Notecards

For my mom, the Weenie lover.

- CAR -

Tuesday Inspiration

Initials, spelling words in the bedroom, kitchen, etc.

A Texas rug my mom got for my new apartment from Lane's, a very Waco store.

I was looking at personalized notepads on Shutterfly yesterday and started to order these...

But couldn't get a look I liked with the limited custom design elements.  And then, as I do with many things I see and consider buying, I thought, "I can make those!"  So I designed these and bought 5x7 card stock from Michael's for $5.

And the floodgates opened.  I could create different notepad/stationary designs all.  Day.  Long.

On the shopping front, there are some things I just can't make.  Like this Rebecca Minkoff bag I just bought, the first purse I've purchased since high school.

Next item on my Visa statement?  Shoes.  That I don't hate, can walk in, and don't make me a giant.  So I don't love shoes and have a difficult time motivating myself to go shoe shopping, but these Tory Burch Mid-Heels would certainly be welcome in my wardrobe.

- CAR -

One-way ticket to a new life

Just bought a plane ticket.  One way.  September 1, Dallas - New York City.

Manhattan here I come.  Oh, and by the way, I'll also be there this weekend.

- CAR -

Too hot to think

It has been 110 degrees all week.  And it's been over 100 degrees since... I can recall.  The entire month of July was in triple digits and we're going on the hottest summer on record.  So I haven't been doing much of anything besides going to the pool, staying inside, etc.  I'm babysitting the cousins this week, went into D today - we're prepping for our intern project presentation.  I'm not sure how we'll do, but I'm not entirely confident we'll win.  Nonetheless, the project was a good learning experience and, even better, a way to meet fun (wild) interns.

Don't think I'll see 90 degrees until I go to DC next Thursday!  Then I'm taking the good old Bolt Bus (which I took from NYC to Boston last summer to visit Mikkah) from DC to NYC on Monday!  I'll only have a night in my future home, but that is enough time in one of the most expensive cities in the world for now.  I can't believe that in one month I'll be in a new apartment, a new city, getting ready to start a new job... all excitement no nerves.

Is new job supplies shopping an acceptable replacement for school supplies shopping?

- CAR -

Essentials

I've always loved reading those articles in magazines and on blogs where you get a peek into someone's purse, or a smattering of the things they "just can't live without."  The people who do this are usually celebrities, and when I read these, I think to myself how much I would like to talk about my favorite products (weird, I know).  Well, I'll never get a chance to do one of those features (as far as I can tell), so I'll do one here.

1.  Iced Latte made with my Tassimo brewer.  My day literally cannot begin without one.

2.  Lululemon Braided Headband.  Restrains the mane while I crush miles.

3.  MacBook Air.  I'm fascinated by Apple and passionately love every product, software update, and accessory they contribute to this world.  I am weak and have mild scoliosis so I decided to get this over the 40-pound Pro.  It's lightning fast and I.  Love.  It.

4.  Kate Spade Organizer.  This was a graduation gift from Tassie.  I'm a thorough list-maker and enjoy the physicality of things on paper.  I'm more likely to remember my to-do's if they're written in ink.

5.  Mistral Provence Wild Blackberry Soap from Anthropologie.  Holy sweet smelling soap.  This will be the only thing in my shower for the rest of time.

6.  Always on my body: the heart necklace I got for my 21st birthday and my ring (Dad's birthstone bordered in mine, the diamond - obvi).  My dad got me the ring when we were in the Bahamas over Christmas and a few weeks ago he looks down at it and exclaims, "Where did you get that??!?!" ... Um, you bought it for me?

And now that this is looking like an excerpt from Stuff White People Like, I will sign off.

Home sweet home in Waco with a forecast of rain... grr.. even though the heat is excessive and never-ending, I saw enough gray skies in Ohio to last me a lifetime.

- CAR -

Busy week

Tonight I'm in a listing mood:

1. I have exactly two weeks left of my internship.  On Monday at the huddle meeting, they showed a newly completed D Brand video and who do I see in one of the flashing scenes but ME at a Dallas volunteer event I did with D in June.   

