Is there anything more therapeutic than strolling through Target, your REDCard at the ready in your pocket, no place to be and no one to be responsible for? Target seems to have the answer to everything within each aisle you peruse.
I especially love their shoe selection. Unabashedly full of designer knock-offs, but though the price point saves you some dough, the quality and comfort feels surprisingly more expensive. This summer my focus is on footwear that I can quickly slip on as I head out the door and just as effortlessly kick them off when I want to dip my tootsies into a fountain or some lush green grass. Summer should have an ease, no?
I'd take the laces out of these sneaks for some seriously easy slide action. And look at those sweet summer patterns - florals and gingham and stars, oh my!
Speaking of Target, have you seen the Instagram account targetdoesitagain? It consists of someone walking around Target or Target.com and pointing out all of the cute stuff you need or (more likely) don't need. Warning before you follow - it's inexplicably mesmerizing and addictive!
I've spent this year in awe of my friendships. How did I get so lucky to run across and snag these special and warm kindred spirits? This evening, I've been thinking about a few of them.
I have a friend who when you say his name, the reaction is, "ohhhh, I LOVE said friend!!". Every. Single. Person. Every. Single. Time. No exceptions. He is loved by everyone for every reason.
I have a friend who seems so prim, proper, and perfect, but is actually the goofiest, most endearing creature you could imagine. You feel so lucky that you took the leap to get to know her.
I have a friend who is like a sister, and who I never have to explain myself to. She is whip-smart, creative, beautiful, caring, and always up for a laugh or an adventure.
I have a friend whose smile can make anyone swoon. He makes you feel so special, so interesting. But really, he is the one who is the most special and most interesting and filled to the brim with all the love. Everyone wishes to be in his circle.
I have a friend who I can trust beyond belief. She is the best partner in crime, and can always be relied on in coolness, stealth, brains, style, and getting things done. There is nothing she lags behind on.
I have a friend who is so intuitive and has such a connection to humanity, that the words she strings together will bring any breathing human to tears, belly-laughs, or stunned introspection. She always knows exactly the right thing to say in order for you to feel that all is right with the world.
I have a friend who is the most Type A person I have ever met, but in the best way. Her black & white instincts are only matched by her huge heart that beats so strongly for those she cares about.
I have a friend who has no equal when it comes to talents - in humor, in voice, in heart, in mind. Every part of him is enviable and he is willing to share all of it.
I have a friend who is laughably lovable. Everything she does, she does with passion, and no one can (or wants to) escape the love and wickedly intriguing humor and smarts that she brings to a friendship.
I have a friend who is sneakily powerful. She can listen and somehow be there for you in any situation, no matter the distance, no matter the drama. She gives everything and yet does not hold a grudge to those who cannot step up to her royal status.
I have a friend who I've yet to find a fault in. His talent, sense of adventure, fierce loyalty, incredible thoughtfulness, and amazing humor is something that attracts loads upon loads of friends, yet each of us feels like we are his "best". You feel so lucky that he picked you.
I have a friend who I yearn to be like, but always lets me know that I'm enough as me. She is someone that everyone knew would achieve great things in life, and not only has crossed that finish line, but has signed up for another marathon of greatness.
I have a friend who is the most creative person I know - and I've known her a long time. There is nothing that she doesn't bring beauty to, and there is nothing that matches her beauty.
Thank you, friends, for accepting my Application For Friendship. xo
5 things that are giving me some feels this Friday:
Every day is a breaking news day now. I wake up to my phone dinging alerts, and I usually require myself to take a deep breath before reading them. The 24-hour coverage is addicting, and I know I'm not helping anyone, including myself, by saturating my mind and heart with it day and night. Yet, I still want to be informed in these bizarre times. As a solution, I've tuned out most cable networks and instead get The Daily, a Monday-Friday podcast via the New York Times. It gives me a brief overview of the pressing topics without too many talking heads. I also am hooked on the more biased, but more amusing Pod Save America. It is witty and savvy political talk hosted by Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer and Tommy Vietor.
