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?

fifteen

 
 

Fabulous Valentines evening. The restaurant was amazing. I had never had a meal with separate courses before! Oh my goodness it was just wonderful, the setting, the food, the wine (Aunt Laur, if you are reading this you need to get this wine. I think it's called 939 Petite Sirah). My dinner companion wasn't bad either. Dan went all out for Valentines day. He got me chocolate, roses, and the Star Trek movie (don't judge me). P.S. I have really gotten into this making your own stationary thing. How cute is that card!? I made it! I also made these, get in on it. My birthday is in 4 days! I love birthdays, mine especially. The big Two-Three, guys. I guess I'm not a kid anymore, huh? Weird. 

In other news, day fifteen of the 30x30. And I hate to say it but I'm losing a little steam. It's not the outfits, those are easy enough, it's the pictures... I'm a little bored with them. Some of you all have some great location shots, which I love to see, but Dan gets up way early and doesn't get home until dark so location shots are not really an option for me. Eh, oh well. Only 15 more days! 

And now I'm off to write a paper that I've been successfully procrastinating. 

Deuces. (Did I sound like a Jersery Shore cast member just then?)

Button-up: F21, Scarf: Old Navy, Sweater: Target, Jeans: H&M, Flats: Urban Outfitters

love day.

sorry it's grainy. not sure what happened. 

Happy Valentines Day! I saved this dress for tonight because I figured it would be nice to wear something different for Dan as he has seen the same clothes variations for the past 14 days. We are going out for a hot date. Talk to you tomorrow -- tell someone you love them!


Check out the giveaway while you're here!

the flossy, flossy

Shirt/Jacket: Gap, Skirt: H&M, Sweater/leggings: Target, Boots: Nordstrom

My life is so glamorous. I just wanted to sing Good Life by Kanye West all day. First of all, 8 o'clock class? Cancelled. Yummy tea and pastry-type-breakfast? Check. Run at the gym? Mm Yes. Reacquaint myself with this jacket I got three years ago? Don't mind if I do. I don't know why I always fight with myself over this jacket every winter. I think it's because it's brown and it just feels like a lot of brown. Then I put it on, and I am warm and feelin' classy and I remember, oh yes, I bought you on sale. Love rekindled. This morning was fabulous and aside from the rain and my hatred for piece-of-crap cheap umbrellas it continues to be a wonderful afternoon.

 Also, literally the day 30x30 challenge started, I got a birthday card in the mail from Victoria's Secret with a $10 off your next purchase card only good through the month of February, I am having a little bit of a dilemma. I asked Brandilyn, and she said I should just do it -- we think lingerie shouldn't count, ha! What do you think? Am I cheating? Please let me off the hook on this one. 
As for my pastry-type-breakfast, I actually had them for the first time when I was in India. There is some really confusing Tamil word for them but I just call them "Banana Balls." Essentially, it's fried banana bread. I'm sure there is no nutritional value but they are the perfect treat with tea (and I really miss good, Indian, chai tea). Here's the recipe.


Wanna know something neat!? I found out that one of my 30x30 outfits was on Modcloth's Tumblr! How cool! I didn't even enter it in anything (which kind of creeps me out a little, but is mostly just fun)!


Why my man is the best man #8
Last night when I was upset, he came over, wrapped me completely in his arms, and just let me cry and talk. He knows how emotional/sensitive I can be sometimes, and how I just need someone to tell me it's going to be alright.

Pose like this.

Husband says all my poses look the same, something like this (Except not blurry): 

Ya know, arms at the side, shoulders up, smilin' away at the camera. When I asked him what I should do instead he said "I don't know put your arms in the air or something." And this is what came out of that:

Don't be jealous because my husband's pose ideas are better than yours. I mean this is genius, he is like the Woody Allen of photography, minus the marrying his adopted daughter part...

Wanna know what's better than Daniel being home for a snow day? Daniel being home for a snow day without any actual snow! I mean it, the base preemptively shut down for fear of snow and even though it didn't snow, Dan still gets the day off! Also, in another stroke of luck my evening class and tomorrow's morning class are cancelled for reasons unrelated to the elusive snow. That means, for those of you keeping track, I only had one class today and now I am free to stare dreamily at the man I call my husband over coffee/tea and books -- except I don't really stare dreamily, it makes Dan uncomfortable. 

