Shell-shocked (in a good way)

Last night J and I drove to Brooklyn to pick up the last of my big stuff then spent the rest of the night at the apartment reorganizing his things and trying to find room for my stuff. I was flittering around stuffing stuff here and there and he stopped me with a smile and said, "Hey, are you happy?" It instantly calmed me down...I'm really great at getting myself wound up with the "to do lists." I returned his smile and said, "Are you?" And he said, "Super happy but also feel a little shell-shocked."  Which is exactly how I would describe it. I was actually thinking that very word. This is real now, neither of us can go home to escape one another. Haha

So now, today he's working and I'm in Brooklyn cleaning and getting odds and ends together and it feels so strange to strip yourself out of an apartment to make it look like you were never there. 

I'm almost done, and part of that is putting stuff out on the sidewalk for neighbors to claim. I put a stack of books, my occasionally glitchy copy of National Lampoon Christmas Vacation, some marbles, clay, and a kickball ball. I wish I was going to be here to see what goes first/last. The marbles were snatched up by neighborhood kids within minutes. 

. 

Happiest Christmas Tree

Santa! Christmas has arrived! 

I'm slightly fanatical about Christmas. I've been preparing J basically since we met about my obsession and then talking about getting a tree since summer. 

My family has always gone to cut one down ourselves. I think there is something special about seeing a tree amongst hundreds of others and deciding it belongs in your family. There is a song, "happiest Christmas tree," that I always think of when choosing a tree. 

I was determined to cut one down but all the determination couldn't compete with plain bad timing. We were going to go Friday after J was done working but then he ran late and the tree farm closed early, and we had a friend taking a train to come over so we didn't have time. I'm kind of surprised but I totally took it in stride and suggest a trip to Home Depot. I think I shocked J too. 

We got there and all of the trees were already bailed. J thought this was convenient. I thought it was an outrage and joked with another equally outraged customer. How will we know what it looks like?! I chose this little guy because the bottom was peeking out and it looked ok. 

We asked for help tying the tree to the and the guy came out with a roll of shrink wrap. Haha. I'm so sad my battery on my phone died because the process was hilarious. He wrapped through the inside of the car then over the roof tons of times making the car look like Thanksgiving left overs. J refused to use his phone for a picture out of embarrassment. The whole ride home other drivers were gawking and it's a Christmas miracle we didnt cause an accident. 

It all worked out though. Our tree is up, and all decorated and it makes me so happy. The apartment is in a state of chaos because of the great move-in but in one little corner there is a bright calm. I'm in love with this scrawny little tree.

Happy Stretchy Pants Day (aka day after Thanksgiving)!

Good morning! Are you all wearing leggings today?  I am! I'll probably be wearing them the rest of the week too.  Who needs skinny jeans, it's officially the holiday season! Eat, drink & be merry!*

How was your Thanksgiving?  It was my first Thanksgiving with J's family, so it was a little nerve-wracking even though it went great.  It's just hard integrating into someone elses family traditions, and letting go of your own.  Thanksgiving has never been my favorite holiday, I don't dislike it, but it was a little easier to let go of my family traditions for Thanksgiving and embrace his family food fest.  

I thought everyone had the same food for Thanksgiving, and maybe it's a Greek thing, but I was a surprised (and glutinously a little sad) that there where no mashed potatoes and gravy, instead they had roasted potatoes, still delish.  Or maybe I just missed my own family, so the lack of creamy potatoes was a reminder of how far away everyone is.  Big events always make me want to call my family a million times a day.  I think I talked to my dad 3 or 4 times on Thanksgiving.

Anyway, back to food...the stuffing was rice rather than bread, which again, was so incredible, but I was shocked at how much heavier my family Thanksgiving is.  They had a ton of food too, an enormous turkey, lamb, a gazillion veggie sides, but for the most part they were veggie based and light.  Maybe the heavy meal is an American thing.  The good news was that after I ate, I was stuffed but I didn't feel like I had a brick in my stomach, lol.  Maybe it's why Greeks live so long.  