I kind of miss living on an island. That's why THIS house is so intriguing to me! I especially like the idea that someone would really need to make an effort to come and visit me, hahaha. The downside would be the lack of food delivery options. It reminds me of THIS article I read years ago documenting a NYC actor who had to row, row, row his boat through a New Jersey lake in order to hang his hat at home every night. Would you want to live on your own private island? More importantly, would you come visit me? ;)
Prior Lake, Minnesota
Did any of you watch the acting class that was HBO's Big Little Lies? Those ladies all went to the special place. So good. (Plus, it stars theater-lover/critic, Iain!) I whipped through the series, and am now doing the same with the Liane Moriarty novel it was based on. It's worth reading as there are quite a few differences between the TV show and the book, and it's such a quick, entertaining story. I bought the soundtrack after seeing the first episode. There is something so mesmerizing about that opening song, and listening to the tracks brings me right to the mystic and majestic coast of Monterey, so beautifully shot in the show.
I have a little balcony in my news digs. I moved in at the end of fall and dreamt all winter and spring of delicious summer and how I would plant a not-so-secret mini garden to revel in. My two modest herb planters are quite happy. So nurtured, in fact, that I need more ideas of how to put them to good use. One successful experiment has been to make various herb infused simple syrups that I mix into sodas or, more likely, cocktails. The other day I made a simple syrup, substituting some of the sugar with honey and steeping a decent handful of lavender in the hot liquid. Once cooled and strained, I combined the syrup with freshly squeezed lemon juice and a hefty pour of vodka.
And with the last few days of humidity making it "feel like 120 degrees", who doesn't need a Lavender & Honey Vodka Lemonade?
I recently read What I Know For Sure. Oh, Oprah. You know so many things for sure!
I'm not positive if she was quoting someone or speaking her own words, but she talked about how "balance lives in the present". I've been feeling sad about the past and overwhelmed about the future, so this seems like a good mantra to repeat as needed.
Hope you all have a balanced and present-minded weekend, taking advantage of the summer sun.
Ohhhhhhhhh gee. 2016. There is so much to say, yet hard to find the words. And then came 2017. Where someone arrived uninvited to my party. For four years, supposedly. But, we are going to swallow all of that for now (this blog has never been about the real, serious issues in life) in order to talk about a wee little holiday - St. Patrick's Day. My mom, who has been quite the family genealogist for the past decade, informed me that our Irish roots stem from the: Rafferty, McCartney, Fitzgerald, Farrell, Ryan, Barry, Budd and Taylor clans. (Did you just find out you are related to me?) A few of those lads and lassies made a new life for themselves in the expansive Midwest of the United States. You know, immigrants. Oof, there we go with the current complicated life problems that I'm trying to avoid...back to silly, fun, observations and frippery. Like alcohol! And chocolate! Everything is OK!
Mmmmm
Is there any dessert more comforting than pudding? I'm not sure if it is the texture or the name or the fact that you eat it with a spoon, but I don't know one person who doesn't release a little bit of stress when they hear pudding is in their future. In case there is still some tension hanging on, let's add some adult beverages to the mix. Ahh...now we are feeling all is good, right?
Friends
I had seen some version of this recipe floating around every year and finally had the resolve (and the ingredients) to make it.
The stout brings out the depths of chocolate and will cook off enough not to make any under-aged partakers loopy. You can substitute plain whipped or chantilly cream for those young folk, but for the elders, you are in for a treat with this addition! I will give you fair warning: the Bailey's-laced whipped cream is so addictive. You will want to dollop it on anything you ever put into your pie hole from this day forth.
You can serve this dessert via any vessel, but my favorite for the occasion were these mini pint glasses - shout out to North River Hops & Brewing! The pudding is so decadent and rich, that the small portion tends to be just the right amount for a special lucky treat. You can find similar tasting glasses on Amazon.
I used THIS simple recipe for the pudding and THIS (with the addition of vanilla) for the whipped cream "foam". Finished them off with some chocolate shavings, but I imagine green sprinkles or decorative sugar would be even more festive. Cheers, my friends!
