Ring in the New

Dear 2013;

Let's be friends.

I'll try and get used to writing "2013", but to be perfectly honest, it will be sometime in September when it finally feels natural. I wont even go into how much I liked writing 12 - - 12 all last month, how right it felt, how organized. 

If you treat me as well as your older sibling did, well, I will be ridiculously spoiled again.  So many friends made. So much learned. So much EATEN.

Every year I look back and find myself working/have worked jobs and doing things that I never thought I would because the idea scared me silly. Let's keep this up. It's growing on me.

My resolution list includes things like develop more recipes, be more kind(and patient, and understanding, and listen more, and..), and come up with some names for those drinks you keep making up. (what?) 

I have quite a few things up my sleeve for you 2013 - some right at the cuff..some more towards the elbow..but just you wait. It's going to be an entertaining year if nothing else.

love,
Me

Winter Blues?

I've got the cure.

Grab some lemons and make some citrus sugar! It's crazy easy and if it doesn't help I'm not sure how to help. I've never had a problem that food couldn't somehow fix.

Grate the skin of 2-3 lemons (wash them first please!) Try to avoid going too deep and hitting the pith. It's not that yummy.

Dump it in 4-5 Tablespoons of sugar and rub it together until the sugar starts to take on a pale yellow hue and the heavenly sent of lemons fills the air. 

Ta DA! Now store it in a cute jar and use it for whatever your little heart desires.

You can sprinkle it over fresh fruit.

Or just replace regular sugar in a recipe with it - like blueberry muffins.

Have a good lemon-y weekend!
xo

A Story and Web Wednesday

Good Morning! Yesterday was a good day for me.  Monday wasn't.
I left class (Monday) feeling unappreciated and talked down to by Chef because it was midterms and I had trouble trussing my chicken. ME! I kinda maybe beat myself up about it and felt that Chef wasn't realizing how much talent and experience I have (amazing how big-headed a person can get, hey? Well, pride goes before a fall . . .)

Well, imagine my surprise then when he came over yesterday as I was taking my Baked Cheese Grits out of the oven and told me that Chef -----  (the head of All of my culinary school's Departments) was having a meeting with some VIPs and wanted some dishes to showcase. And would I mind if they used my grits?

So that class ended on a good note after all.

Not the plate that was showcased . . they whisked it away before I could get a picture.

Also, I've decided to try something new. Every Wednesday I'm going to (try to) share some favorite pictures and places of mine from around the web. I'm trying to get back in the habit of posting often, and will usually cover things like Food, Something Local, Vintage, and Fun.

Here we go!

Food.

Smitten Kitchen was the first food blog I was introduced to several years ago. She works in a teeny tiny kitchen in NYC and talks about food and her darling son.

Something Local.

 Charming French Bistro.

Vintage.

Fred and Ginger!

and Fun.

Sweet Fabric Alphabet

It's Friday!

And I'm sharing some clever stuff from around the web. Because I am lazy and don't want to have to put too much effort into a post right now. Because my coffee hasn't quite kicked in yet. Because I leave for work in a few minuets and don't really have the time. 
And because I can.

First up!

Mason Jar Love

Have you noticed how much I like mason jars? I thought so.

They are so useful. The sky and your imagination are really the limit as to what you can do with them. And *psss* they are really cheap. I'm talking dirt cheap here. Especially if you get them at Goodwill or some other similar store.

So what are some of the amazing things you can you with them? Here you go:

 Use them as glasses.

Make pretty centerpieces out of them by gluing cloth leaves to the outside and putting a tea candle inside. (Or you could glue fake flowers, or bits of fabric...etc..)

 Bake stuff in them to give away as gifts. Or to take on a picnic... or up in a tree. Just sayin'.

Make cute little indoor gardens.

Light up the night.

 Organize.

How do you use them?

It's 40 degrees outside

I'm freezing. May really shouldn't be so darn cold. I'm wearing a heavy sweatshirt, yoga pants and a blanket, when I should be wearing a tank and some cute shorts. I mean really, Mother Nature. Winter has been long enough.

I am dreaming of summer.

There are so many things that I think everyone should try and do in the summertime. Not crazy things. Simple, fun, oldfashioned things. I love the word oldfashioned, don't you? Makes me think of simpler times, of girls in puffy sleeved dresses, drinking lemonade out of a mason jar. Which you should totally try, by the way.

That gives me an idea:

30 Things I Think Everyone Should Do

in the Summertime

Drink homemade Lemonade out of a mason jar. Write a letter to a friend. Go to a 4th of July Parade. Blow Bubbles with the neighbor kids. Ride a bike. Have a picnic. Turn your face up to the sun and take a deep breath, exhale, repeat. Eat cotton candy. Go to a local Fair. Run through a sprinkler. Plan a day at the beach. Go hiking. Visit your local Farmers Market. Paint your toenails(girls). Find a swimsuit you love, and WEAR IT.  Eat a Watermelon. Go see some Fireworks. Oooo and Ahhh at something. Play Marco Polo. Plant some flowers. Visit your Grandma. Eat a Funnel Cake. Catch Fireflies(then let them go). Get up early to see a sunrise. Watch a sunset. Wear sunscreen. Take some kids to the park. Take a nap outside. Dance in the rain. Remember that Summer never lasts long enough, and make the most of it.

Only 28 Days till June!