Who knew?!

Alright, I have a confession.

Sometimes, just because a lot of people I know like something, I'll purposefully not like it or bother to look into it.

Why?

Because everyone else likes it...DuH..

I'm like the ultimate non-conforming conformist.

Lately, I've been expanding into different bands.

I've decided to look into a few bands that I've always heard about but never bothered to listen to (consciously) because...

...well...

...everyone else liked them... 

*Insert snotty face here* 

Well, dear Me, I hate to inform you that I'm actually starting to really enjoy a few things that I've been trying really hard to dislike.

Here's a short list of what I'm venturing into:

1. Young. The Giant has been a really popular band in the group I run with for a while, but I never got into them...and now I am...I never realized how many songs I already knew! (Check out their video above)

2. Portugal the Man is the same way! I now love this song:

3. Couscous. I told myself for years that I hated couscous.

But it's really good! It's now my new rice :)

4. Nutritional Yeast as a popcorn topping. Okay, I actually started loving this in college but it just came back into my life and it's fantastic.

5. I tried so hard to hate skinny jeans. I think I thought that because I'm a thick girl girl with curves that I wouldn't like them...but I bought a pair and now I'm addicted...I'm almost upset that it's almost summer because I want to keep wearing them!

6. Spicy food. I tried something spicy like back when I was 10 and found it to be the WORST thing on the entire planet...but when I moved in with Jake back in August, he introduced me to so many wonderfully spicy things! Now I can't get enough!

7. And lastly, I never use to like wine...but now I'm a wine freak. Although I only like white wine as of yet, I'm working on red! YAY go me!

What are some things that you always thought you disliked but then tried again and actually like??

Music Monday: Father John Misty

Happy Monday!

Yes, I said it!

And I never say that but I'm feelin it today

:)

I found a song for today a while ago but I listen to it at least once a day...I just love the tune and the lyrics...

...and I also love the girl in the video, Aubrey Plaza from Parks and Rec. 

She's hilarious.

So enjoy this tune!

I am also going to finish by giving you 5 reasons why, so far, my Monday is A-Okay!

1. I went to the gym this morning and, besides the fat guy next to me who farted and it was awful, I feel great!

2. I just ate a huge bowl of cantaloupe and grapefruit. 

3. My abs already hurt from the gym...yesssssss

4. I'm blasting Coldplay (My favorite band of all time, even though I listen to like a million different kinds of music...)

5. I got up early enough to be able to write a post!

I'm trying to get back on the posting everyday.

It makes me happy and I like being happy.

I'm trying to be more happy because I'm tired of being unhappy.

Who feels me?!

On that note, have a WONDERFUL Monday, ya'll!

I'll share my big news tomorrow :)

Stay at home Saturday!

Happy Sunday! 

I love that this weekend is taking forever to pass.

I am so okay with that!

How's your weekend so far??

Yesterday, I spent most of the day updating my little page, catching up on some reading, outlining my play and deep cleaning my apartment.

I felt very productive :)

I've found a new feature on my phone, surprise, surprise!

It's called the Photogrid! And I friggin LOVE it because it lets me bunch all my photos together nicely so you guys aren't scrolling down for years!

1. Jake found his book of mustaches in the closet. 2. Baby lettuce! 3. I made steamed spring rolls for an starter last night, so yummy! 4. Old Bay chicken, couscous and a large salad for dinner. Since we've been indulging with family visiting, I thought it'd be nice to have some veggies :) 5. Still working away on my book roses! Excited to see the outcome! 6. Listening to some Across The Universe <3 7. End result of the spring rolls, so good! 8. All the veggies for the spring rolls: yellow pepper, water chestnuts, cucumber, carrots and sauteed baby bok choy. I'm in love with Spring Rolls.

What'd you do Saturday?

InstaAWESOME!

So as many Android users will agree,

I'm addicted to Instagram. 

So here are my shots from the past week!

