I love cookbooks.

It's been nice this week that I've had time to relax, read my new cookbook, and make a bunch of smoothies. This one is one of my favorites, just frozen peaches, almond milk and plain yogurt. I like it so much just for the color.

I got super natural every day, which is a great inspiration. There are so many great recipes, and the photography and design make me flip through it over and over again. She has a lot of grain salads for her lunch and dinner recipes, which at times are a bit intimidating, but I think it will be a push to try new things. One thing I've always loved about her recipes is how customizable they are. I'll have to let you know when I try them.


:: ps I love my new nail polish, which looked like a really bright raspberry in the bottle, but on my nails it has more of a red orange/coral tone. It's peach daiquiri by essie, which seems like a completely wrong name, but oh well.

I see the sun rise.

I've been trying out a new gym, and yesterday and today I went to spinning at 5:45am. That's extremely early for me, so early that when I come home it's even earlier than when I usually get up. Monday I also happened to meet another early riser, the bat that lives in our house. It was flying around the living room, and maybe I was a bit freaked out.

I couldn't find it, but last night he started flying around our living room while Tyler was home and luckily he somehow caught it and set it free outside. Gigi didn't even blink.

I really enjoy the extra morning time before I go to work. I can catch up on my real housewives, take some photos, make a smoothie, paint my nails, it's great! I don't think I'm going to get up this early everyday, but a few days a week is nice. I'm still a night owl at heart.

summer salad

I posted about this recipe last summer, but I just couldn't help it. Panzanella is one of my favorite meals. Especially with fresh summer tomatoes and huge handfuls of basil from my garden. Best with a big dollop with ricotta and preferably not eaten in public. It's not one of those salads that looks dainty when eaten. Or I think I was just so hungry I attacked it.

it's hot.

Like everyone else in the east, I'm trying to avoid the heat by just parking in front of my AC all day. Now I remember why I hate summer. I almost fell in love, and then it jilted me. I wilt in the heat. My sister just had to tell me that it's 63 degrees in Portland today.

I gave gigi a bath today to try and cool her down. Animals must get so hot with their fur. At least the heat is helping my garden, my peppers are going crazy! Hope you all stay cool, and have a popsicle.

summer crafts

I'm sure you've seen friendship bracelets all around by now. Big trend for the summer. I jumped on this bandwagon immediately. My sister and I decided to make ones for each other, and I'm a little late getting hers out (+ I ruined the surprise, sorry! It's in the mail).

Of course being me I couldn't just make one, I researched different styles, and made a couple bracelets before I had settled on what I wanted. I looked at some youtube videos for instructions and I liked this one, the girl is a bit wordy and has a bit of a know-it-all attitude, but it's really clear. One video by a 10 year old gave me the tip to use a clipboard.

After making some thicker bracelets, I had an idea to make a really thin one that would be a bit more minimal and casual. I made it extra long to go around my wrist twice to give a layered look. I wanted it to work while wearing it with other bracelets or alone. At first I was using thicker cotton floss, but I switched to a very thin 10g perle cotton, the kind I use for hand embroidery. It just feels more delicate and precious. I used 6 strands, 4 ecru, and 2 purple.

I say, jump on this trend! It's so inexpensive, and a nice way to spend the evenings.

twenty-niner.

We celebrated Tyler's birthday this weekend. Tennis, bowling, a pancake breakfast, late night naps, late night movies (HP!), and BBQ. I attempted a chocolate layer cake, which almost got the best of me. For some reason I have a jinx with chocolate. One of the things I love about Tyler is that he always loves what I make, while I'm beating myself up about how I messed up.

Happy Birthday to my best friend, he's one of the best guys around.

little big change.

This morning I painted my nails a skin matching purple. Don't know if I like it, it's a nice subtle change, but I don't know if it's going to stay long. (nice is nice by essie).

Got a summer cut, shortest ever! The humidity felt so gross with my heavy bangs, so I decided to go a bit shorter this time, and I love it. I'm still getting through that phase where I imagine my hair one way and then I do a double take when I look in the mirror. Definitely makes me try to dress a little more feminine.

At the present I'm waiting for my best travel buddy to pick me up for a mini road trip to Pittsburgh. It's kinda funny that I was just there, but I'm ready to eat more amazing food! (what my life pretty much revolves around.)

See you soon!

quick trip.

We went to Pittsburgh this weekend, and did the things we love to do in that city. See the cubs play the pirates (and the cubs lose terribly), eat great food, shopping and exploring. It's one of my favorite places to visit. It was a perfect summer weekend. I only complained about the heat a few times.

new things

:: friendship bracelet from my sis (yours is getting put in the mail soon I promise).
:: vintage jar from Norway, perfectly picked by my mom.
:: playing around with new materials
:: nail polish. when Tyler tells me multiple times: "that color is so cute" (and he even says the word cute) I know it's a winner.
:: my polish has been on for over a week in this picture so this new topcoat has definitely lived up to it's reputation.
:: chicken wire reinforcements to keep the animals from climbing up our stairs to our deck (nibbling on my plants).
:: serrano peppers!

I've been raining on my own parade.

taken last week during a sunny crazy storm

I always feel a bit mixed about summer, I'm a total heat wuss, and would much rather be bundled up for the winter than in humid heat. Also, my work schedule changes, and I have a hard time getting used to it because I'm not as productive when my day hours are taken away. I've been feeling a bit down because I don't know if I have a true direction or focus right now for my future. I have time to focus on the projects I want but I feel stressed that I'm not busy and stressed, but then when I'm busy and stressed I just want to have time to do what I want. It's a vicious circle. Oh my mind.
I'm really trying to change my thoughts about summer. It's been great so far, and I even went swimming this weekend. (if you know me, that's pretty major) I am learning to embrace my free time, I know in the future I won't have this luxury. I just started a ceramics class from the university, and my teacher is a delightful russian grandma who scolds. Her accent is very thick, at times she is really hard to understand and says things like: "Clay is like voo-man, it like to be controlled."

It was nice to work with my hands and not feel like I need to be perfect at it, I'm just enjoying the time to be learning something new. A little summer camp. I think we all need a little camp.

So even though I think my life is still a bit aimless, I think it's important to just think about the present. I look too far ahead and it freaks me out. Right now I'm going to focus on making some friendship bracelets, throw some clay, and embrace summer as I should have all along.