feels like summer

Sitting under that little cabana/hut, last one on the right. For about 7 hours each day. For 6 days. Soaking up the sun, listening to the amazing 90's radio station, laughing with some of my very favorites, enjoying some great beach reads, and drinking my body weight in frozen, fruity concoctions.

sounds like summer

GIANT waves crashing along the shore...

smells like summer

Oh how I do love my little herbs that have weathered many storms. Too bad you can't really see the darling garden markers (look for the utensils) all that well...wish I had a cooler camera. Thyme, shhhh...don't tell the others that you're my favorite.

Also, smells like lunch. In a restaurant (Lili's-yummy!). On a weekday. With my sweet boy.

looks like summer

This is about our pace right now here on North Bailey Avenue...

tastes like summer

Raw Corn and Zucchini Salad

Cut tips of 3 ears corn, husks and silks removed; stand corn in a wide, shallow bowl. With a sharp knife, slice downward to release kernels (you should have about 2 cups); discard cobs. Transfer kernels to a medium bowl. Add 2 medium zucchini, thinly sliced, 2 TB fresh lime juice, 2 TB extra-virgin olive oil, and 2 TB coarsely chopped cilantro. Season with coarse salt and ground pepper and toss well to combine.

Yummy, easy, and refreshing!!

new favorite

Oh, have I found a refreshing little ditty. You are going to want some.

Towards the end of a rather irritating trip to Central Market yesterday, I stumbled across a sale display. Typically, I am an impulse buy's worst enemy. I just never give into it or really even think about. I stick to my list. My list is planned. I like plans. Meet my well-worth-it impulse buy: I was immediately intrigued because there is a delicious prickly pear margarita I am in love with on the Riverwalk in SA. If you know me, you know that I stick to three main liquids: one comes from cows, one falls from the sky and goes through all sorts of processes to make it to my faucets, and one is made from grape juice soaked in barrels. This new ever-so-refreshing and pretty drink might throw a wrench is my regular routine....but it sure will taste good being sipped by the pool this summer.

love in the bond

I got to catch up with so many of my favorites this weekend, courtesy of AXO! It was the 20th anniversary/celebration of when the chapter started at TCU. Friday night was a bid day recreation at an alum's house in Park Hill....I must say, it was much better the 5th time around: margarita machine. We definitely didn't get to enjoy one of those babies at bid day in college. After mucho margaritas and some good Mexican food, we headed downtown to see The Klocks, who played at Suzanna's and Jay's wedding just a mere year ago. I was quickly reminded of why I avoid downtown: Affliction shirts, hired girls dancing in nearly nothing, and lots of strobe lights. The Klocks were awesome at the wedding, but this night they were apparently catering to the downtown crowd who likes to hear "Baby Got Back" and the like. We didn't stay long.

Saturday night was the recreation of our formal, Red Carnation. In actuality though, we really did sort of crash the active's formal. Because it was cash bar, and because this cash bar was at Colonial Country Club, we opted to have a preparty at my place...we were trying our best to recreate college! The party was fun...that might have been in part to the flasks that were or were not snuck in...

I was most excited to see some of my favorite people whom I either hadn't seen in nearly a year and also the ones I had seen a few weeks ago. Either way, we always catch right back up and it's as though no time has passed at all. We had such a good time laughing, dancing, and retelling stories.

Can we go back to college but take out the class part??? I want all my favorites to live within walking distance of each other!!

(Too bad half of my favorites weren't around during picture time.)

little love

This is my Thursday morning little love. I know, today is not Thursday. And he wasn't actually even in my office in the picture. And he wasn't actually even having a very great day, which is why he was in someone else's office. He's tired. Of a lot of things.

But every Thursday morning we go to my office and take animal quizzes, we draw, he shows me how fast he can do animal puzzles, we talk about why he's mad and how to handle it, we laugh together.

And on everyday that isn't Thursday, he asks "are you coming to get me today?"

I don't think he knows how much I look forward to Thursdays.

short soap box

I thought about writing this last night when I was a bit more riled up, but alas, Idol drags on forever on Wednesdays and because I have to get up so stinkin' early, I have to go to bed so stinkin' early. Now that I've had a day to ponder my thoughts, they're still ever-present, but perhaps I have cooled down a bit.

So unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Sandra Bullock's husband has not been faithful and has possibly partaken in multiple affairs while married to her. Yesterday, Mr. Jesse James decided to check into rehab to "work on personal issues." Last I checked, making the choice to step out of your relationship, in secrecy, and get naked with others, is not an issue of addiction, nor is it an issue often necessitating rehab services. Some therapy, a good and honest look at your present relationship, and a swift kick in the pants, yes.

I have a very real concern that thanks to some of these stellar individuals (Mr. Woods and Mr. James in particular), that rehab might become the new "it" thing to do when you mess up big time and get caught. Don't want to have to say "Yes, I made a major, major, major mistake, I made a bad choice(s)....?" Don't worry, you can check yourself into an ultra fancy rehab facility and place the blame on your addictions...that way you don't have to actually take any responsibility for your actions.

This being said, I realize that some addictions are real and really do require treatment. I really do. But do I think either of the above gentlemen (or any of their potential followers) truly have an addiction? Absolutely not. I think they made conscious decision after conscious decision to put themselves in particular situations for reasons far from being addicted.

Maybe I wouldn't be so mad/disappointed/concerned/riled up if I didn't spend my days in a building with 700+ young kids. 700+ kids who are instructed daily about the importance of responsibility. And integrity. And respect. And honesty. 700+ kids who watch and hear the news, who are hearing and learning about adults who don't care to value some of these basic concepts.

I realize no one is perfect.

I'll step down from my soap box now...

english muffins

I tried out a new recipe and had success. I like being able to make my own comparable versions of packaged and processed food from the grocery store. Here's the recipe for my newest endeavor:

English Muffins (makes about 15)
1/2 C warm water
1 TB honey
2 T active dry yeast (from one 1/4 oz. envelope)
1 T unsalted butter
2 C all-purpose flour
3/4 C whole-wheat flour
1/4 C rolled oats
1/4 C wheat germ
1 T coarse salt
2 T whole flaxseed
1 1/2 T caraway seeds (optional)
1/2 C low-fat buttermilk
cooking spray

Combine warm water, honey, yeast, and butter in a bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes, until foamy.
Combine flours, oats, wheat germ, salt, flaxseed, and caraway seeds in a large bowl. Add yeast mixture and buttermilk and mix with your hands until flours are almost fully incorporated. Turn out mixture onto a clean surface and knead until smooth, about 3 minutes.

Lightly coat a mixing bowl with cooking spray and place dough in bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until almost doubled in size, about an hour.

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured work surface, knead for about 1 1/2 minutes, and roll out to 1/2 inch thickness. Using a 3-inch round cutter, cut out rounds. Roll and cut scraps once. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and dust with cornmeal. Place rounds on sheet and cover with plastic wrap for about 20 minutes until puffy.

Heat a griddle or large skillet over low heat. Working batches, place rounds about 1/2 inch apart. Cook until golden brown and dry on both sides, about 7 minutes per side. Let cool for 30 minutes.

You can store in them in the fridge for about a week or put them in the freezer for no longer than a month.

My thoughts:
*I used ground flaxseed instead of whole because that what I have.
*I ended up turning the heat up to medium-low because they were taking forever.