Be Mine: My Funny Valentine

Photo Credit: Ale Palma

February 14.
You are my sweetheart. After 5 1/2 years of marriage, you are still the kindest man I know. The most outrageous dreamer I've ever met. More optimistic than a cartoon. And my favorite brain to pick. I admire you. And I miss you every day when you ride away on your bicycle, headed off to school. Helmet, book bag, headlamp and all. Thanks for making me laugh. Thanks for being my dear-hearted best friend.

I look forward to dozens of decades more of late-night cookies, non-stop episodes of Burn Notice and international flights. Let's keep laughing, dreaming and making plans.

Be Mine: Valentines Day Gift Guide For Her & Him

Celebrate love! Buy presents! There are my two favorite things. It's almost Valentines Day, and that means that you have the opportunity to tell your loved ones what they mean to you. Boys, girls, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents - everyone deserves to know why they are precious to you. Take this opportunity to show them how you feel. Tell them why they are cherished. I've compiled a gift guide specifically for that extra-special guy or gal in your life. Go ahead. You have permission to wow.

Via // Via // Via

For Her...
ONE // Capri Blue Mercury Glass Jar Candle
Every woman wants this candle. This is THE candle at our beloved Anthropologie. We won't buy it for ourselves. But you could buy it for ourselves.

TWO // Boite A Savon Bath Salts
Oooh la la, any guy who encourages his lady to take a bubble bath is automatically THE MAN. And if he gives her these luxurious bath treats, she will be singing his praises for a long time to come. First seen (and most easily purchased) here. Peace and tranquility, anyone?

THREE // Warby Parker Glasses
 Give the gift of vision. For only $95 (anyone who has to buy glasses knows what a steal of a deal this is), you can try out 5 different pairs of glasses for 5 days. Keep the ones you want, return the rest. Oh, and the bonus? They will send a pair of glasses to someone in need, on your behalf. I love gifts that keep on giving.

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For Him...
ONE // Instagram on Canvas
He snaps those photos, but wouldn't he like to savor them? Print his Instagrams to canvas and experience the moment all over again. First seen here, this radical gift will be treasured for many Instagrams to come.

TWO // Growler Beer
"On tap" beer you can bring home. Isn't this every man's dream? Growlers come in 1/2-gallons, so not only is this pretty much the freshest beer you could have outside a bar, it's also a decent amount. Perfect for a picnic for two. Inside your home. On the couch. Check out your local breweries (and select liquor stores) to see if they carry growlers. You can even get them refilled! My local spot is the Harpoon Brewery, which has been on my Boston Bucket list for a while now... now I've got a reason to hit it!

THREE // Skyfall on Blu Ray
This is the action flick of the year. I personally think that Javier Bardem should win an Oscar for his performance in this latest installment of the James Bond trilogy. Experience it over and over again in HD. Order with ease here.

I hope you have the happiest of happy Valentines Day. Remember that these gifts reflect your love for your sweetheart, but only YOU can tell them why they are so special to you. So don't forget that part, too. I wish you many hugs and smooches.

Blizzard in the City

Finding Nemo.
Actually, Nemo found us.

Happy Monday to all of you! I hope your weekend was as fun as mine. Stevie and I stayed inside, munched on treats and watched movies on Netflix. And, at his request (I am not making this up), we started the latest season of Parenthood on Hulu. The man is obsessed. The snow fell and fell and fell and I was just glad that I, along with the rest of the city, had taken a trip to the grocery store before the blizzard set it. It was so lovely watching the snow come down, because for a couple of Georgians, we had never seen weather like this. Swirling, furious, relentless snow. And 24.9 inches later, all of New England was covered in a fleecy blanket of pure white. It was like a holiday card. Dreamy. Magnificent. Child-like wonder overtook us as we sipped our steamy coffee and gazed out our 4th-floor windows at the charm of the square.

The Romance. Is Over.
Unfortunately, the white has turned to sledge, which is a tasty shade of revolting brown. You simply cannot leave the house in anything but ski gear because your shoes will be ruined and your clothes will be covered in sleet. So yeah. Let's just say, I get why Northerners can be gruff. This weather doesn't bring out your best. But let's not focus on the ugly, let's just enjoy the magical wintery moments of bliss, shall we?

