the burning house

have you guys been to this site, the burning house? it basically asks the question, "if your house was burning down, what would you grab on the way out?" people from all over the world submit their photos of what material possessions are important to them. it's kind of fascinating. do you choose something practical? or something sentimental? or do you only grab one thing & run? I got to thinking what I might take. here's my list:

• travel journals
• nikon d60 + lens
• jump drive with photos
• past & current passport
• engagement & wedding ring
• a mini journal filled with love notes from robert, leading up to our wedding day
• laptop
• blue wedding shoes
• photo album of non-digital photos
• fcuk perfume that is no longer being made (I have like 8 sprays left!)
• mini dv tape of an interview I did with my grandpa
• dvds of pictures, including wedding photographs

what would you take with you if your house was burning?

vanilla bean dulce de leche cupcakes

my family is sweet & always very complimentary of my baking attempts, even if they aren't the tastiest ("but it's so pretty," mom will say). however, I really think they meant it this time when they said these were the best cupcakes I've ever made. and the fact that there were only two left on the plate by the end of the night said a lot. I took the recipe exactly from the culinary chronicles. bonus - they're filled!

february "cookie": brown butter & sea salt rice krispie treats

okay, okay. so this technically isn't a cookie. but I'm counting it anyway. because it is the most addictive thing you'll ever eat- right up there with pringles or kettle corn. they might sound like a super fancy version of your favorite elementary-school treat, but they really aren't at all. basically, it's just the original rice krispie recipe, but you just brown the butter first & then add a little sea salt (recipe from smitten kitchen). try it. you'll be hooked! 

{recipe from here}

"suck it moneys. I'm going corporate"

my first job out of college was working at an advertising agency. while it's certainly not as glamorous as the movies make it, it was definitely a fun environment, especially working in the creative department. lots of quirky people (which I happen to love) who weren't afraid to be themselves. 

a little over a year ago I left advertising & took a job in the corporate world. and boy, what a shocker that was. where's the margarita machine & the liquor cabinet? why are the IT people blocking me from gmail, facebook & pandora? how come everyone is wearing gianormous slacks that don't fit? you mean we can't wear shorts?? even in the summer? do you guys not have a beer cooler-scooter to ride around the office on? or a pool table? or a ping pong table? or friday half-days? sheesh. it was rough, I tell you. 

but once I got over all of that, I actually started to enjoy working the 'ol nine to fiver. this job has given me so much more free time to do what I please after-hours. and plus, I'm getting paid in actual money instead of alcohol (kidding. kind of). but the one thing I will never get over are these stupid sayings that people in the corporate world use. here are some of my favorites: 

"I'll loop you in." 

"sorry I forgot to circle back with you."

"I can't stay for the whole meeting; I have a hard stop at 3:30". 

"I'll give you 5 minutes back," if a meeting wraps up early. gee, thanks for being so generous.

"It's in the same field, but a different flavor."  please don't mix my favorite food term with work. it's just depressing.

"be sure to let these issues bubble up."

"this project really goes in a different bucket." these figurative buckets really get on my nerves. 

"we need to sunset this project." this is the dumbest. I think it just means "end".

but in the end, this pretty much sums it up for me:




what are some of your least-favorite corpo sayings? am I crazy in thinking these sound ridiculous? 

just like old times

good news. apparently my 9th grade cousin isn't too embarrassed to hang out with a 30-year-old in public. she was in town over the weekend & I totally pretended that I was in high school again. we hung out at the mall, took pics in the forever 21 photobooth & ate that nasty chinese food they shove at you in the food court. ah, to (pretend) to be young again.

bicycle basket

my sweet husband gave me the best valentine's day gift- this awesome basket for my bicycle. and it's not just a regular basket- it actually detaches from the bike so I can take it in to do my shopping - no bags needed. the weather was amazing this weekend so we did a little grocery shopping & made this delicious dish, as spotted on pinterest. 

snippets from valentine's day

happy valentine's day! I like to think I celebrate love all year round. so v-day isn't too big of a fuss. here are snippets from the day. hope you guys had a lovely, low-key day.

{sweet tulips from my sweet husband}

{super target had pillsbury cinnamon rolls... with chocolate icing! yes, they were awesome.}

{my annual heart tights - goin' on three years with these babies}

{I made some white chocolate covered pretzels}

{treats for my work friends}

{I printed out a bunch of our instagram photos as a gift for robert. idea courtesy of elsie}

{and right now I have a handsome man in my kitchen, whipping up a three course meal. best gift ever -both the man, & the meal!}