You gotta fast car

We're packing up and moving west over here.

West coast, baby!

Valentines Day & Chocolate Covered Strawberries

It's Valentines Day and Dan is gone (to an interview; cross your fingers!). It's not that big a deal since we don't celebrate Valentine's hugely over here. Dan's birthday is January 31 and mine is February 19 (almost here!!!) so it's gets kinda lost between those festivities. However, my lack of personal Valentines traditions does not preclude me from falling victim to the overwhelmingly addictive chocolate covered strawberry. I, no joke, ask Dan for these year round. 

"Hey babe, wanna get me some chocolate covered strawberries?" I ask. 

"It's October fifth," he replies. 

Whatever that means. One day he did bring home a bunch of strawberries and some chocolate dipping sauce. That was a fantastic and messy evening. 

I asked him the other night, "Will you order me some chocolate covered strawberries to be delivered on Valentines Day when you're gone?" 

I understand I could've just as easily placed the order myself but they cost, on average, $5 per strawberry. I am not going to spend such obscene amounts of money on myself. But I'll let Dan do it. If he wants to. 

He didn't. Whatever. So, I went to the store and bought all the stuff I needed to make them myself. How's that for industrious? Not really. They are super easy to make. Here's the recipe (if you can even call it that.)

Ingredients: 

3 oz. Ghiradelli Milk Chocolate Chips 

1.5 oz. Ghiradelli White Chocolate Chips

Strawberries

2.5 tsp shortening

Fill two pots with a cup or two of water; heat water until simmering (you can do it in phases if you don't have enough small pots just do the milk chocolate first). Turn the heat on lo or off.

Put the milk chocolate chips along with 1.5 tsp of shortening, and the white chocolate chips along with 1 tsp of shortening into separate heat resistant bowls (I used pyrex and porcelain). Put the bowls over the water and melt while stirring a bit. 

Once the chocolate is melted take it off the pot. Dip strawberry into the chocolate. I eventually took off the stems and used toothpicks to help make the task easier. Let excess chocolate drip back into the pot and then set on parchment paper to dry. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries. 

Use the white chocolate to decorate. You can use a fork to drizzle chocolate over the strawberries (as you can see that worked out tragically for me). I used a toothpick to decorate them with the white chocolate. It took a bit longer but they ended looking better that way.

Let them cool and set for about 30 minutes. Enjoy!

If you look at them out of focus they look MUCH better, yes?

The Liebster Award

After almost three (intermittent) years of blogging I've been nominated for one of these blogger awards. My friend Audrey over at The Girl Behind the Red Door (read her stuff - she's amazing and she's gonna be famous) nominated me and I'm going for it!

Here's how it goes:

- Share 11 random facts about yourself

- Answer 11 questions given by the person who nominated you

- Nominate new bloggers to pass it on

- Write 11 question for those bloggers to answer

11 Random Facts: 

1. I've recently discovered that sunflowers are my favorite flower. There are sunflowers that Dan brought me, just because, on our table this very moment. 

2. I prefer beer to wine - so classy. 

3. I can quote Drop Dead Gorgeous and Get Over It practically beginning to end.

4. I trained myself to say the alphabet backwards - I heard they ask you do to it if you get pulled over for drunk driving. That's never happened to me but it seemed like a fun challenge. 

5. I've just finished reading Anna Karenina. The jury is still out on what I thought about it. 

6. I'm hoping Hillary Clinton runs in 2016 - she's got my vote. (Sorry, dad!)

7. I watch Anne of Green Gables and the sequel once a year. Not the continuing story.

8. I drink diet coke like water. It's that bad.

9 The other day I tried to train my cats to sit on command. I used treats and everything. It didn't work. 

10. Dan and I have picked up bike riding. Nothing intense just tooling around, but it's fun to do it together. 

11. I hate that the past two years I've lived in a state with no Major League Baseball team. I'd even go to see the Angels play at this point. 

11 Questions from Audrey:

Which country do you think has the most beautiful/interesting money?

I've only been to seven or so other countries but out of all of those I liked the India's money. Their paper money is really colorful. Plus, Ghandi is on it and he's cool. 

Is there something special you collect when you travel?

It's not tangible but I go to the zoo every time I go to a new country. I've been to zoos on three continents and five countries so far. 

What do you do to pass time on planes, trains, or in automobiles?

