Could stalking food blogs be considered virtual cooking?

We got a new kitchen faucet today!! (for those of us who have been without hot water in our kitchen for almost a week now, this is very exciting).

I believe our faucet is now the newest renovation to this kitchen in about 20 years. But we've got bigger issues than a circa 1980s refrigerator (my mom was perplexed to find out that some people still use ice trays). Turn your attention to the great expanse (aka complete lack) of (pale green) counter space...

It really does put a damper on attempts to cook/bake. Not to mention, I don't really have anybody to cook for. Yet, I still have a wee obsession with food blogs (I'm kind of in love with Tastespotting). This has led me to a long list of (untested) recipes under my "bookmarks," just waiting for the day I have my own giant kitchen (or...visit my parents' counter-friendly abode).

Until then, these are just asking to be made...

(Heavenly Banana Pudding Squares)

and this....

(Roasted Potatoes with Apples & Oranges)

And this...

(Eggplant and Tomato Pizza)

(I have a freezer full of eggplant and cherry tomatoes from my garden at my parents' house!)

Bring on the sun

Time for these to come down...


There's a new season in town. I couldn't help but get excited about all the Easter goodies at Target today. I mean...



and...


Who wouldn't be excited?? Not to mention the 64° weather today (last weekend I was making a snow angel). Not that I didn't enjoy you winter, but the heat bill's high, my hands are chapped, and my hose have runs in them.

Ash Wednesday

Lenten Prayer

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling within them.
Fast from emphasis on difference; feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on nonviolence.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement, feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that uplift.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

-Anonymous


Does that about cover it?

I'll take what I can get

Who needs a Valentine when you've got these...




(Baked by the little sis and decorated by me)

And speaking of my little sister, check out the Valentine baking/crafting Martha Stewart Jr. was up to this weekend...


I also got these beauties from my daddy...

(Yes, that's my adorable V-day skirt in the background.)

And lastly, I got a dozen roses from Joe*



(Trader Joe...February 15...because they were giving them away for free. Hey, it still made my day.)

I'm still alive...

I've decided to make a reappearance in the blog world. Quick recap of my life since the summer? Finished summer unpaid internships, fall semester of classes, winter break, started spring unpaid internship (I can't get enough of providing free labor), and started my FINAL semester of classes. Whooo, glad we're caught up. It would be exciting with images and sound, I promise. (I'm still working on actually using my camera more often and uploading pics).

So the motivation for my reemergence? Well, I got to write my first blog posts for my internship (in the public relations department of a hospital), and it made me remember my deserted identity out here in blog world. I also need to mess around on here because I still probably know less than the modern-day middle schooler about the layout on this thing. The posts for work were "The iPad's role in health care" and "Heart-healthy tips for Valentine's Day." I know, I know...I'll have to plan something super exciting for my next post here to top those...