Thursday, May 27, 2010
I need a beach trip
Why do we do what we do to ourselves in the name of beauty?
I've recently become a girl, I think. At least, that is what my husband has been complaining of. I grew up a tom-boy and only recently figured out how to do my own hair. I still get in fights with my blow dryer every now and then, but for the most parts, we're good acquaintances.
Any way, he complains that I'm becoming more and more worried about my appearance. Which is partly true. I have a bit more free time on my hands, so I can actually spare some space on my iceberg of a brain for thinking about my hair, makeup etc. I've also started highlighting my hair and painting my nails more often.
Does this make me a girl? I still don't mind getting dirty and I believe I know more than your average female about computers and audio-visual components. But I have come to appreciate highlighted hair, and a well put together outfit. I still only wear make-up to church and dates, but I sort of know how to put it on and not look scary. Does this make me a girl? Leave your thoughts in the comments!
Any way, he complains that I'm becoming more and more worried about my appearance. Which is partly true. I have a bit more free time on my hands, so I can actually spare some space on my iceberg of a brain for thinking about my hair, makeup etc. I've also started highlighting my hair and painting my nails more often.
Does this make me a girl? I still don't mind getting dirty and I believe I know more than your average female about computers and audio-visual components. But I have come to appreciate highlighted hair, and a well put together outfit. I still only wear make-up to church and dates, but I sort of know how to put it on and not look scary. Does this make me a girl? Leave your thoughts in the comments!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The Pioneer Woman Cookbook: A Review of Awesomeness
Can I just say thank you to Ree Drummond from all the visual learners out there? THANK YOU! I love to cook, but it's hard sometimes to read the tiny print of a recipe in a cookbook when you're juggling the chopping and sauteing and mixing all at the same time without burning or dropping anything. This cookbook not only offers step by step pictures for each recipe, it also has plenty of cute pictures of her family and their ranch. She also spread little stories throughout the book like nuggets of sunshine. It's actually a book you can sit down and read! That's what I did after I bought it! She introduces each recipe with a story about where it came from or how it came to be. It's truly a joy to read as well as a feast for the eyes.
In addition to being visually and textually appealing, the recipes are delicious. They remind me of my mom's cooking. It's typical ranch/western food. Now I know what you're all thinking, But Teri, I thought you were born and raised in the South? Well, yes, that's true, but my mother was not. She was raised on a cattle ranch in Southern Alberta (that's in Canada, eh?) and that's where she learned to cook: By the said of my grandmother who not only fed their large family, but the ranch hands as well. So I grew up not with collards and fried chicken, but with beef and potatoes. That's not to say that there isn't a chicken recipe in here, because there are plenty, but that the entrees tend to lean more toward the beef side of life.
The flavors and smells of the foods I've cooked over the past couple of days remind me on mom. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it definitely screams: Narda! to me. The food isn't fancy or gourmet by any means, but it is tasty and comforting. And that's mostly why I love this book. I think it's just a big giant cookbook of my comfort foods, even though some of the recipes I've never seen or tasted before. I heartily recommend this cookbook to anyone. It is hands down my favorite cookbook ever.
And of course two days after I got the cookbook, I learned that she was doing a book signing tour and stopping in Charlotte! ARG! I so desperately wanted to go and say thank you, but obligations kept me in Raleigh. Not only is Mrs. Drummond a successful cookbook author, she started a blog a few years back which actually launched the cookbook in the first place. I feel like everybody knew about this before I did! (I hate it when that happens!) But now, I love looking at all her pictures and reading her blog. It's definitely a great space on the interwebs. Go check it out:
In addition to being visually and textually appealing, the recipes are delicious. They remind me of my mom's cooking. It's typical ranch/western food. Now I know what you're all thinking, But Teri, I thought you were born and raised in the South? Well, yes, that's true, but my mother was not. She was raised on a cattle ranch in Southern Alberta (that's in Canada, eh?) and that's where she learned to cook: By the said of my grandmother who not only fed their large family, but the ranch hands as well. So I grew up not with collards and fried chicken, but with beef and potatoes. That's not to say that there isn't a chicken recipe in here, because there are plenty, but that the entrees tend to lean more toward the beef side of life.
The flavors and smells of the foods I've cooked over the past couple of days remind me on mom. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it definitely screams: Narda! to me. The food isn't fancy or gourmet by any means, but it is tasty and comforting. And that's mostly why I love this book. I think it's just a big giant cookbook of my comfort foods, even though some of the recipes I've never seen or tasted before. I heartily recommend this cookbook to anyone. It is hands down my favorite cookbook ever.