Also, I don't know if you read the Daybook, I don't know her but she always looks fabulous, but today in an Awkward and Awesome Thursday post she lamented how she posed in "that cliche little fashion blogger feet-turned-in" pose which made me chuckle a little. Here is why: I do that. I learned, from Tyra Banks people (not in real life, just ANTM), that if you pose with your feet turned in your thighs look smaller and as superficial and silly as that sounds, it works! So, I am not stopping, but I did laugh at that.

Why my man is the best man #7

When I got home from school today he had lunch all prepared. Chicken caesar salad with freshly made chicken! Mmm. What is better than a man that cooks? 

sweet nothins

Striped Long sleevet: Kohls,  Plaid Button-up: Thrifted, Sweaer: Target, Jeans: Levi's, Flats: Gap

True Confessions: I don't really wear heels/wedges. 

I love them, don't get me wrong but wearing them is a different story. Some people say that they don't find them uncomfortable, some people lie. Others say that beauty is worth the pain, some people are crazy. I am short. I know I "should" wear heels/wedges more but I am not down to walk to and from school, twice a day in heels if they are going to make my feet hurt. So, here I am, asking for advice. Should I get some inserts or something? Do those actually help? I'm putting myself out there people, don't leave me hanging. Or maybe I'll just stick to flats.  

I saw this little poster at our student health center while I was getting my tetanus shot (which sucked by the way and I didn't even get a lollipop). I just think this is funny, "Sexversations." What is she whispering about? Judging from the way his eyes are bulging out, I'm pretty sure she is not whispering sweet little nothings about the benefits of safe sex. Also, if they are giving out shirts that say "sexversations" on them, I am going.

Why my man is the best man #6

He buys me stuff. Just kidding, but seriously. My birthday is in 10 days, (10 DAYS!) and he is so excited about his gifts for me. Gifts as in plural. The only annoying thing is that he keeps tempting me with hints on the gifts but then doesn't give me any hints! I hate waiting! I just love opening presents so much. 

Queen of Hearts.

Sweater/T-shirt: Target, Skirt: Anthropologie, Shoes: Payless, Tights: H&M, Belt: Payless

Whenever I wear this skirt I get the greatest compliments and the funniest stares. People either love it or think it's weird, luckily I love it. 

Yesterday I got a text from a really cute guy asking me to go out and celebrate with him. All charges against his client were withdrawn, which in lawyer-speak means: woohoo! One less guy to defend! (fist pump). We went out for drink/s (singular for me, plural for him -- we drink responsibly) at the Carolina Alehouse and just talked and made each other laugh AND I learned that while on the college track team at UC Santa Cruz, Daniel ran a 4:50 mile! WHAT!? Hottie was fast. The best mile I've ever run was like  a 7:45 and I was fourteen, yep, I peaked at fourteen. Seriously, when he told me, I didn't believe him at first -- I mean that's fast! Anyway, you learn new things everyday and I hope I am still learning little facts about Daniel when we've been married for fifty years. 

I have to get a tetanus shot today. I hate shots. I better get a lollipop out of the deal. Or at least a sticker. 

That highway sign hangs over the entrance to AleHouse and every time I see it I think, "ya let's just do it. We'll be home in a couple days..."

Why my man is the best man #5:

He is really smart and when I asked him to read the two books required in my research class with me so we could discuss them, he totally said yes. Plus, he loves having discussions with me on political things, because he thinks I am smart too. 

"I'm soOoO tired, I haven't slept a wink..."

Shirt: Gap, Sweater: Target, Jeans: H&M, Shoes: Gap


Do I look tired? I feel tired. See, I'm telling you, the Beatles never let me down when it  comes to entry titles.
I know. I should have put a belt on or something, ya know, amped up this simple outfit, but I was just too lazy and had to get to class.
 This weekend was wonderful. It was so lazy and perfect. After being apart for a week we just wanted to sleep-in together, cuddle on the couch, search for a coffee shop that had a table for us to sit at and then give up and decide that home was better. I got almost nothing done this weekend and it was amazing. I love spending time with Daniel.
AND my afternoon lit class was cancelled today! WOOHOO!

