goodbye, Spring….hello, Summer!!!!!!

Hello, everyone! Yes, I am still around. It’s been a GREAT Spring….After a long, painful winter of bar study, bar exam, and waiting, I found out a passed…got a job, and spent the Spring unwinding and trying to enjoy life once again.  That transition, however welcome it may be, certainly doesn’t happen overnight!  Every weekend’s been jam-packed with things to do, even when I try to slow down.

So I’ve got a vacation coming up – New Orleans….I haven’t been on vacation in a long time…I haven’t been in a vacation that lasted more than two days…in Oh, six years.  SO YEAH I AM EXCITED!!! To celebrate I got a few things, including this L Space Bikini from (top here and bottoms here) and these Elan linen pants from Everything But Water. I LOVE THAT PLACE!!! ….although I WOULD like them to add a reviews/comments section on their website like they have on say, Piperlime or Gap.  It would really help me with sizing and fit-related comments.

Soooooo I opted for the “full coverage” bottoms and let me tell you I would NOT want to wear the “brazilian” cut because these babies are skimpy enough as it is!  The pants looked large and flowy so I got a small and basically it was so tight I had to get a large and really even an Extra Large probably would’ve sufficed.  I wear a 2 or 4 pant so these sorts of sizing quirks should be on their website!

 

 

 

 

I’ve also been running and doing hot yoga, although neither as much as I should.  After this past winter I’ve really been enjoying the down time.  I DID invest in some new workout clothes to help motivate me…it helps!

The first night we found ourselves with nice weather for balcony dinner you bet your ass that’s what we did…I got these long plates from CB2, awesome for tacos, among other things….

I graduated!!!  Well, actually I’ve been finished since December, but let me tell you, the ceremony was WAY more fun having known I had a job and a law license.

I read that mirrored-lens aviators are SO HOT RIGHT NOW, and so I got some cheap-o ones at a mall kiosk in silver and some other fun colors.  I am loving them way too much and of course the lenses are already getting crappy…I just may have to pick out a nicer pair to get.  My boyfriend just got these from Oakley and I am super jealous…

Have you been to a bar/art studio whatever you call it?  I don’t know what to call them..basically you go with a group of friends, drink wine or beer and sit on a stool with a canvas and follow the instructor’s step by step instructions to paint a picture.  It was super fun!  The one we went to just opened in Over the Rhine, it’s called Cheers to Art. I know there are other ones around my city such as Paint by the Glass…if you have one in your area you should really try it out! It’s a nice change of pace from the usual bar/club/restaurant scene.

 

We hit up a Reds game and I decided to get into the Cincinnati Reds spirit with a t-shirt from Old Navy. I really think this is my first ever Cincinnati Reds shirt.  Being from Cincinnati that’s kind of shameful.  Oh well, I am not much of a baseball fan! It was super fun though.

We’ve been trying to make some of the hundreds of recipes I’ve pinned on Pinterest, including this one.  Homemade pizza with ricotta, lobster, avocado, eggs, among other things….We excluded the peppers and got pre-made dough from Trader Joe’s.  It was delicious and super easy!!!

Our pool opened so I’ve been there nonstop.  I LOVE swimming pools. I hope some day to have one of my own.  I have tried to stay out of the sun the past few years – wearing lots of hats and slathering on the sunscreen…I haven’t had a tan since summer 2006.  However, I decided this summer to give myself a self-indulgent break from that healthy habit and take in all the Vitamin D I can handle.  It was a long, dark winter and I deserve it!

So, apparently men wearing tank tops is all the rage right now, at least it appears to be the case based on my limited exposure to grown men who play rugby…as for the rest of the male population, it’s anyone’s guess….

 

goodbye, summer…

As summer nears to a close, it’s hard for me to believe it’s over already.  I really enjoy the changes in weather every season, but this summer just went by too quickly.  I took the summer off of school and enjoyed a lot of outside time at the park by my house.  Nothing makes me happier than winding down after work with a long run on a hot, humid, sunny day.  For me, the hotter it is out, the better.  I was lucky to have a lot of those days available to me the past four months!