On planes I read a lot. Usually multiple books that I switch to and from because I can get bored. If I'm on a train I just like to watch the scenery go by. That was one of my favorite memories is taking the train from Northern India to Southern India. I got to see so much of the country that way. In cars I sing along with the radio really loud (Dan loves that) and we talk a lot. I get carsick if I try to read in cars.

If you could snap your fingers and be somewhere else right this moment, where would you be?

China! Or Russia! Or Ireland! Oh, this is tough. I really want to rent a car and drive all around Ireland. That's been my most recent travel crush. They are all there - those places - in the back of my mind. 

Do you consider yourself a good traveler? How so?

Yes, mostly because I learn from every trip. Every trip I pack less than the trip before. I've learned to research places better before hand to have a general idea of things I want to see. I've learned to try things (mostly food) even if I'll only have them once. I'm pretty low-maintenance when it comes to accommodations and I'm not a stickler for schedules (although I do like to make them).

Post your favorite travel photo.

I took this on my second trip to India. I got a lot of comments on it from people who had seen it. The composition, maybe? I'm not a photographer by any means but I really like this one. 

Imagine someone is planning a vacation to the city you live in now. What advice would you give them?

Don't do it!! Just kidding. Maybe. I would say don't come during the summer (tourist season). Come in May or September - the weather is good but there aren't as many people. Eat pizza at Mellow Mushroom. GO TO THE SERPENTARIUM - IT IS SO COOL. 

Beaches or Mountains?

Mountains. Absolutely. 

What's the scariest/most challenging thing you've ever done while traveling?

Ya know, I travelled from Northern India to Southern India (and back) by myself. It wasn't scary really but I did have to be aware in a way that I didn't have to when I was in a group. I was able to interact with people I probably wouldn't have had I been with others. It was an awesome experience. I really recommend doing even a little traveling on your own (be smart, of course!) - it's freeing. 

One of my favorite essays in The Best American Travel Writing of 2012 is Thomas Swick's "My Days with the Anti-Mafia." How important do you feel it is to travel morally? That is to say, proactively selecting hotels, restaurants, and tours that are not supported by organized crime? Or steering clear of countries which consistently abuse the rights of their citizens, etc.?

Certainly very important. I probably haven't been as vigilant about it in the past as I should be. I think we all like to assume that people are generally good - and I think that they are - and so we operate under that assumption. However, being aware and going out of your way to be above board and supporting good over evil - that should be our priority as world citizens. Your pleasure should not come at the expense of another human. 

And this one's just for me... when it comes to Hepburns... Katharine or Audrey?

Oooh tough for me. Katharine. 

My 11 Questions for nominated bloggers:

1. What is your favorite book of all time - the book you can read over and over again?

2. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

3. If you had to listen to one song on repeat for an entire day which song would you choose?

4. What is your preferred species of flower?

5. If you could live in any city in the United States (you have a job that covers the expenses, blah, blah blah) where would you live?

6. What countries make your top 5 travel wish list?

7. What has been your favorite age/year so far? Why?

8. What is the best advice you were ever given?

9. Do you have any special or unique skills? Elaborate. 

10. Be honest, are you going to see the midnight showing of Star Trek in May?

11. Finish this sentence: "Not a day goes by when I don't think about ___________________ ."

I Nominate...

Brandilyn at Cats & Cardigans

Julia at Eating Stories Like Grapes

Whitney at Notes from the Darkroom

Brittany at Locks to Louboutins

Katharine at Thrifted Things

Gianna at Fuoco nelle Vene

Shelby at Thoughts of a Thinker

It's simple. As one blogger put it, "The real 'gist' of the Liebster Award is that there is no real award. There are no judges, no special rules. No website with an official team to congratulate you and hold your hand. It's mostly what you want it to be. If you receive the award, you can 1) accept it and 2) pass it along. It's that easy." Like one of those wretched old chain letters or chain emails, but without the wretched curse that supposedly clung to those unwise enough to opt out. If you don't want to participate? Don't do it! I'll still read you faithfully. No worries.

On achy knees and running at 25

I've picked up running again. A couple years ago I was really into it - I ran almost everyday and it lasted for a couple years. Then we moved here. To North Carolina. In the middle of summer. If you've never experienced humidity before don't try running in it. It was tough and I quickly gave up trying. 

My work out routine has been pretty sporadic and, shall we say, eclectic since then. 