And of course two days after I got the cookbook, I learned that she was doing a book signing tour and stopping in Charlotte! ARG! I so desperately wanted to go and say thank you, but obligations kept me in Raleigh. Not only is Mrs. Drummond a successful cookbook author, she started a blog a few years back which actually launched the cookbook in the first place. I feel like everybody knew about this before I did! (I hate it when that happens!) But now, I love looking at all her pictures and reading her blog. It's definitely a great space on the interwebs. Go check it out:
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
It's a small world after all...
So, in the process of putting in new shelves and getting a new dryer, we were stuck with the problem of having our old dryer sitting in out kitchen. So we did what most people in our situation do: put it on craigslist. I love craigslist. You can find anything if you're patient enough.
Any way, we put the dryer up about a week ago and today we sold it. When I got the email, the name at the bottom was Tom Kennedy. I thought to myself, "I know a Tom Kennedy. I went to high school with his kids." But then I thought there has to be dozens of Tom Kennedy's in Raleigh, so it can't possibly be the one Tom Kennedy that I know. When I called him up it turned out to be the same Tom Kennedy that I know! Crazy how small a world it is, isn't it?
Any way, we put the dryer up about a week ago and today we sold it. When I got the email, the name at the bottom was Tom Kennedy. I thought to myself, "I know a Tom Kennedy. I went to high school with his kids." But then I thought there has to be dozens of Tom Kennedy's in Raleigh, so it can't possibly be the one Tom Kennedy that I know. When I called him up it turned out to be the same Tom Kennedy that I know! Crazy how small a world it is, isn't it?
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Portfolio
I am not an amazing photographer like me friends Diane and Emily. But I recently applied to a job as a studio manager/assistant at a photography studio in North Raleigh. I don't know if I've got the job yet, but I put in some serious hours on photo editing this morning. And guess what? It was fun!! I didn't think it would be. I thought it would be super frustration like the last time I tried to use photoshop, but this paint.net program is really awesome and FREE! That's right folks, I said Free-99, my favorite price ever.
So, I put together some of my best pictures, and had to figure out a way to get it to my potential employer without bombing his email with 5kb a piece pictures. :) So, without further ado, I present to you:
Please let me know what you think! :)
So, I put together some of my best pictures, and had to figure out a way to get it to my potential employer without bombing his email with 5kb a piece pictures. :) So, without further ado, I present to you:
Please let me know what you think! :)
I am crazy
We started three home improvement projects all at the same time. We didn't plan it that way, but it all went down this week and we're going to keep going until it's finished (and by we, I mean the guys I've hired to help me out!).
The Bathroom
Ah, the guest bathroom. I am *so* sorry if anyone has had to use it. It was gross. The tub was cracked, the shower surround was actually a wood sticker with some plastic on the front, and it was Truman's bathroom too, so of course it was icky from that too. (I promise that we always cleaned it super-extra deep when we had company coming!) Any way, the point is that we wanted the bathroom to be a little bit nicer. Too bad it's not there yet. Soon, though.
The Laundry
So, Matt and I have talked about it for a while, and we finally got the shelves up yesterday. I haven't put everything back yet, so all the stuff is still on the floor in the library. I don't consider myself a particularly tidy person (as Matt will attest to), but the mess is starting to get to me. I am going to get everything put back *today*
The Yard
We talked to the landscaper a while back, and after confirming the details on Saturday, he showed up today. I hadn't really planned on that. He said me might show up today, but never confirmed any details. It was a little shocking to see him this morning in my pj's, but I'm glad it's getting done.
Now, I'm not doing any of this work, but there are still three trucks in front of my house and a few in my yard. We're widening our driveway so we can park the cars next to each other. Short of adding a garage, I think this is a really great idea. We are also adding a stone patio in the back and a path to connect the driveway and the patio. We're also putting in a few raised beds for a vegetable and flower garden (I'm super excited about those!). And then, to solve our non-grass problem (we can't get grass to grow in the backyard due to the incredible amount of trees, which I love), we're spreading two huge truck loads of mulch, to which I will add plants later as our budget will allow.
