As Our Own (Formerly Charasia)

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Red Velvet Whoopie Pie FAIL

My man requested these for his birthday, but then 94 people baked us something that week, so I waited. 

 Uh, I am SO glad I didn't present these to him for his birthday.

It's less like a red velvet and more like a cow pie.  With delicious icing.  That you can't get to because you don't want to taste the cow pie.

So I emailed the author of Baked, Matt Lewis, asking why they taste like chalk.  When he wrote back saying he couldn't figure it out and this was one of the favorite recipes, I threw them all against the wall.

Not really.

2.24.11

Dear Husband,

I keep the breakfast/dinner table stocked with toys because you are a much better talker/listener when you can fidget.  Since I started doing this, our dinner talks have sometimes lasted hours.  I dig this.  My former co-worker (woot!) told me to tell you that she is proud of you for standing behind me when I make big life choices.  I second that motion. I am ready to jet this weekend.  Maybe I'll bring my new (still nameless) bike and teach you a few things.

Still not sure how my shifters work,

Wife

Blubies

Note to self:

 When it says 2 cups of blueberries 

It means 2 cups.

Not "Hey, Steph, ignore this and put the whole bag in.

Yeah, it does not mean 3 1/2 cups.

Which may or may not result in blue muffins.

Adapted from here.  Like majorly adapted.  Like I pretty much ignored the recipe.

Please share your grapefruit.

The other day, I rode my bike to an event I was volunteering for with these peeps and the Girl Scouts for GEMS (girls exploring math and science).  A few things about this:

1.  I was not a Girl Scout.  I was a Camp Fire Girl.  I did not have a troop number.  I don't think.  Either way, I love these organizations and what they do for girls.

2.  Way cool to be able to take a young girl to something like this and show her lots of things she could grow up to be in the math and science field.  We talked about being a Speech Pathologist and Audiologist.  I am neither of these, but I think they're awesome.

3.  Did you know you can go to apple.com and lock your kid's ipod at a certain volume so they can't damage their hearing?  4 high fives for Apple because right now, 12% of all kids age 6-19 have noise induced hearing loss.  From things like ipods.

So then I was riding my bike home and I saw this in a nearby neighborhood.

I would be lying if I told you I haven't thought about hopping that fence at night.  Because like heck they can eat all of those and Devin and I definitely can.

A Friday List for You.

1.  Word of advice.  Do not under and circumstances watch PS I Love You while your man is not home.  Never. cried. so. much. ever.  Worst movie in history for my emotions.

2.  Trying a run this weekend.  I've rested it forever and Jackie and Jillian have killed me enough to crave a run to loosen up those sore muscles.  Note:  if you are injured, do NOT run on your injury.  It will make it so much more long term.  Lesson learned.

3.  I also may or may not but mostly may be picking up my new road bike from here this weekend.  Swoon.  I need a name for her.  She will soon be friends with Ruby.  And any other bikes who want to play.

4.  On Tuesday, I get to start a new chapter of my life.  Excited to wrap this one up.  Here's to the meantime.

5.  My next cookbook purchase

6.  This morning, the man and I discussed this year's apartment garden over breakfast.  It's about that time!  For whatever reason, our tomato plant made it all the way through winter and is thriving as we speak.  Planning to try some herbs again, maybe some peppers.  Oh that I would have my own plot of land for digging.  Someday.  In the meantime, I know just who I can live vicariously through.

7.  2011 seems to be the year of the babies!  I am so happy for all of you sweet friends who will be blessed with a little.  How very exciting!  I have lots of gifts picked out.

Happy weekend, friends.

She's back!

You guys, remember when our dating hot spot / favorite coffee house hang out burned down?

She's back and we finally made it over there on our bikes to check it out.

Agora, you look the same!  

Except you don't have the sketchy 2nd story outdoor area anymore, which is probably better!  You still have the steep as you know what stairs!  

You still have the Greek faces that creep me out if I stare at them for too long and the best jukebox in the city!
You still have all the hipsters and the trendsters on their fixies with the jeans and the glasses and the neon.

We are so thrilled to see you back in action.

Agora, you complete us.

I have a thing for green soups

I love green soup.  It makes me happy.  It makes me feel like I'm eating something on Nickelodeon.  Or something Dr. Seuss cooked up.

This is PW's Spinach Soup with Gruyere the white cheese I already have

So delicious.  I lightened it up- subbed a lot of ingreeds.  She gets mad when you do that, but there is a piece of me that just canNOT add that much butter or cream to my dinner.  If you don't mind a thinner soup, it's still just as tasty!

2.15.11

Dear Husband,

Your favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning is work on bikes in your jams (and in your new apron made by yours truly) while watching commercial free man shows through our awesome internet-TV cord thingy.  Holler for no cable.