1. After the last intern breakfast at 8am Thursday August 11, I am going straight to the airport to fly to DC to visit Ned for a few days, then take a train to NYC to acclimate myself with the city and find a place to live.
2. Today I babysat some active kiddos at Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine - 25 miles away = 60+ minute drive in Dallas traffic.  Exhausted.
3. Tomorrow I'm going back to the waterpark extravaganza and then driving home to hang out with my mom for a night then watch the doggies while they go to Austin to meet Drew's roommate's parents.
4. My mom has been faithfully sporting the bracelet I made her, which has apparently attracted enough attention from her friends to make them want to buy some from me.  So I'm ordering supplies online and getting back to the beading board in the next few weeks!
5. Visited Tassie in Fort Worth last night and did our usual dinner at Joe T. Garcia's.  It was just so hot I lost more fluid than I drank and I didn't even get into the marg pitcher.  Does she really have her own home?  I had to help her with the dishwasher last night...

1. I'm going to Foot Locker Run Club's first meeting on Monday to start their 10K plan.  I joined the Dallas chapter but I'm hoping I can transfer it to NYC once I'm settled.  4 miles in 105 degrees?  Sounds good, just need a portable water bottle (or IV).

So, trying to fill my hours with leisurely activities in this last month of carefree unemployment!  I'll leave with this picture that makes me laugh hysterically (found in a recent issue of People I was reading this afternoon).  

Suryia and Roscoe - the best of friends.

- CAR -

Farmers' Market Dinner

I realize that this is my third post in a row about farmers' markets.  It will be the last one for a while I promise.  Last night, I used the produce mentioned in my last post to make a delicious, fresh, vegetarian dinner.

Smooth Tomato Gazpacho

This recipe is from the August issue of Martha Stewart Living.  My food processor doesn't have a "puree" setting so my soup, while good on its own, was even better as a sauce for the fritters.  As with all recipes I use, I altered it a bit from the original recipe.

2 pounds cherry tomatoes, halved and cored

1/2 English cucumber, peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped

1/2 onion, coarsely chopped

1 small garlic clove

2 ounces blanched almonds, toasted

1/3 cup water

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Splash of balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper

• Puree (or grind) tomatoes, cucumber, onion, garlic, and almonds, water, vinegar, oil, and 2 1/4 teaspoons of salt in a blender until smooth; season with pepper.
• Refrigerate for at least 45 minutes (the flavor is so much better after it sits in the fridge for a while).  Drizzle with oil, and season with salt and pepper just before serving.

Zucchini Fritters

This is another Martha recipe.  I used yellow summer squash instead of zucchini.

2 medium yellow summer squash

1 medium onion

1/2 cup grated pecorino Romano cheese

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro (recipe called for parsley)

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh oregano

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Extra-virgin olive oil, for frying

• Grate squash on the large holes of a box grater (I roughly chopped them and put them in the food processor for about 4 pulses).  Place squash in a paper towel and squeeze dry.  Repeat with onion.
• Mix together squash, onion, cheese, flour, and herbs.  Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.  Stir in eggs just before frying.
• Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat.  Working in batches, coat skillet with 1 to 2 tablespoons oil.  Scoop mounds (2 tablespoons each) of the squash mixture into skillet; flatten slightly using a spatula.  Cook until golden brown and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Transfer fritters to paper-towel-lined plates to drain.

The recipe suggests serving these with plain yogurt and apricot jam, which I thought was too brunch-y for dinner, but sounds yummy.

Roasted Corn on the Cob with Cilantro Lime Butter

This one is from Food Network.  The farmers' market corn was absolutely incredible but oh how I wish we had a grill.

2 ears of corn, shucked

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves

1 lime, zested and juiced (or, if you have to shop at Kroger in Dallas, TX, 2 Tablespoons of bottled lime juice - don't they grow limes in Texas?)

2 teaspoons salt

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Mix butter, cilantro leaves, lime, and salt in a small bowl.
• Coat each ear of corn in the cilantro lime butter and wrap in foil.
• Roast until hot and steaming, about 30 minutes.

I've made Martha's homemade bread recipe and found that all of her recipes have a similar theme: they are labor-intensive (relative to most things I make) but very delicious!

- CAR -