adieu to the east

Today, sigh, I fly back.

It may take a couple days --- (read: week) for me to sort through all of the fun photos I got, but I promise to post some here, or let people navigate through a Picasa album of the thousands.

While I am excited to see my friends, cat and familiar landscapes of home - this trip, my third consecutive trip out East, was amazing and I want to savor every last second of it. It doesn't help that today is a beautiful sunny but cool day. The kind that makes you want to walk around the city w/out having sweat drip down your face!

I wonder sometimes if I would be ok with being away from my family. I've heard both stories.... I've seen people do it, I just wonder if I could do it. Having to hear about my nieces and nephews instead of actually seeing them. And my grandparents, not being there for every single occasion. I know that my professional life needs some surgery - but I love my 'personal' life in sd. Despite the lack of eligible bachelors where I live. It's safe, cheap, fun - but it's not something I can put up with (my job) much longer. I know i'm there for the summer, and some of the fall - but then what?

stuff to think about on the flight home.

:)

if anyone wants to come to the airport - I land at 11:17 p.m.

mwha.

I love waking up somewhere new.

This time, it's a friends new apartment. The light hits everything and I just want to stay here all day and take portraits. I promised that the gushy-ness will wear off... you know - me thinking that everything is SO BEAUTIFUL SO WONDERFUL but I'm not sure it will. I love hearing commotion, sirens, people talking different languages.

M-hell is so drab. So very plain, boring, vanilla, safe and ugly in comparison. It feels like the world is in kodachrome after being in sepia :)

I needed a vacation so bad. I can tell now. The days leading up to it were very stressful and so now that I'm here I feel 20 lbs lighter. I don't have a lot planned this time - i'm just going to float around and see what I see - which is my favorite thing to do. I am very excited to see Jon in Virginia... another new place to wake up in!!

So far:

Great food, great friends

Today's agenda:

Explore till my legs give out or my camera battery dies... whichever comes first.

:) (there r - I blogged)

W.

My friends and I get together on Wednesdays and watch a 'Bad Movie'. The movies that we have watched so far range from Funland, to Howard the Duck and Snakes on a Plane. Some are better than others, but all share the common thread that someone worked really hard on making it - and now we get to mercilessly make fun of it. This weekly event is highlighted by adult beverages and homemade food. :)

Here is a poster I made displaying a character from each movie we have watched so far. The only one that we didn't make it through was Popeye. That movie is just terrible, awful and I'll never get that 30 minutes of my life back.

Good times had by all.

The Thin Mint Adventure of 2008

 After rolling out the dough, we cut out perfect sized cookies with a shot glass. 

Throughout the duration of the project, Mack and Chloe (Teresa's dogs) stayed on alert for any crumbs that dropped.

After about 12 minutes of baking, we cooled the cookies.

Note: we also tasted a couple of them... they were NOT good yet. Only cookie I've ever had where it's not good warm.

Then, we dunked them into a chocolate mixture and let them dry.

The chocolate mixture melted easily in the microwave.

The dunking process was not as easy... many cookies broke.

But there were still plenty to try. It was a very time consuming process - but it was fun! And while the cookies were alright, I think I'll stick to buying them from Girl Scouts.

Dissapearing act.

apparently, my co-workers liked the brownies my mom made in my new 'edge' pan. :)

Photos

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2051504&l=b01f8&id=41300860


Check out Omaha Old Market and Zoo photos from my birthday weekend! Good times.

My addiction

Hi, my name is Laura. ("Hi Laura") I'm addicted to fun kitchen utensils and gadgetry.
Ok, ok - there may not be a 12-step program for this kind of an addiction, but there should be.
When shopping, I always end up in the kitchen section of the store. Or even worse - I go to KITCHEN only stores, you know the kind. I know what you might be thinking, but weed - you don't cook. (But alas, I've started to.) And if you are a frequent reader of my blog you may recall a certain Chocolate Chip Cookies adventure which was a huge success.

But seriously, in said kitchen sections I always find something cute, something colorful that does something AMAZING! Or just looks cool. I don't know why I can't just buy the plain jane measuring scoops, spoons, spatulas - it's just not who I am. Not knocking it though those who can do that save money and still probably make good cookies.

Anyway, because I'm well, me - I have taken glamour photos of my collection.
All of this may be a tiny exaggeration. :) but enjoy the photos - maybe it will inspire you to have fun things in your kitchen.

(You have to click on the photo, I guess)



An explanation from the top:
1. T-Rex cookie cutter: bought at a kitchen store in Dinkytown, Mpls. (for the kids, when they visit)
2. Cranberry PC spatula
3. Fun glass-bead tray: found at an antique store in Des Moines
4. Stainless steel cannisters: my sister got them for me for Christmas per my request - and I labeled them with scrap booking stickers. (since this photo was taken, i've also found enough stickers for the little one to label it, brown sugar) I know, big LOSER.
5. Snowflake cookie cutter: it's just pretty. Bought at the same store in Mpls. They had probably over 200 different cookie cutters.
6. Wingman, red bottle opener: This thing is so tough, I think I got it as a gift. It could also be used for self defense - it's solid (and works well)
7. Spice shot: got this recently at a St. Patrick's Day sale downtown. (Received 30% discount on anything green) You fill it up with your favorite spice - and when you click the top, it pour 1/2 t. out, neat neat neat. I have dill in mine.
8. Magnetic nesting spoons: Bought at the same "green" sale. They have super powerful magnets in them so they stay together in the drawer, awesome. Also - the big one is a 2T one. Pretty handy. (because scooping out 2, 1T is just too much work... j/k)
9. Seed-scooper-outer: I'm sure this has an official name, but it works great for tomatoes, potatoes and it's Weed sized. yay.
10. Crinkle cutter: also from P.C. - it makes your chopped veggies look professionally-crinkle-cut. Hehe.
11. Scoop: PC scoop thing for cookies, melon balls, whatever you can dream up. Easy to clean too.
12. Grater: Haven't used it yet, but it has a red handle.
13. Mix&Mash: Also from PC - stirs, mashes potatoes, and other hot dish type things. Handy.
14. Hot-cocoa-pot: I got this at Gordman's. I couldn't leave it. I do not drink tea, but have used this as my hot-cocoa-pot. Adorable and microwaveable!

These are what could fit in the picture. Like I said, it's a sickness.

I've also gotten into painting my own pottery, here are a few photos from that. It's fun! There's a place in Sioux F. that lets you come in, and they fire it for you and glaze it. Neat-o.



Spice jars that stick to your fridge - I copied Lindsey :) brilliant!


And a glamour shot of my tea-pot.

Who has too much time on their hands?