Since it was my first Thanksgiving with them, I had to make a good impression so I was definitely agonizing over what to contribute the entire week leading up to Thanksgiving.  I knew I was going to make my famous rolls, but I originally planned to make individual apple bourbon pot pies. That idea was scratched when the guest list kept changing.  I was so worried I wouldn't make enough, or I'd make a lot and no one would eat it.  So I went with a pear with candied lemon peel pie.  Both turned out incredible, but again, bread isn't the focus of the meal like it is at my house, and only a few people ate rolls with dinner...more left overs for me.  

The pie was a Martha Stewart recipe, and it was surprisingly easy...except the lemon peel candying, which isn't terribly difficult, it was just time consuming.  I think in the future I'll make a big batch of the lemon peel and then save it in an airtight container ahead of time.  Then the pie will be a breeze.  Also, Martha had the pie served with this fancy butter crust, but I don't have a food processor, and didn't want to chance it not turning out, so I just used a pre-made Pillsbury one, and it tasted amazing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Let the baking begin!

I proofed my yeast and made dough last night. Now to form the rolls and hope they rise.

Then on to pies. I'm cheating and using Pillsbury pre-made dough but the rest is on me. Eek. Did I mention this is the first time cooking something for J's family? No pressure.  

The Weather Outside is Frightful

But it's kind of beautiful and the perfect day for my last day of my job, and for kicking off an unemployed holiday season. I'm hoping I can keep my brain from worrying too much and just think of all of the extra time I'll have with family and friends.

Since it was cold and snowy I made soup. 

I really love Smitten Kitchen's Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe, so I more or less just followed that. She's right, the browning of the chicken in the pan really gives the soup another layer of flavor, and once you've tried it, you won't go back to the old just boil it method. The only change I started making was to cook noodles separately. Unfortunately, you do lose a little by not having those noodles soak up the broth directly, but we never finish the whole batch at once, and then our noodles get soggy sitting in it. So now I boil them separately until they're almost done before draining them, then adding the broth and veggies and finishing the cooking the rest of the way.

Ingredients:
Serves 4
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
3-pound chicken, in parts or 3 pounds chicken pieces of your choice
8 cups water
1 bay leaf
2 teaspoons table salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large carrot, diced (1/3-inch)
1 medium parsnip, diced (1/3-inch) (optional)
1 large celery stalk, diced (1/3-inch)
3 ounces dried egg noodles, I prefer wide ones
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or flat-leaf parsley
 

Prepare broth: In a large (5-quart) heavy pot over medium-high heat, heat the vegetable oil. Add the onion and saute it for 3 to 4 minutes, until beginning to take on color at edges. Add the chicken pieces (if too crowded, can do this in two batches), making little wells in the onions so that the parts can touch the bottom of the pan directly. Cook chicken parts until lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

Add water, bay leaf, table salt and some freshly ground black pepper and bring the mixture to a boil.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and skim any the surface of the pot. Simmer pot gently, partially covered, for 20 minutes.

Transfer chicken parts to a plate to cool a bit before handling. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl (ideally, with a spout) and pour soup through it.

To finish and serve: Add diced vegetables and simmer them until they’re firm-tender, about 5 minutes. Add dried noodles and cook them according to package directions, usually 6 to 9 minutes. While these simmer, remove the skin and chop the flesh from a couple pieces of chicken, only what you’re going to use. You won’t need all of it in the soup. Save the surplus for another meal later in the week...tacos, salad, etc...

Once noodles have cooked, add chicken pieces just until they have rewarmed through (30 seconds) and ladle into serving bowls. Garnish with dill or parsley, dig in and let it fix everything that went wrong with your day.

MMMM...

Misplaced Apostrophe

Early this week, Kaitlin shared this little gem with me..."How to Make Your Last Name Plural This Christmas Season"

And then J and I accidentally stumbled upon this little grammatical catastrophe... Winners' cube. Apparently it belongs to all of the winners?

On a side-note we also lucked into going to "Discount Tuesday" and our movie was only $7.50 ea. I was way too excited about the deal and splurged on some Junior Mints. 

*P.S. this is an upscale theater...you'd never know it by the claw game in the arcade area. We were trying to decide if it was just really easy and a lot of kids won, or they just hadn't refilled it in forever 

Target(ing) Christmas

Earlier I posted about home, and then I went to Target. Maybe home is where the Target is. That store gets me every time. I needed a tree stand, and ended up with a tree stand, an adorable gift exchange gift, and a bunch of other stuff I didn't completely need. 

The one thing I can't find anywhere is glass ball ornaments! Does anyone know where I can get them? All I can find is those plastic ones and I don't want to hang disco balls on my...I mean our...tree. 

Where is home?

Last night I said something was at my house, and J asked if it was 'here' as in the apt I'm about to share with him. I said no, it's in Brooklyn, or maybe my parents' house in Washington. This got me thinking about the concept of home and how it becomes something less constant as you get older. Or maybe that's just me, as a child we lived in the same house as long as I can remember so my idea of home and family was also wrapped up in a physical location.

Here we are in front of our house on a rare snow day. Look at my mom's hair! Lol. And my outfit. Yikes. 

Please disregard my outfit, hair, and general look...my childhood wasn't a photogenic one.

I loved that house at 2325 Maple Street. My parents put so much into taking it from a tiny one bedroom house to a large three bedroom. I can't even be sure how many hours my dad spent remodeling it, move a wall here, add a new bedroom, double the size, add a bathroom, etc. When I was just about to graduate college my parents called to say they had sold the house and I was devastated. I literally sobbed like a baby. Haha. I cry easily...

All of our house pictures are of snow, but when else do you think, I know, I'll take a picture of the house?

They've lived in their new house for close to 10 years now I think, and even though I had my own apartment, their house felt like home. When I moved across the country to Brooklyn it took a while until I stopped feeling like I was just visiting and just about the time J and I started discussing living together my place started feeling like home. Ha! Of course! 

Now it's my last week in Brooklyn and while I'm sad that I'm leaving my neighborhood and apartment (it's really great), I realize that over the past few month especially it started to feel more and more like a collection of rooms and less a home, but I don't feel homeless. When I'm at J's/our apartment I feel like I can relax and just let the feeling of having a home sink in.  The cheesy line is, 'home is where the heart is' and maybe that's true. 

The Shortest Ryan Adams Fan in New York City

I think I first saw Ryan Adams perform in 2000, and I've been obsessed ever since.  There have been albums that are my favorite, and ones I love less, but if I can physically make it, I will go to his show anytime he's in the same town as me.  One year I fractured my ankle the morning of the show, and kept trying to convince my parents that I could still go.  I love bringing new people with me, usually a risky move, but his music is so eclectic, and his sense of humor so smart, that there is something for everyone.

This time J got to be my date, and I could tell he wasn't sure about it.  J has this weird musical preference of like classic rock, and metal.  The newer less stuff and/or non-metal stuff he's not super familiar with.  Lucky for him, Ryan Adams is a metal guy, too.   There were plenty of obscure metal references for him, and he's been telling me all day today that he had a good time.  It feels like he's overcompensating for his groggy reception on the train ride home.  The train was sooooo slow last night, it's terrible when there is construction and so there are speed limits, but that's a different story for a different day.

Back to Ryan Adams, my favorite....

Opera Fancy

Thursday night we went to see Puccini's 'La Boheme' at the Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center and it was probably one of my favorite things I've ever seen! The sets were amazing, the music was gorgeous, and I got to dress up, "opera fancy!"  I had so much fun! I even bought a Christmas ornament from the gift shop because it was pretty, and the perfect kind of souvenir in my opinion.  After the show J bought a DVD of the opera, which in his book is the perfect kind of souvenir...to each their own, I collect Christmas, he collects DVDs/Blu-Rays...

Humphrey was none too impressed with my fancy "Jessica Simpson" heels, but I loved them (often her line is strangely gawdy, or oddly proportioned but these heels are def going to be my new go to black heels)

Here are some pictures from our fabulous night!


He hates selfies, but we were so fancy that I made him.  Too bad it was so cold and you couldn't see our outfits.

Late Night Train Reads

The stuff of dreams...

 

Saturday confessional

• I really want a faux fur throw for the couch. I always thought I hated them but now I can't stop dreaming about one. Anyone know where someone can procure one that doesn't look cheap but is monetarily cheap?

What about one of these west elm ones?   

• Today I wandered around the city almost buying things then putting them down because the lines were too long. Sorry about all of that felt near the picture frames, Michael's. Sorry about the picture frame and decorative tray near the socks, Marshall's. Sorry about the socks and cheese grater in the home goods T.J. Maxx. Lest you're wondering if I ever committed to a line and a purchase, yes...Bed, Bath & Beyond had almost no line. I purchased a can opener, 2 baking sheets, and a candy bar. 

• This is probably my favorite candy bar on the planet and it's a wonder I only ate half of it. I also really love the copywriting on the packaging (sorry I ravaged it before I took the picture). 

• Also, this...I want them all but settled for "Christmas gone plaid" and "in a Holidaze"

• I'm developing a cab habit. Not always, but the Chelsea to Grand Central trip is only $7-9, and I was so cold. 

• I'm losing my job on Wednesday and I'm barely sad. Maybe Wednesday it'll feel more real but I haven't loved my job for awhile (ever) and so this is maybe a good push to figure out my next move. I am a little worried about moving in with J and becoming unemployed at the same time. Kind of two simultaneous big life changes crashing in at once. 

• I bought a can opener today because last night I found out J doesn't have the one tool I figured was safe to assume he owned. So he opened a can with a jagged knife. Lol

• I had a dream last night and in it J and I were sitting at a patio table (whose, I don't know) and we weren't even talking. We were just reading the paper, and dream me was thinking, 'I'm so happy' and I felt so content. I think maybe dream me, was reminding real me that things are really great and not to stress the job situation. I get the benefit of having the holidays off to spend with my friends and family. When was the last time that happened?

I can't wait any longer for Christmasness

J left early for work this morning so I got up, took Humphrey out then turned on the Grinch and turned out the lights. Morning would only be improved by a nice cup of coffee...and J not having to work, though I think he would have been a Grinch Grinch

On A Roll - Friendsgiving

Tuesday night we had a pre-Thanksgiving Friendsgiving, and for me Thanksgiving is all about the sides.  It's about the roasted vegetables, the stuffing, the rolls.  Oh, yeah, the rolls.  My dad is famous for these rolls, they only come out 3 times a year because they're kind of labor intensive (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter) but everyone always stuffs themselves with them whenever they make their rare appearance.



Since my dad is across the country, I decided to try my hand at these rolls...such pressure! Not only was I raving about them to friends before attempting myself, but I had a lot to live up to in order to protect the family name.  I'm kidding, but not really.  These rolls are famous in my circle. 

So, after an emailed recipe and multiple phone calls discussing logistics, I was off.

Taking Over

 

The great apartment take-over...I mean, move in, is under way, and while I would say J is much more organized and tidy than most guys that live with their brother, there are certain things that I've been quietly "fixing." This edition is the microwave edition.  Eww, they've lived here fro closing in on 2 years I think, and I'm pretty sure the microwave has never been cleaned.  

It's so easy though! Here's what you need:

• A bowl
• Water (a quarter cup or so)
• Lemon
• Paper towel

Put some water in the bowl, cut the lemon in half and then squeeze it into the water, put the lemon pieces into water.  Place bowl in the microwave and heat on high for 5 minutes until the water is boiling, then let it sit a few minutes without opening the door (you want that steam to do the work).  When you do open the door, everything will wipe right off easily! 

Bring on the Hat Hair

Brrr... It's officially on the cusp of winter, and time to pile on the layers, gloves, scarves, and puffy coats

Weekend Update

Good morning! One day closer to another weekend, right?  Phew, thank goodness.  Work has been insane, and I feel like every day is a countdown to the weekend.  Also, when you have a really great weekend, it's hard to move on.  This weekend was perfect, the perfect combination of down time and activities, plus I'm starting to get glimpses that other people are as ready for Christmas as I am.  Sure the stores have displays out, but I really get excited when people start decorating their homes.

Friday night we went to see Major Barbara.  We're members of The Pearl, I feel so cultured saying I am a theater member.  The play was great, but without a ton of time for dinner we were forced to chug a large glass of wine at dinner, and I was having a hard time keeping my eyes open.  No more wine after a long work day and before theater for this girl!

J drove, so we parked at a lot on 42nd street, and there is this car that has been their for years.  J swears that as long as he's been parking there, it's been in the same spot, and judging by the layer of dust, he's right.  I dubbed it Uncle Buck's car, and as I was checking it out, I noticed someone else had a similar idea, and had written, "The 70's are over dude!" in the dust. 

Saturday night J and I stayed in, and I made him watch Home for the Holidays.  It's one of my all time favorite movies, and he is a major movie snob so I always expect him to dislike my movie picks, but he "surprisingly didn't hate it," in his words, and "it's actually a better film than National Lampoon Christmas Vacation." I'm not sure how I feel about that last comment, but it was a cozy evening in. 

Sunday was so cold, but I've been trying to take advantage of the fact that my soon to be apartment is right next to this great aqueduct nature trail.  Humphrey loves it.  It scared me in the summer because of the tick issue.  Humphrey had a few and I just don't know how to deal, but now that it's cold I feel safe again. The leaves are gorgeous.

''

Thank Goodness the Internet Didn't Break

I know the point was for all of this publicity so I kind of don't want to mention it, but I also kind of think that a certain famous for no reason person really thinks she's a big enough deal to "break the internet." I want to say something mean about what would happen if she sat on it, but that's silly and doesn't make sense. Also, in the spirit of not talking about it, how is her butt that big and her waist that small?

I'm purposefully not tagging this post out of protest, lol

I'll miss you (a)Lot 2

As I get ready to leave the neighborhood I've made my home for the past year and a half I'm starting to feel a little sad about the places I won't be able to walk down the block to. Last night J came over and we were trying to decide which of our spots to go to since, as he put it, my "Brooklyn days are numbered." We ended up at Lot 2 which I'm so sad I only discovered early this summer. They have the most delicious menu. The menu is tiny, and usually that worries me. What if there isn't anything I like, but I've never disliked anything there. I always have a hard time deciding what to get, mostly because the one staple on the menu is their burger and I think it is the best burger I've ever tasted. Served with whole grain mustard, ketchup, and mayo on the side (I'm a mustard only girl) and picked onions with bread and butter pickles, it is always cooked perfectly. J's big pet peeve is when you order a burger medium and it comes out medium well or worse (gasp), well done but these guys are pros. It's not unusual to go there and see a family sitting at the large corner table all eating burgers...they're that good.

So last night I had one last Lot 2 burger, and my favorite cocktail there, the father-in-law...kind of like a Manhattan, but I honestly don't know what's in it, it's just so delicious I can't bring myself to branch out. J had an apple and cider stew with carrots, caramelized Brussels Sprouts, and other deliciousness I can't remember. I wish I had taken pictures but we were too busy eating. The whole place is lit with candles and just perfect and glowy for a date night. Then on the way home we stopped at the bakery down the block and got a tiny cheesecake. I'm going to miss this neighborhood.

I just woke up like this...flawless

Right click, then click unmute to hear what she says

Sad iPhone

Last night I was talking to my mom on the phone trying to squeeze in the last of our call before my battery died when all of a sudden I couldn't hear her.  I thought the battery had merely died, but in fact, my iPhone decided to reset to factory settings.  WHY? WHY would it do that?!

To top it off, my iCloud has been full for about 19 weeks, and I've been getting reminders that I haven't backed up my phone but the reminder usually comes when I'm not somewhere I can back up my phone, or as I'm going to sleep....so...if anything has happened since June, I probably don't have a record of it.   

Did you back up your data? "Umm I don't do that"

The best

You know that scene in Charlie and the Chocolate factory where Violet turns into a blueberry? I think I might turn into a Candy Cane Hersey's Kiss. I bought the "family size" to "share" but I can't stop eating them. These are really the best of the best in my book.