man Shops Globe.  I haven't watched it yet but I'm definitely psyched to.

- If you live in Columbus, you should definitely check out Old World New Home in the Short North.  The furniture is awesome and the owners are wonderful. Note: They do have a new address and are now right next to Northstar.

Oh how I loved being in Columbus this weekend.  Most of the time was spent just hanging out with three of my FAVORITE people: Danielle, Sam and Romain.

Here are some highlights:

Friday:
Three craft beers and two appetizers to share with the table at Bodega, total price: $17.50!!!  With more than 60 beers on tap, this place is AMAZING, and the crowds at 5pm are proof.  Their happy hour runs from 4-8pm with half off of all drafts (this means $2 for high quality beers such as Ommegang Abbey Ale and other delicious varieties).
           
                               I hope you can see in my face how much better it tastes at $2.50

You may think this bargain happy hour was the best possible part of the evening, but not at all!  When we arrived back at home, there was a SURPRISE PARTY IN MY HONOR! Absolutely fantastic and the most kind thing I can remember.  Danielle and Sam are two wonderful people and great friends and I don't think they even knew that I've always wanted a surprise party.  My closest friends in Columbus were all there and I had NO IDEA that it was happening, not even a hint!!

Saturday:
Danielle and I met up with Jihyun at Cafe Appropos!  I LOVE this cafe and spent soooo much time there as a student at Ohio State.  If you're a student now and you haven't been, GO.  And spend lots of time there.  A cafe and wine bar with craft beers on tap and food, this place is a one stop shop for just about anything: studying, drinking, eating, dating... If only I could move into the apartment that's for rent just upstairs (too bad I like DC).  But for those of you in DC who want cheaper rent, based on other rents in Columbus, you could probably live in this prime location for approximately $150/month (ok, maybe a little more, but much better than my $1000 rent).

Then we checked out some home decorating stores on High Street (and I talked to all the store owners forever, probably driving Danielle crazy).  You should really check them out though: Inside (where Concrete Jungle used to be) and Old World New Home.  Then we had amazing brunch/lunch at Northstar.  I LOVE the Cowboy breakfast with sausage: two eggs, a fresh buttermilk biscuit with cherry preserves, and local sausage patties.

For dinner, Sam, Danielle and I went to Pho Asian Noodle House in Upper Arlington.  Their brothy, huge pho soups are perfect (in taste and price).  It's also very enjoyable to eat delicious Vietnamese food in a redecorated former Taco Bell.  They even kept the drive-thru.

Sunday:

Sam happens to be an awesome organist and plays on Sundays at a church on campus.  So Danielle and I trekked accross the icy Ohio State campus to a 10:30 service.  Afterwards, we went to lunch at Aladdin's with Sam, Marvin and Romain.  Aladdin's, which apprently also has some locations near DC, has always been my go-to for Middle Eastern food (especially hummus).  And their chicken lentil-chili is so good.  But I tried the 'almond salad'... gross.  The Chocolate Bomb, amazing.

After lunch Danielle and I went to Wholly Craft which is a great handmade craft store that sells on a consignment basis for local and national artists.  My favorites include: Ohio apron with beer pocket, Ohio shaped wooden coasters, and crocheted nipples.

Our last stop before the airport was Jeni's. Even if you are absolutely sure that you've had the best ice cream you will ever have, you are WRONG.  Jeni's is THE BEST.  Even the most random flavors are delectable.  My favorite this time was Olive Oil and Sea-Salt Pepitas.  I always love Salty Caramel and Queen City Cayenne. (pictured: Banana Cream Parfait; Trio: Salty Caramel, Brambleberry Crisp, and Olive Oil with Sea-Salt Pepitas; the awesome Short North location)

What an excellent weekend...

Things I Love Thursday

This week I'm loving:

informational interviews - meeting people from Cleveland - being asked if I'm from the midwest on the basis of my accent (I LOVE IT, and will take any and every opportunity to say I'm from Ohio) - Trader Joe's greek yogurt - personal training - running in cold weather - heating pads and space heaters - droid calendar linked to google calendar - guilty pleasures: Glamour magazine, MTV "I Used to be Fat," copious amounts of potato chips - strawberry and granola parfaits - having a washer and a dryer at home

my roommate and our honorary roommate

bok choy - food photography - spicy beef noodles (recipe to follow) 

action shots

DANIELLE - trips to Columbus (though I wish I was going for longer) 

occasional self-indulgent photo shoots with shots like this :) 

too much foam - Trader  Joe's, in general, but also their beer

Obviously this week I'm also very into photos, I'd really like to get a new camera.  Considering my recent unemployment, I'm not sure now is the time to get one....  but maybe it's just the time!