So, almost three years later, I decided to run again. It started out as a supplement to P90X - I'd run a mile or so in the morning and then do the video in the afternoon. I lost steam in the videos after two months but running clicked again. 

It's been nice. I've stuck mainly to the treadmill (because I can watch Gilmore Girls while I run, duh.) but last week I went to the loop. The loop is out here at Wrightsville beach. It's about three miles but if you start at the Starbucks down the road the round trip is just over five miles. 

I've been running 3-4 miles a day regularly so five didn't seem too difficult. Plus, it's outside. Outside running is always better than inside running, right? You'd like to think so. 

The run itself was fine - my breathing was regular, my lungs were fine, no cramps popped up. It was a blustery day and things got even windier when I ran over the bridge - my already short shorts were blowing up to god knows where and my tank straps were flying off my shoulders. It's a fun balance: running and keeping my clothes on. 

Things were great until that last mile. My knees started aching and felt like they were on fire. I forgot how hard pavement is on your joints - ouch! My running strides turning into jogging shuffles and I was trying to shift weight to my right knee - the knee that wasn't traitorous. 

I didn't give up though. I ran the whole thing. While I was stretching I was contemplating this new pain. I'd never had joint pain before. Is this what happens as you age? Your body starts complaining about actions you previously had no trouble accomplishing?

That's some bull shit. 

25 is coming fast and I never saw it as old (I did cry pretty terribly when I turned 20). 25 is cool. I've lived through a quarter of a century. It's the year I'm going to start law school. I get to rent cars without paying an extra fee. People may even give me some credence and think of me as an adult (which is a flawed assumption on their part). 

25 is going to be great. Except for these knee aches. I can do without those. 

This baby already has the arm motions of a New Yorker.

My manager (who I made a penguin quilt for) finally had her baby! Here's Luca: the hairiest, tannest baby I've ever seen! Dang those Italians and their awesome genes. Seriously, this kid is cute and he's got those big, dark eyes... swoon.

I brought my camera by and we took a few shots to see if we could get a couple for their birth announcement. These are some of my favorites. I love that he's got the "I Heart NY" onesie on - his parents are from New York and his mom gets the funniest accent when she gets excited.

He was waving his arms around the entire time - such a New Yorker. I was pretty intimidated.

That day I had high tea.

My friend Katlin spent the last semester in England and she was obsessed with afternoon tea. I think she went to a tea room in every town she visited while she was across the pond. When she learned that we share an affinity for tea she invited me to visit the Wilmington Tea Room with her. It was so good!

There were tasty homemade pastries and scones (ohmygod the scones) and they had darjeeling tea which is my favorite tea in the world. Except maybe for authentic chai that I had everyday when I was in India - that stuff has addictive qualities I think.

Anyway, there was this cute older couple who came in for lunch and the male half of the pair struck up conversations with everyone in the place. He was too cute. He chatted us up about movies. He found out Katlin was from Minnesota which got him on the subject of Fargo (snow. cold. not minnesota but we got there).

He said, "That Quentin Tarantino is pretty gory, he's got that new movie out as well..."

"I think Fargo was the Cohen Brothers," I responded.

"Oh, that's right. That's right. Not Tarantino, but his stuff is pretty violent, too." He said.

"I knew Fargo wasn't Tarantino when you said that. I thought you were wrong," his wife chimed in.

We all laughed a bit and I just thought she was so cheeky and he was so personable. I really hope that Dan and I are like that as we get older. Shoot, I hope we're like that now. Although, I really can't wait until I'm old and I just get to say whatever pops into my head - that's what old people get to do you know.

Curse you, sourdough.

I've been cooking a lot lately (and by a lot I mean averaging twice a week). Cajun chicken alfredo, enchiladas, meatloaf, I even made an apple pie from scratch for Dan's birthday*. We have had a ton of leftovers but instead of eating those for lunch I make salami sandwiches with sourdough bread. It tastes like heaven.

Every time, every time, I make that uummMmhh noise that you make when something tastes incredible. Add some sour cream & onion chips and you've got yourself a date. With me. It'll be terribly interesting and you'll get a sandwich.

Guys, we're moving in t-minus 23 days! Our destination is yet to be determined but we're out of here none-the-less. It's happening. #Boom.


*Dan came home early on his birthday - he always calls when he's on his way home - and I asked why he left early. He said, "I told everyone that you were making me dinner and I had to get home to enjoy it. They were all very excited for me!" Apparently they all know that I don't cook too often.