Category Archives: random

Favorite Things

I know I haven’t posted in a while.

I break the silence (perhaps only momentarily) with a list of 20 of my favorite things!

1. Family timeImage2. Photography

3. New book smell

4. The beach

5. Falafel

falafel... mmm

6. Ethiopian cuisine.. drool..

7. A hot shower in the middle of winter

8. English accents

9. Sherlock (BBC version)

10. Niles Crane

11. Homemade deodorant

12. Solo airport travel

13. Independent foreign films

14. Adapting/creating recipes

15. Horse breath

16. Puppy dog eyes

A.Dawn's T_day-7-2

17. Sk6ers

18. Nail polish

19. Tights

20. Boots

Hooray!  That was fun!

Your turn!

Canon Clark

We have a new addition to our happy little duo!

Meet Canon Clark!

[/source]

We named him after Superman (or rather his alter ego) with his extreme eyesight and powerfully sharp focus power. At least that’s what Kyle says!

Clark is our first DSLR and he comes with a bit of a learning curve. Unfortunately I haven’t had much time to play with it in the daylight. Here are a few of my favorite practice photos I’ve taken so far!


Mint Crinkle Cookies


Jules, my 9-year-old himalayan cat.


Tabasco, my mom’s 9-year-old cat (who thinks she’s a dog).


Granola I made in my dehydrator. I was teaching myself about focus and depth of field. At least what I understand of it.. =)

And now I’m off to bed.

Only 4 more days! *squeal*

Goodnight all!

Diner Groupie

For a late Valentine’s Day meal, Kyle took me to a restaurant I’ve been lusting after for almost a year.

The Chicago Diner!!

I was so excited I couldn’t stand it! For those of you that aren’t familiar with the Diner, it is an all vegetarian/mostly vegan diner in Chicago. Everything on their menu can be made vegan. I think the only non vegan things they have are cheese and eggs, but they have the vegan equivalents.

For a Sunday, that fun little diner was PACKED! When we walked in, we gave the greeter our name and he directed us around back to their heated patio to wait. After about 15-20 minutes a waiter came to bring us inside. Instead of going around the front, he brought us in the back door and through the kitchen. Both Kyle and I love that we were brought through the kitchen – proof that they have absolutely nothing to hide from their customers!

After having a seat, our waiter (Brian) popped over to see what we wanted to drink. I explained it was our first time and we weren’t quite sure what we wanted yet. He was super nice, telling us to take our time and ask questions if we needed. For every table in the restaurant being packed with people I never once felt rushed.

On Brian’s recommendation, I went with the reuben and sweet potato fries..

umm.. heLLOOOOOOOOOO gorgeous..

Kyle went with the Dagwood and a side of sesame ginger kale salad

That kale salad was tasty!

On top of all that deliciousness we shared a vegan chocolate chip peanut butter cookie dough shake!

The Chicago Diner forever has my heart!  I can’t wait to come back for another shake.. mmm..

I, of course, topped the meal off with some coffee!

Then we ran away from Sue..

Fin.

P.S. – Kyle’s NOT flipping me off in that picture.  I’m not sure what he’s pointing at, though..

Sookie’s Mole!

Happy (really-belated) Halloween!

For the big day I dressed as my favorite book character – Sookie Stackhouse!

The garlic was because I’d had a fight with Eric (oh yeah I’m on Team Eric).. ;)

Since Kyle and I didn’t have anywhere to be that night, I whipped up some Seitan simmered in the mole sauce from Veganomicon. It was sensational and I can’t WAIT to make it again!

I’ve been battling a sickness for about a week and today it claimed my voice! It super-sucks!

I’m hoping it’s just laryngitis and not strep. I suppose I’ll find out if it doesn’t go away on its own!

Hope to be back soon! Off to the sofa for more X-Files and water!

Indian Pass

Hey y’all!

This weekend Kyle and I traveled to Port Saint Joe, Florida for his very good friend’s wedding! I was enamored with the town. The groom and his parents have an amazing home right across from the ocean. It was the perfect setting for a wedding. Gorgeous

The hosts also made sure there were some sauteed veggies at the rehearsal and the reception, as well as some amazing asparagus! It was well appreciated after eating granola bars and peanut butter sammiches from my purse!

(Plus we stopped at Red Robin on the way to the airport to fill me up with some much needed protein! Go BOCA burgers!)

I hope I get to visit again soon!

Sharp windblown sand!

Raw Bar!!

Kyle trying his baked oysters. He said he liked them.. the picture doesn’t prove it, though!

The walk down to the beach for the ceremony was amazing!

One of the many butterflies present at the ceremony!

The bride and groom with their immediate families.

Can you believe I was able to watch wild dolphins (not pictured sadly) feeding not once, but twice through this gorgeous water?!

The boys filling up their bags at the candy bar! I attacked the Starburst with a vengeance..

The night-time golf cart ride down the beach proved to be too exciting for Kyle.

The bride and groom with me, Kyle and his brother in front of the bonfire! How have I never been to a wedding with a bonfire before??

I love the garden by the guest house..

And the beach!

The whole “petting the bird in the picture” thing didn’t work out..

The End!

The Cove

I watched a movie today. 

I watched a movie that had been on my “to watch” list ever since I saw it on Mama Pea’s Employee’s Pick list.

The Cove is a movie about what can only be described as dolphin slaughter. It is not a movie for the faint of heart. I do believe that everyone should watch it.

And that we should take action.

Please watch this movie. It will change you.

Then go here to sign a petition to stop the madness.

Home | Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project.

Forever and a Day.. or Sixteen..

It’s been a long time, my peeps!

I have internet! Sort of. Ok Kyle has internet. He moved in upstairs!

I kinda feel like I’m living in a Friends world. But I get more exercise running up the stairs instead of across the hall, so I get to eat more.

Hopefully I will work on getting a few recipes up really soon. In the meantime feel free to take a peek at what I’ve been up to the past few months!

We played with my niece..


We tooled around Chicago, stopping off at the Shedd Aquarium!



I packed us some homemade vegan burritos so we could save some money.



Afterwards we stopped at Soul Vegetarian East (DEEEEEEEEEEE-LISH!)


I made Mama Pea’s enchiladas..

Chickpea Cutlets from Veganomicon.. multiple times..

I had a birthday! Kyle bought me a papasan chair! We also discovered a new vegan-friendly restaurant in town – America’s Bistro!


We ate some Thai food..



I also travelled to Virginia and back..

But that, my friends, is another post!

Enjoy your humpday!!