Apparently my favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning is take blurry pictures.  You did such a great job on that bike.  I know she will be happy with her new owner.

And in other news: Yesterday.  Delicious dinner.   Blurry Pictures.

Fun walk home.

Best Valentine's Ever. 

Thank you.

Wife.

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

Happy Valentine's Day.

I did some tweaking today 

For all 903894920237473 (by that I mean, like, 6) of you who have told me the blog doesn't work on Google Reader, it should be good to go.

Happy Friday!

2 Things That Are Good.

1.  Heartland Turtle Bars

Quite possibly one of the best things I've made in Baked.  If you want to be popular, and by popular I mean if you want everyone to eat everything you made so you don't have to take it home from the party, then make these.  Oatmeal, Chocolate, Toasted Pecans, Homemade Caramel.  And the angels rejoiced.

2.  Honey Corn Muffins

Truth be told, Devin and I lather our cornbread with honey, so this worked out quite well.  Oh to the em to the gee eat these with some of my chili (or I guess yours) and you will flat out keel over and croak and when they do your autopsy, they will conclude with "expired from eating too much awesomeness".

I really need to get out of health care.

Hey

Tuesday.

The husband arranged our breakfast fruit in a smiley face yesterday to prepare me for a happy day.  It was a happy day indeed.  One of the best ever.


I am a wee bit behind here as you can tell by the January banner.  But I'll get a good one up soon.  I'm very particular about those.  Sorry the blog has been lame-sauce.

I went to a Superbowl party and didn't watch one minute of the game, nor a commercial.  I am absolutely fine with this.  I did eat my face off though.

Been brainstorming some travel ideas with the mom.  Excited for that.

One of my favorite authors is doing a book reading in Austin in March.  Anyone want to come because I'm 137% sure that is Devin's idea of torture.


The other day I asked Devin 129347 either or questions while we searched for an open ice cream place in the middle of an ice storm.  He had to choose which profession I would be best at (I.e. Professional traveling BBQ cook-off competitor or Bodybuilder).  Let's just say my dreams (SWAT team, bounty hunter, Minnie Mouse at Disney World, stay at home wife (not mom)) never made the cut.

Things that made the cut:  Welder, bodybuilder, restaurant cook.  Awesome.

I feel like, if you are committed to someone, say via marriage, you don't necessarily have to let them know that they are your Valentine.  I figure that is assumed?  No?

I have good news and bad news.  The bad news is we did a bike fit on my road bike to fix my numb arms problem and found that I am mutated the bike may be too big.  The good news is this may mean a new bike is in my future.

I am running the best 10k I have ever heard of with my pen pal in April.  Bluebonnets and Bluebell?  I'll limp the race if I have to.

2.4.11

Dear Husband,

When the rest of the city has snow days (sans snow), and we have to go to work, we like to come home and play everything we would have played if we did have a snow day.  So last night, we put all 3 of our puffy vests on at once and jumped on the bed sumo style.

Due to my lack of jumping skills I may or may not have had to use a stool.

This morning, when you couldn't get the 4Runner out to go to work, you dressed up like Rambo and made me the best eggs of mah life all while checking the roads for my trek to the prison that has no mercy my place of employment.

Thank you for making my breakfast every. single. morning.

Happy weekend!

Wife

Baked French Toast. Holymoses.

Make Baked Baked French Toast

Present to man in your life for his birthday breakfast

Point for you.

I used Italian bread.  So good.

With raspberry sauce (next time I'll double it).  So good.

We ate the whole pan in a weekend.  SO GOOD!

Tiny Boxwood's

About half a mile from our apartment sits a lush, exquisite, and slightly hidden nursery.  Most have never noticed it, and some have no idea what is behind the sign with the quirky phrases.

It is to die for.

Thompson & Hanson built the nursery / landscaping business with a little shop at the front filled with home decor and unique pieces, but the secret weapon lies on the other side.  A quaint cafe was added to the back of their space, and there Tiny Boxwood's sits.  

It is at the top of the top of my favorites list, so naturally I treated myself to a bite there on my birthday.

The elegant shabby-chic design gives me the undeniable itch to rummage through a Pottery Barn catalog.

Grab a recycled wine bottle of water from the fridge at the front, and pick a spot if you can find one.  This was the only time I've been to TB when there was not a line snaking out the door.  But, if you do catch a line, a complimentary glass of lemonade will be waiting for you.

Mosey in on a lazy Sunday for brunch and have a rich cup of self-serve coffee accompanied by a delicious quiche or breakfast pizza, or grab an iced tea and stroll through the nursery itself.  I dare you not to take home a pepper plant.

And if you're stopping in during their wine and cheese hours (3:30-5), might I recommend the Terra Rosa Malbec and the French Picnic with a side of Real Simple Magazine.

Delightful.