And just for the heck of it, we took out about four scrawny little trees that we're either blocking the view of the house or were struggling because they were placed underneath huge oak tress. It's a little weird to see the front of our house (which was impossible to see from the street due to the trees), and I was sad to see the maple and the mulberry trees go, but it's for the better.
When everybody's finished, I'll take more pictures and post them up!! :) So here's to keeping my sanity!
The Bathroom
Ah, the guest bathroom. I am *so* sorry if anyone has had to use it. It was gross. The tub was cracked, the shower surround was actually a wood sticker with some plastic on the front, and it was Truman's bathroom too, so of course it was icky from that too. (I promise that we always cleaned it super-extra deep when we had company coming!) Any way, the point is that we wanted the bathroom to be a little bit nicer. Too bad it's not there yet. Soon, though.
The Laundry
So, Matt and I have talked about it for a while, and we finally got the shelves up yesterday. I haven't put everything back yet, so all the stuff is still on the floor in the library. I don't consider myself a particularly tidy person (as Matt will attest to), but the mess is starting to get to me. I am going to get everything put back *today*
The Yard
We talked to the landscaper a while back, and after confirming the details on Saturday, he showed up today. I hadn't really planned on that. He said me might show up today, but never confirmed any details. It was a little shocking to see him this morning in my pj's, but I'm glad it's getting done.
Now, I'm not doing any of this work, but there are still three trucks in front of my house and a few in my yard. We're widening our driveway so we can park the cars next to each other. Short of adding a garage, I think this is a really great idea. We are also adding a stone patio in the back and a path to connect the driveway and the patio. We're also putting in a few raised beds for a vegetable and flower garden (I'm super excited about those!). And then, to solve our non-grass problem (we can't get grass to grow in the backyard due to the incredible amount of trees, which I love), we're spreading two huge truck loads of mulch, to which I will add plants later as our budget will allow.
And just for the heck of it, we took out about four scrawny little trees that we're either blocking the view of the house or were struggling because they were placed underneath huge oak tress. It's a little weird to see the front of our house (which was impossible to see from the street due to the trees), and I was sad to see the maple and the mulberry trees go, but it's for the better.
When everybody's finished, I'll take more pictures and post them up!! :) So here's to keeping my sanity!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Busy-ness
For the first time since I graduated, I felt legitimately busy this past week and a half. I ran around and got some headshots taken, auditioned for Annie (for which I did not get a part), worked, lost a pound and a half, and bought a new dryer which we have stacked on top of our washer. This is to be the subject of my post. :)
We've been throwing around the idea of stacking the washer and dryer to create a pantry space in our actual pantry. I know! Brilliant, right?! The space where the washer and dryer currently reside is in one of the most awkward places, but since I don't want to mess with totally remodeling our entire downstairs to create a more usable laundry room, We're going to change the players a little bit.
By stacking the wash and dryer, we can put in shelving from the floor to the ceiling, allowing me to actually use the pantry to store things. Currently, there are shelves above the washer and dryer. But me being the short shorty I am, those shelves are about as useful and an extra nipple.
Currently, we're in the process of moving them and I don't suspect we'll actually finish the project until late. I have to say, that for the tight space constraints, I did a most excellent job. :) I made breakfast bowls from my new favorite cookbook (which I'm planning to review after I've cooked a couple of the recipes from it) but because I didn't have any oven proof little bowls, I had to cooked it as one giant casserole (which now I think of it, it basically is a quiche). It took *forever*, so we ended up ordering pizza. I hate it when that happens.
We've been throwing around the idea of stacking the washer and dryer to create a pantry space in our actual pantry. I know! Brilliant, right?! The space where the washer and dryer currently reside is in one of the most awkward places, but since I don't want to mess with totally remodeling our entire downstairs to create a more usable laundry room, We're going to change the players a little bit.
By stacking the wash and dryer, we can put in shelving from the floor to the ceiling, allowing me to actually use the pantry to store things. Currently, there are shelves above the washer and dryer. But me being the short shorty I am, those shelves are about as useful and an extra nipple.
Currently, we're in the process of moving them and I don't suspect we'll actually finish the project until late. I have to say, that for the tight space constraints, I did a most excellent job. :) I made breakfast bowls from my new favorite cookbook (which I'm planning to review after I've cooked a couple of the recipes from it) but because I didn't have any oven proof little bowls, I had to cooked it as one giant casserole (which now I think of it, it basically is a quiche). It took *forever*, so we ended up ordering pizza. I hate it when that happens.
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