Whether you are in a relationship, a single pringle, or on the dating scene, it can be difficult to find the fun and flirtation of Valentine's Day anymore. So much pressure, so little originality. No one wants to prove their love on a specific day of the year, along with the rest of the nation. And how much red and pink can one stomach?
Despite the above, I do have a special place in my heart for this overproduced holiday. I think it harkens back to the days of exchanging cheap little Valentine's Day cards that could be purchased at the local drugstore.
I was always very selective of the valentines I chose - they couldn't be too sappy, but they also couldn't be childish. It was important to incorporate the latest trend in cartoon characters or pop culture.
Some of my selections could probably be found among this list:
I have fond memories of those 80s-themed cards, but have you ever looked at even older vintage valentines? Warning: awkward and confusing images to follow.
Anyone else find these strange and slightly disturbing?
What's even more puzzling is how many of these cards involve food, most noticeably hot dogs.
Truly, there were many cards so very far up on the creepy scale, that I didn't even feel comfortable posting them! Ah, love...
Remember creating homemade boxes that you would tote to school and set on your desk eagerly awaiting to see which admirers would strike?
One February 14th, my teacher held a contest for the best Valentine's Day box. I can't remember what the prize was, but I was determined to be the winner. This would be a box beyond what any other 8 year old had imagined. You have to understand, I'm the girl that made a to-scale replica of King Tut's tomb out of gingerbread complete with brown sugar sand - I didn't mess around when it came to projects and first place. It had to be unique and it had to be show-stopping. My mom helped me devise a box that would play music when you lifted the flap and inserted the card. Then I went crazy with doilies and glitter and cut-outs and color and hearts. Happily, my creation received all of the attention I had hoped for when it was time for the official reveal. I was confident I'd be crowned the winner and practically glowed in anticipation of a champion title. That was until a buzz of giggles and exclamations began on the other side of the classroom. Seconds later, I could make out a "zoom-zoom" sound. That zooming noise belonged to a remote control car which my classmate had topped with a Kleenex box. My ornate musical box was quickly forgotten and my peers squealed with delight as the boy maneuvered the mobile box from desk to desk in order to collect his valentines (and praise).
To be fair, the kid deserved the win and somehow my excitement for Valentine's Day did not sour.
Other Valentine's Days that did not garner 1st place include:
The year I spent the entire rainy day gift wrapping boxes of chocolates in a theater's lobby as a bonus promotion for patrons that purchased tickets to a certain Broadway show. Super romantic.
Another Valentine's Day, I babysat until late in the evening, only to come home to discover I apparently didn't show up to a singing gig and devastated an entire theater community. Trouble was, I had never been told about this event. Not even a mention. Obviously a longer story. Obviously, super, super romantic.
Last year's Valentine's Day was the most exciting because I viewed the new home my parents were considering buying and ended up helping them to put an offer in on the spot. OK, so, still not at all romantic.
Actually, I don't think I've ever had a romantic Valentine's Day. Hmph! Well, I'm not giving up on the promise of one day being hit by Cupid's arrow, especially now that I know I am in a conveniently opportunistic location:
Thanks, doc - Sounds like my odds are good! Perhaps one year after meeting my love amongst the flora and fauna of Fort Tryon, we will celebrating Valentine's Day as an old married couple, waxing poetic such as this:
Oh, hello there! Remember me? Brown hair, sturdy scandinavian build, often have a baked good in my purse...?
No...?
Well, understandable. It's been a while.
When the calendar turned from 2015 to 2016, I thought about explaining why so much time has passed and delving deep into the emotional toll of those events. But that's not really what this blog has ever been about. I certainly over share, but the topics tend to be about gummy legos and picnic spots and dachshunds wearing hats.
So, I'm going to stick to the "likes", if that's OK with you. Since I missed posting at the New Year, I figured the Chinese New Year would be even better. In fact, it's the Year of the Monkey and what's not to like about monkeys?
I will say that 2016 has so much promise and I'm really jazzed to start living it. My attitude toward a chance at another year in this crazy miracle of a world is pretty much this:
