First of all, before you tar and feather me, I KNOW IT’S NOT AUGUST. Okay, glad we got that settled. But here’s what’s going on; a wise and deserving cousin got me a subscription to Bon Appetit for my birthday. As in, the honest to goodness paper magazine that shows up in my mailbox each month, filled with glossy pictures and drool-worthy recipes and funny lines written by some editor high up in the One World Trade Center whose life…
Drama, drama, drama. What comes to your mind when I say that word? For me, it brings thoughts of relationships, particularly romantic ones. Does he like her? Is she flirting with him? Did you know they text all the time? Why is she suddenly posting verses about hardships on Instagram; did she get dumped? There is hardly another area of life that raises so many questions. Everything is vague and nebulous, and with feelings and hormones entangled in the drama,…
One could argue that this was glamping, not camping, since we had nearby bathrooms and a big trailer present with all sorts of amenities such as a freezer and folding tables and limitless coffee, and one might be right. However, glamping brings to mind thoughts of glamor and ease, of sleeping in dry, cushy beds piled high with pillows, and lounging in king-sized lawn chairs with the sun glimmering through the trees at just the right temperature as one sips…
Ever since having seen the darling Pixar film, Ratatouille, I’ve wanted to try this classic French dish. I didn’t get a chance to eat it in Paris, so a while after coming home, I finally decided I would just have to attempt it myself. I adapted this recipe to my taste, since it had the movie-style layered veggies, instead of the more traditional chunks. It’s just so purdy that way! 1-2 Cups tomato sauce 2 Minced garlic cloves 3-4 Sprigs thyme, or…
If you ask me about my trip to Paris in the spring, I’ll probably spend so much time talking about the flaky croissants and melt-in-your-mouth duck confit that you’ll begin to roll your eyes and regret asking. But if you can gently steer me away from the topic of food (no easy feat, I’ll warn you), you might be able to find out another area or two in which Paris really resonated with me, besides with my stomach. I might…
I love birthdays. I am not one of those Adulty McAdultsons who don’t tell anyone it’s their birthday, and spend the day exactly as every other day, letting it slide away in insignificance. (Ahem, you know who you are, you traitor to all birthday magic.) I think birthdays are meant to be celebrated, whether you’re turning seven or fifty-seven, and I’m on a mission to destroy the myth that tells adults they are too old for enjoying birthdays. I love…
After our reunion in Montana came to an end, I knew I wanted to do a little exploring while I was off work and across the United States anyhow. I saw Banff was only 4 hours north from our location in Montana, so Philip and I girded our loins, I peeled him away from Montana, and off we went to Canada. Our chosen route took us through Kootenay Park, Banff Park, and Jasper Park, which are all perched atop each other. We…
I went to a family reunion in Montana in July, and came home with full intentions of telling you all about my trip. I created a couple drafts of pictures, which sat and sat in desolation, while inspiration did not leap to mind. But here’s what I did instead of writing about my family reunion, in case you wanted to know: Journaled Clipped my nails Ate and slept and went to work and went home Watched movies Coveted these sandals…
Usually I keep the posts on here pretty lighthearted even when attempting to convey something a bit more serious, but today, it’s time for a dash of hardcore honesty. Monday was the Mondayest of Mondays, in every sense of the word. But let me back up a little… You know how sometimes long trips make you feel a bit fuzzy, like everything is surreal, and this could all be a dream you wake up from soon? I was definitely feeling…
Hello all, As the title may have informed you already, I am currently throwing my responsibilities aside and exploring new parts of the earth. We had a family reunion in Montana and I managed to twist Philip’s arm and convince him to take me to Banff, Kootenay, and Jasper National Parks just north of us afterward. They are unbelievable. I plan to tell you all about it shortly, but wanted to let you know why there isn’t a regular post…
Never mind that I hadn’t even sat on a bike in maybe ten years or so. “Let’s do the Virginia Creeper Trail!” they said. “It’ll be fun!” they said. “It’s super easy!” they said. So I agreed, since I have a hearty dose of fear-of-missing-out, and since occasionally I like to do something I’m bound to be terrible at. The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 34 mile gravel path that is made from an old railroad track. The first 17…
Jobs to have besides working in the minibarn industry: Be a florist. Try interior design. Do mosaic tiling in kitchens. Be a cardiothoracic surgeon. Be a janitor for the cardiothoracic surgeon. Drive a school bus. Design hair bows to sell on Etsy. Write guidebooks for obscure places nobody has thought to review, such as the tiny little town of Mocksville, NC. Be a chef. Become world famous for your taco-making skills. Topics of conversation to discuss besides minibarns and volleyball:…