On another note, I was brainstorming giveaway prize ideas and I am so excited! Hopefully you will be too, so stay tuned in I'll post it in a few days!

Why my man is the best man #4

He kisses me on the forehead every morning before he goes to work. 

it's BO-Time!

Dress as skirt: Modcloth, T-shirt: Target, Sweater: Anthropologie, Shoes: Payless, Belt: Panache

Ok ya'll, today after church Dan and I completed one of the activities on our list of things-to-do-before-we-leave-North-Carolina: we went to BoJANGles! It's like a KFC for those of you on the west coast. It's just so southern, you can't even say the name without a drawl. The food was fine, just your regular ole fast food which we don't eat very often. But, we completed something on the list, it's an evolving list we keep adding to as we learn about new Nor Car things. 
Also, I realized I am almost at my 100th post so I am going to have a give away soon, I'll keep you posted!

' 

Why my man is the best man #3:

A few weeks back I wondered aloud if there are girl scouts on the east coast because I love thin mints, it wasn't a big deal and I dropped the subject without much research. Yesterday, Daniel was at the store to buy some supplies for beirut and when he got home he surprised me with a box of thin mints! Apparently, girl scouts do exist here! He remembers the little things that I say.

Thin Mints are best when frozen, duh.

oh so crafty

 

I don't want to send these out. I don't want to put address stickers on them. But I will because I am not selfish. Maybe. I am just so proud of how they turned out. I wanted to make some valentines day cards for a few people and saw this cute idea for sewing lines on cards. No big deal, but I was really proud of them until I found this tutorial on how to make your own envelopes. and then I had the genius idea to use Anthropologie's magazine pages for my envelopes. I AM IN LOVE with these envelopes. Weird, right? Well, they are cute. AND it's a great way to be green and to have trendy cards/envelopes that no one else has.
 I. Am. So. Hip. (and. green.)

girl's got jokes.

T-shirt & Sweater & Boots: Target, Button-up: F21, Jeans: H&M, Wing Necklace: c/o Julia, Telephone Necklace: c/o Panache  

Q: How many hipsters does it take to screw in a lightbulb? 

A: It's some obscure number you probably haven't heard of.

I CRACKED up when I read that. In some circles I might be considered a hipster and in others I am the most normal-jane they've ever met. Either way I think that is a funny joke. 

Today Dan and I are studying again. And paying bills when I would just rather go shopping. Good thing I'm not allowed to shop during the 30x30, right? Oh, and in case you were wondering I have been annotating (at least my version of annotation) and it's actually not as hard as I thought it would be. The only downside is I can't go through a book half as fast as before. 
Why my man is the best man #2
 Dan is amazing because he challenges me to be a better person. He calls me on my stuff and I think only someone who really loves you would run the risk of holding you accountable (even if I don't always want to hear it).

Happy Saturday :)

Baby's in black and I'm feelin blue

Dress: The Gap, Leggings: Target, Sweater: Target, Jacket: Target, Boots: Nordstrom

There is a Beatles song for every occasion. 
Dan is coming home tonight! This is why I thought I would wear a cute skirt or dress today -- unfortunately, there is a 70 percent chance that it is already raining. I made it work though, getting tired of seeing my boots yet? You're not? Good, because I am not tired of wearing them. They are like a cocoon for my feet. I wore all black today and I felt so... mysterious and sexy. Something about black just gives me an extra boost of confidence. Also, I am SO glad that coats do not count in the 30x30. 

V-day is only 10 days away! So, everyday until then I'm gonna give you a reason as to why my man is the best man. #1 

He is a fabulous kisser. Which is good because I think I am not so great a kisser (give me a break I've only been kissing for a year and a half -- I'm working on it). Not that Dan would ever tell me that I was a bad kisser. But I just love his kisses. Each and every smooch. Can you tell I've been missing him?