Ah, yes. A precious moment: this car. Is buried.

Leaping into snow. Because you just gotta.

Literally tumbling backwards in the snow. We did not mean to trip and fall, but the snow took three of us down.

Get Warm and Stay That Way.
So after several hours of prancing around in the fluffy accumulation on Saturday, we took a brief break in The Cellar, a wine bar right around the corner from where we live. Also one of the few places in Cambridge that was actually open after such an episode of weather drama. Stevie ordered me a martini, James Bond-style, and I did not refuse it. I've never had a straight up martini, but I kind of liked it. I would also like to drive a James Bond car, honey. Order me one of those, please?

Now that the snow is in giant heaps stacked on the sides of the road, I will be venturing out less than ever. A blizzard is fun, but the aftermath is unsavory. Think of me, all you southern belles. Remember me as you soak the sun into your tan skin. My own skin is fading into a milky shade of filmy white that is almost transparent. Not attractive. And can't venture outside without donning the equivalent of construction worker gear and an ice pick. So really, enjoy that green grass and sun shining high in the sky.

The Great Indoors

A blizzard is brewing. The flurrying has begun and the sky is furious to rid itself of the snow. I could keep whining about the cold, but it doesn't seem to do any good. Instead, I thought I would share my delightfully cozy indoor activities. I am currently job hunting so I have found myself with an excess of indoor time. In the case that you getting a strange episode of cabin fever yourself (or if you live in New England and you're about to be home-bound for DAYS), I thought I would ravish you with my woefully thrilling indoor fun.

Doing: Job Hunting, Video Editing and Crocheting. And staring out the window at all the cold people walking by. Is that mean? It's a lovely coffee time activity.

Reading: A few different treasures. One of the beauties of being out of school is reading, just for fun.
... "The Alchemist" (in honor of my bro-in-law Joshua, because it's his favorite book. Ironically, he used to tease me when I was little - FOR READING. So cruel.)
... I'm also still powering through "Anna Karenina", although it's a bit of a weary read. I'm going to reward myself with a viewing of Keira Knightley's interpretation of the text when I'm finally done. There will be kettle corn involved. And probably fruit snacks.
... "Audition", in preparation for my nervously-nearing future. Have I mentioned that yet? Mmm perhaps another time.
... And probably most importantly, "My Utmost for His Highest", for the Jesus factor. We all need the Jesus factor.

Watching:
... House Hunters and Love it or List it; I'm officially addicted to house shows. Even though I don't and probably won't anytime in the near future actually live in a house. Been in an apartment for.... 5 years and counting. And I don't think they actually make houses for people in NYC. So there you have it.
... Duck Dynasty and Swamp People; I can never live without cable now. How glorious are these people? I just love them and want to go gator hunting. No I don't.

Baking: Ghiradelli chocolate chip cookies
... I may have perfected the ultimate fluffy cookie. More details to come; I need to do one more test run. Market research. Whatever it's called. Okay fine. I need to eat more cookies.

Cleaning: Ha. Only occasionally, but Mrs. Meyers products have made it slightly more fun. The Rosemary, Basil and Honeysuckle counter top sprays are my favorite. Somehow, Mrs. Meyers has made cleaning sort of trendy.

Crushing: Essie confections Turquoise and Caicos, Tart Deco and Lilacism. It's safe to say I've developed a healthy addiction to this nail polish. As my husband says, it's better than my addiction to Sour Patch Kids. Mmm that's my movie candy.

Avoiding: The gym. But just so my insanely fit friend won't reprimand me, let me mention that I've been hitting the Brazilian Butt Lift DVDs hardcore, and my oh my, I have to open a window once I get going. The cold in my apartment suddenly becomes sweltering and my hiney forms vocal chords and screams obscenities at me. It's great. Spring break, I'm coming at you. Along with my mouthy tush.

Any indoor activities that you're enjoying? I could use a few tips, since job hunting can get me a little down. You might call it the winter blues. Muahaha I made a relevant joke. See, I already feel so much better.

Stay warm, my New England friends!

