Sunday

It's Sunday morning. Lots of stuff on my to-do list today, and I'm not feeling so hot... hoping to perk up soon! In the meantime, enjoy:

- The cutest.

- Do you know the difference between Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act?

- McDonald's sells sustainable fish.

- One of the greatest contributing factors to happiness.

- Accessible post on beauty products to avoid. (For more, check out the Environmental Working Group... though be warned, there's no turning back! The more you know, the more you'll want/be scared to know.)

- A 28 year old Fiona Apple sings one of my very favorites.

- I'm loving this collection of authors talking about food (and other things).

(photo: mine, on flickr here)

Before Dawn

My very favorite Story People print. I was so happy to find the print for sale in Cambria when we were on our anniversary trip! Now I just need to figure out where to hang it.

Feeling nostalgic

"But then fall comes, kicking summer out on its treacherous ass as it always does one day sometime after the midpoint of September, it stays awhile like an old friend that you have missed. It settles in the way an old friend will settle into your favorite chair and take out his pipe and light it and then fill the afternoon with stories of places he has been and things he has done since last he saw you." - Stephen King, Salem's Lot

Someone seems to have forgotten to tell Southern California that it's time for fall. So, tonight I'm feeling nostalgic for the midwest and its crisp October air, pumpkins, changing leaves, school supplies...

Quinoa and Grilled Sourdough Salad

Last night for dinner, I made Quinoa and Grilled Sourdough Salad from Yotam Ottolenghi's beautiful veggie cookbook, Plenty. I'm typically not much of a salad gal, but this one was fantastic. Filled to the brim with fresh, local tomatoes, persian cucumbers, red onion, cilantro, parsley, quinoa, olive oil, and sourdough bread. Charlie ate it with a smile and only picked out a couple of cilantro leaves. Slowly but surely, I'm winning him over :)

A couple notes:
- I'd post the full recipe, but I'm still navigating the whole area of recipe attribution when I didn't really change or adapt a thing. Just check out the cookbook instead! You won't regret it.
- The recipe calls for mint, but I forgot to grab some at the store. I found that I didn't miss it.

(My untouched iPhone photos - that color and juice is all real.)

Welllll well well. I'm back. September has been busy!

Since I left you, I've been enjoying cruising around and listening to XM radio (the Loft! the Coffee House!) in my new car, keeping busy at work, cooking a lot, and letting Orange is the New Black take over my life. Charlie and I celebrated our one-year wedding anniversary with a long weekend on the beautiful Central Coast, and I've now officially worked at AB for over one year (my fantastic boss sent me these to celebrate!).

I have a bunch of posts I want to write - an anniversary trip recap, cookbook and recipe updates, new music reviews, an ode to pilates - but you'll have to wait for those. In the meantime, take a look at some of the things I've been enjoying around the web:

- A valuable take on 7 important financial decisions made in your 30s

- Real men in underwear ads

- Almond Butter Cocoa Truffles, oh my

- Moby talks about LA

- How to taste water

- My new favorite ad

- The best day

- Everyday ballet dancers

- Thinking about buying this and eating our way through LA

- My next project: a DIY grass shoe tray

- Obsessed with these dresses... now I just need a black tie affair to attend :)

Have a wonderful weekend!


(photo: mine, cyprus tree at the awe-inspiring Hearst Castle)

New Car

"Spend your money on the things money can buy. Spend your time on the things money can't buy." - Haruki Murakami

I leased a new car! We got a great deal on a fully loaded CR-V this weekend, and now I'm excited to spend our time exploring in it.

Vegetarian Quinoa Chili and a Catch Up

Well, shucks! I could have sworn that I posted between last Tuesday and today, but apparently not. While Charlie was out of town last week, I kept busy with a girls' throwback movie night, happy hour, pilates, and many walks filled with Lucy pulling me to three discarded slices of pizza in bushes nearby.

On Sunday, we hosted a small game night at our house. I tried my hand at making Vegetarian Quinoa Chili for the first time and thought the results were pretty delicious, despite the inappropriateness of chili in 90-100 degree weather. I was the only non-meat-eater of the bunch, but everyone else still seemed satisfied :) Our friends also brought mozarella, basil, and heirloom tomato salad and a decadent (but airy!) chocolate pudding/cake dessert. Wavelength and Cards Against Humanity were our favorite games of the night, and I can't wait to repeat soon... Any suggestions for future game nights?

My parents are in town, so tonight, we are headed out to meet them for dinner at a Peruvian restaurant in Hollywood. I can't wait for the ceviche mixto (and to see Mom and Dad)!