Bella's Cafe: Brunch with the fam!

Latte.

Crunchy Chicken Breakfast Burrito w/2 eggs.

Fried goat cheese...my new favorite!

Sage sausage, apple and chipotle gouda stuffed chicken and roasted potatoes. Yeah. It's that good.

Shopping on Chapel Street.

Happy Hour.

Allagash Triple is way too good.

Fried pickles are my favorite.

Cigars and jazz at Owl Shop.

Button ups and sweaters. Going to work.

Alright, I feel like I've caught up now :)

Today I'm working on rewriting Othello for a summer kids program and a Mother's Present for you-know-who ;)

Happy Saturday!

7 Questions #3

It's that time again!

Actually, let me be honest...

Please be expecting a few updates in the next day or so.

I have so much to share!!

Including a recipe for delicious Salmon,

a cool project I've been working on

AND

some B I G news!!

But for now...

...here are 7 Questions!

This is how I feel :)

1. You are stuck somewhere you really don't want to be, do you- walk home, call a friend, or stick it out?
It depends on the situation....I've walked home from those things before AND have called friends :)

2. Do you like to PLAY sports?

I actually haven't played a sport in a long time. In high school I played lacrosse and before that I played soccer. But since then, I haven't actually had the opportunity to play anything in a while...except badminton...I really like playing badminton :)

3. Everyone has that one "different" song that they secretly love- what's yours?
I love the song "Birds" by the Kopecky Family Band. It's so good! I've been trying to post the video but I'm getting frustrated trying to get it to post correctly...so I'll leave it to you to YouTube :)
4. What is one thing you feel you are really good at?
I think I am really good at cooking. Well and baking...well anything really in the kitchen. I take after my grandmother in that way. I've been thinking more and more about taking cooking classes or something to hone skills but damn...I am GOOD.
5. A dog is running in your direction and barking loudly- what do you do?
I probably wouldn't run away but I'd tense up a little. I've hda dogs my whole life and that could mean one of two things..."YAY YOU'RE HERE!" or "HEY YOU! GET OUTTA MY YARD!" So...
6. Star gazing or cloud watching?
Whilst I love star gazing, I usually fall asleep when it's dark and I'm laying down so...cloud watching :)
7. What time of the day do you feel the most productive?
Mornings for sure. I don't like getting up early so on Saturday and Sunday mornings, I do my most productive things :) Like right now! I'm editing photos, catching up on the 200+ updates on my Bloglovin, making mixed berry pancakes for the boy and updating on here! WOO!

YOUR TURN!

Who, ME?!

This is really awesome!

My Canadian friend, Bola over at Lilac Dreams,

has nominated me for the VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD!

How exciting is this?

I am so honored that she would think of me! 

Thank you!

The rules for this award are as follows:

1. Nominate 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award

2. Add an image of the Versatile Blogger Award

3. Thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link to their site

4. Share 7 random facts about yourself

5. Include the set of rules

6. Inform each blogger of their nomination

7 Random Facts About ME!

1. I love daydreaming...I mean...it's becoming a problem.

2. I love the vinegar flavor...I <3 dill pickles and yellow mustard...

3. I almost cry when I see really cute pictures of baby animals.

4. I really want to travel to Africa...I've been obsessed with it for as long as I can remember!

5. I'm in love with Starbucks Iced Coffee with caramel VIA's.

6. Since I quit theater at age 19 (or was it 20?) I have not been to see a production or listen to a musical soundtrack since...it's weird...

7. I prefer french vanilla over regular vanilla.

Here are the 15 lovely bloggers I think deserve some recognition!

(In no particular order!)

For the Record

Fork and Vine

Good Good

Kaleigh

A Subtle Revelry

Story of My Life

Eye Candy

Monster Cakes

Gentri Lee

Lost in Relocation

Heart of Light

pine to the pacific

rockstar diaries

City Girl, Country Heart

Typical College Girl

Congrats ladies!!

I'M ALIVE!

I just wanted to check in and say...

...I'M ALIVE!!!

It's been over a week since I've really check in

and it's KILLING ME!

I need to tell you guys so many things!!

But for now, until I have more time to update,

as I'm heading to work right now,

I'll leave you with a photo of what I'd rather be doing 

right now:

Weekend!

Oh my!

This weekend has been so amazing!

My cousin is still visiting and yesterday we went into the city.

 I'll tell you a secret....

....I'm obsessed with How I Met Your Mother...

..and so is my cousin!

So yesterday we went at find the bar that MacClaren's Pub!

It was so awesome!

Honestly it looked nothing like MacClaren's BUT it was still cool!

Here are some pics from out afternoon!

Tick Tock.

This place was beautiful!

Jon at Liffey's: Friday.

Buuuur.

Yum!

Dirty Church.

Cherry. Beautiful!

Love the color.

I <3 beer.

McGee's! AKA MacClaren's!

My friends :)

Turkey burger...so good!

Jon and his nachos!

Love of my LIFE!

Cousin.

Subway.

Breakfast!

How has your weekend been???

Magical Thursday

Yesterday was such a wonderful day!
I spent most of it cleaning, shopping and doing this:

My version of OTHELLO


But then 5pm hit and I got to go pick up my cousin from the train station!
He flew all the way from Jolly ol' England!

We then set out for the night.
After picking Jacob up from work, we hit up Archie Moore's (a new fav hang out) then, after eating WAY too much, we headed to a show I randomly bought tickets for.
And it was possibly the best thing I've listened to in a long time!
This is what I saw:

We got to see The Lumineers, who I learned about from a fellow blogger and love them so dearly now.

And the Kopecky Family Band opened for them.

And they were just so much fun!

This was one of my favorite songs. It's just so good! Then we got to talk to them afterwards and they were just so humble and nice. I really liked how they were out and mingling with the crowd, I think that's really cool.

How was your Thursday??

7 Questions #2!

It's that time again!!!!

Gentri Lee posted her 7 questions again!

I'm really enjoying these because it gives me a chance to let you (the reader) get to know me better and I get to know myself!

So lets start with a picture:

I saw this on the side of a building in SoHo. So awesome huh?!

Lets start the questions!

1. What is your favorite App? (even if you don't have a smart phone I'm sure you've played around with someone else's)

I love all my camera apps. I don't have a professional camera to take pictures with but I love playing with the different effects...plus the camera on my phone is so much more convenient then toting a big camera around...ah, technology!

2. You have to come up with a book title on the spot- what is it? (don't think- just say!)

Curtain Up. I'm currently working on rewriting Othello for a summer play and I've been writing a lot of stage direction the pat two days...so it's stuck in ma brain!

3. You are given the choice between laughing at everything- always, or never being able to laugh again. Which would you choose?

Oh my gosh, laughing at everything please! I can't imagine a world where I can't laugh...

4. What natural disaster scares you the most? (tornado, hurricane, earthquake, flood, etc)

Right now it's tornados...I'm moving to Kansas in a few weeks and I've become addicted to STORM CHASERS...and that was a BAD IDEA!

5. What time do you wake up each day? What time do you go to sleep?

My first alarm goes off at 6:20am every morning. I usually am up by 7 :) I go to bed between 11 and 1 am!

6. (question courtesy of Katie) Who's your daddy, and what does he do?

My daddy is Tim. While I was growing up, he was a paint contractor but recently he's been getting more and more into farming!! I'm so excited to see where he goes with it!

7. What's the craziest dream you've ever had? (like an actual dream- while you were sleeping)

I can never remember fully what dreams are about these days BUT I know lately I've been having some ridic dreasm! I know I've had a Harry Potter dream AND a Hunger Games dream! 

I believe in Me.

I am 23 years old.

I'm not that old.

But I feel like I've accomplished a good number 

of things in my short life.

I graduated high school.

I graduated college.

I've been working since I was 16.

I understand what it means to be an adult.

I've dealt with a lot of problems from 

horrible boyfriends to family troubles.

Then I made one of the biggest decisions in my life.

I up and moved 2,974 miles from my home town of Oregon City, OR

to New Haven, CT.

I knew nobody. 

I had no job.

I didn't know where I was.

But I have come out the other side a happier, healthier, successful, proud,

strong, versatile woman. 

I had my exit evaluation today for my Americorps position

We talked a lot about my work and how I feel about what I've accomplished.

And I feel really great about myself today.

It's the first time in a long time that I feel this great.

I worked my booty off because I wanted challenge, I wanted something to be proud of and I wanted to work hard.

And I did.

My message today is to believe in your yourself, no matter what.

And believe me, I know it's so easy harder then it sounds.

I've had my fair share of crap days.

But the ones that go really well...cherish those.

Channel those days when you're feeling down.

Better yet, don't let yourself get down!

 ( That's something I learned from Jacob <3 )

Lets make today better then yesterday and the best till tomorrow!

(1.)

Something New!!

On our date night last Friday,

Jacob and I decided that we need to put aside one night

every week to make something new.

We cook a LOT but we sometimes keep from making

what we're really are into because we don't want to

make something the other won't like.

So in this pact, we decided that we each take turns

picking the recipe. 

Jacob won the coin toss.

So sushi it is!!

I'm not going to lie.

I was a bit skeptical about this.

He's been talking about it for weeks.

I think I was a little put off by buying raw fish and eating it.

I felt like there was something wrong with it.

But I sucked it up and we made it.

But it turned out so delicious!! Such a good choice!!

We had fresh wild Salmon, carrots, celery and cream cheese.

Then we topped it all with this spicy chili sauce 

(made of mayo, Siracha, hot chili oil and sesame oil...SO GOOD!)

The important part is that he's happy.

And it was delicious.

And sushi isn't as hard to make as I always thought it was.

Which got me thinking...

...what if the things you always think of as being difficult...

...what if they aren't so difficult...

...but we're just too scared to try??

Food for thought...

Happy Monday!!

P.S. I get to see my family in 3 short days!!

Oh Lazy Day!

I love Sunday's that are lazy, sunny and full of eating and sleeping.

It was so nice outside today.

I'm so excited for Spring!!

Rereading an old favorite on the grass in the sun. Bliss!

Walked to JP Dempsey's for lunch. Sat outside. Bloody Mary made with jalapeno infused Stoli. I love it!

French bread topped with diced tomatoes and panchetta. Baked with mozzarella, fresh basil and Parmesan cheese. Plum tomato sauce. So. Darn. Good. 

Jake asked me on Friday what is the one thing you could spend hours talking about and can you guess what it was??

Yes.

Food.

I love food like nobodies business. I love eating it. I love making it. I love watching other people make it.

It's a horrible habit that I wish I could kick!

Why couldn't I be born with the gene to diet??

(haha just kidding :) )

How was your weekend???

Weekend Check In

Happy Saturday!

If you live anywhere near me...

then you are also basking in the warm breezes and blue

skies of Spring!

I thought I'd pop in and say hey :)

How's your weekend so far?? Anything fun planned for Sunday?!

Check out my date night last night!

Started at Barcelona, SO GOOD!

Tapas!

I hate mushrooms...and I LOVE THESE.

Blurry picture but the drinks were delicious!

Then cigars at the Owl Shop.

I love him so :)

Hit up Rudy's for a drink.

Wouldn't want to be with anyone else :)

This morning required greasy food and a large water bottle.

And now craft time! I have 24 new magnets :)


It was such a great date night!
Now I'm cleaning and doing laundry while Jacob's off
helping some friends move.

I think I got the better deal :)