House of Blues: Backstage Pass

Band Stalker.
I feel like an accidental groupie. We aren't trying to follow Jesus Culture while they're on tour, but somehow they keep playing in our back yard. So we followed the lights. And this time, we somehow ended up with VIP access to Boston's House of Blues, where they played an oversold show. Many props to Scott Thompson, who spoke at the event, and my cousin Josh (remember?), who hooked us up and made the magic happen.

More Fun.
Once the show was over, the merch had been relinquished to squealing fans and the gear had been packed, we took a gander at the tour bus. Which means we walked on the bus, saw the bunk beds and then walked off the bus. I think the rest of the band thought we were legit stalking them because we had just seen them in Atlanta, but it's cool. It probably boosts their band esteem, actually. I'm good with that. It was a fun meshing of our worlds, as Stevie introduced our friends and classmates John and Charity to our cousin Josh and Atlantan friends Scott and Lacey. We jumped into the Feeney's car (7 people, 1 sedan, yes we did that) and headed down to our stomping grounds in Harvard Square. Dessert and tea at Finale made a lovely last stop for the evening. We laughed, munched and laughed some more. Being an accidental groupie is my new favorite hobby. Taylor Swift, I'm coming at you next.

City Musing: Ice Cold Cambridge

Is Anyone Else Cold?
It's bitter. Face-stinging, eye-watering, finger-snapping cold. It's the kind of cold that you swallow through your neck and immediately freezes your appendages. Suddenly fingers and toes no longer work. Oh, Cambridge. These are the kind of winters that make you infamous.

In an effort to get warm, I am continuously cranking up the heat and brewing coffee around the clock. I am layering my clothes and wishing that stores offered lifestyle handwarmers. You know, to keep inside the pockets of the sweatshirt that's under the second bathrobe. Ooh, and electric socks. When is someone going to engineer those? I'll buy stock.

So it snowed all day yesterday. It just snowed and snowed and snowed. And yet strangely, when I took my camera outside today to capture the snowy remnants left by the night's frost, there wasn't much to be captured. But there was still enough cold in the air to temporarily freeze my fingers so I could no longer click the button on my camera. Awesome. However, I wanted to capture my town while it's cold because, obviously, this is a big part of Boston's identity: COLD WEATHER. Call me sentimental, but I even want to remember this ridiculous weather. When I'm not here anymore. So snuggle up and enjoy. Your heater.

So in an effort to stay warm this evening, I will be snuggling up with my honey and watching last night's episode of Downton Abbey. Obviously, the Superbowl took priority last night (and Beyonce and Alicia Keys' performances totally made it worth it to me). My favorite new addition to a traditional Downton evening? Home-cooked kettle corn and La Croix. Yes oh yes. It's a good night to stay in.

TASTE: Be Mine: French Crepes

Happy Friday! In celebration of this grand weekend, I wanted to share a delightful recipe with you. And with Valentines Day around the corner, this could be a fun way to surprise your love with a special brunch on that oh-so special day. This is a super easy crepe recipe that I have indulged in at least half a dozen times. They are fairly simple to make and really, truly delicious.

Ingredients:
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour (I used whole wheat)
- 4 Eggs
- 1 cup Milk
- 1 cup Water
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 cup Butter, melted

*Keep in mind, this recipe yields about 16 crepes, so I usually divide it in half unless I'm cooking for hobbits.
**Cooking on a griddle makes this even easier. Don't own one? Here is a great, inexpensive option.

Directions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and flour. Slowly add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter, beat the mixture until completely smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour the batter onto the griddle, using about 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly. (I used my spatula to spread out the batter in a large circular motion. The batter is thin, so the crepes should be thinner than a pancake on the griddle.)
3. Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is lightly browned. Loosen with a spatula and flip to cook the other side. Serve hot.

Here's where they get a bit fun. You can do savory or sweet ingredients in the crepes. I made two types:

*Sweet Crepes: Filled with sliced strawberries, bananas and Nutella.
*Savory Crepes: Filled with artichoke hummus, shredded mozzarella cheese, diced tomatoes and avocado.

I also made an inpromptu brunch beverage: I combined equal parts orange juice and cranberry-pomegranate with a twist of lime. And perhaps a shot of rum. What?? Don't judge. It was afternoon by the time we actually ate...

And voila! Brunch is served. Let me know if you give this recipe a try, especially if you attempt it to impress your Valentine. Bon Appetit!