When fall begins, I instantly get the urge to layer on more clothes, take longer naps, and eat.  It wasn’t too long after the first cool day a couple weeks ago when I started to think about the upcoming holidays and all the recipes I want to make. I am not much of a cook, but I am always willing to try to make things, and whenever I have a crisis, the boyfriend is always very willing to lend me a helping hand.  He is a little more comfortable in the kitchen than I am.

The popularity of blogs in recent years has changed the way I look at and learn about a lot of things, and cooking is no exception.  There are so many good cooking/baking blogs out there.  They have great recipes, made even better by the fact that they capture their works with beautiful photographs.   They usually come with extensive instructions, and better yet, if you have any questions, you can leave a comment or email a question, and the cook him/herself is usually more than happy to answer it directly. Others will leave comments as well, offering suggestions or alternatives on their own attempts at a recipe. I still enjoy a good cookbook, but you just cannot get that sort of interactivity out of a cookbook.

Here are a few of my favorite cooking, baking, and drink-related blogs:

Smitten Kitchen

via http://www.smittenkitchen.com

The author of this blog, Deb, makes and photographs all the delicious recipes from her 42 square-foot NYC kitchen.  She has a variety of baked goods and other recipes that are all made from scratch, but still easy enough, with her instruction, to try at home.

A Cozy Kitchen

via http://www.acozykitchen.com

This blogger/chef really likes breakfast food, a personal favorite of mine.  She also offers a variety of different types of recipes, including desserts, meals, and other goodies that to me fall within the “comfort food” category.

Spoon Fork Bacon

via http://www.spoonforkbacon.com

If you like bacon, this is the blog for you.  Not all the recipes include bacon, but there are many that do, often in interesting ways, such as these Bacon Gruyere and Green Onion Scones, or even more unique, Salted Caramel and Candied Bacon Ice Cream.  I love the salty/sweet combination so I have a feeling I would enjoy that!

Tokyo Terrace

via http://www.tokyoterrace.com

This blogger, Rachael, is an American living in Tokyo.  She offers a variety of recipes, including some Japanese-influenced dishes.

Joy the Baker

via http://www.joythebaker.com

She offers a variety of great baking recipes, including some unique ones like these Lemon Meringue Pie Milkshakes.

Bakerella

via http://www.bakerella.com

Tackling the decorations on some of the baked goods on this site are not for the faint of heart.  Though the skills of this blogger can be very intimidating, such as her Garfield Cake Pops seen above, she offers a lot of step by step directions for recipes that are fitting even for a beginner like myself.

Chocolate Covered Katie

via chocolatecoveredkatie.com

This blog includes SO many low fat, low calorie dessert recipes, such as this Raw Chocolate Fudge Cake, above.

Alcademics

via http://www.alcademics.com

And finally, if you’re bored of the same old beer or vodka soda and are feeling a little ambitious, try out one of the beverages on this site.  This blog has so many recipes for mixed cocktails, including some with some very unique ingredients or combinations.  All the drinks look like a work of art.

Are there any food or drink websites that you enjoy??

Memorial Day Weekend 2011 ~

It’s been a wonderful weekend. There was a lot of eating and organizing of the bedroom (more on that later). The bf’s second job for the entirety of our relationship has been at the bar up the street. This was his last weekend, so he will be around more!  We found lots of time to cook this weekend! In addition to purchasing some of the usual Memorial Day-type staples at the grocery (Doritos, cake, etc.), we also made some reubens and some parmesan/tomato/pesto salmon steaks 🙂

I went to Ikea on Memorial Day to get some more shelves for the bedroom organization. Lucky for me, the bf was watching Bobby Flay on Food Network, and when I got home, he immediately followed suit by taking one of the ideas he saw – grilling some Nathan’s hotdogs and topping them with some homemade salsa, guacamole, and crushed Doritos.  They were delicious! He soaked corn cobs in milk, butter and sugar for awhile and then grilled those. It was like kettlecorn! So that was my weekend. How was yours??