Author: Lauren

I'm Lauren and this is my life.

Weekend Things

Lauren7 Comments

Sorry to jump the gun right now, but SUMMER!!!

We had the most gloriously warm weather all weekend and I dove headfirst into full on summer mode.  Plus I walked home from a Friday manicure in the sunshine, hit up Little Man, went to a park party, soaked up the rays during Saturday happy hour, hung our porch swing, ran outside, laid in the hammock, frolicked with my sweet niece and nephew and said yes to everything because summer is the best time and I’m my best self when it finally rolls around.

IMG_2541

IMG_2565

Got a base coat at Base Coat and it’s official — I’m never not going there.  (Except for when I go to Ella Bliss.)  This color is called Adobe and I’m sort of in love with it.  Like I said, I walked myself home afterwards, feeling all pampered and blissed out by sunshine and weekend happiness.  It was truly the best.  And then I got home and helped Joey plot out our garden box placement.  We didn’t actually get to the actual building this weekend, but those little chalk sketches made me excited, nonetheless.

IMG_2566

We met Bobby and Becca for dinner at The Crafty Fox afterwards — our waitress ignored Joey and only brought out three sets of silverware, so that for a minute I wondered if he was maybe a ghost and the three of us were the only ones who could see him — then headed to Little Man.  Actual ice cream-wise, Little Man isn’t my favorite but you cannot beat a warm summer night on the pavilion, surrounded by fellow ice cream lovers.  Plus, if your friends have never experienced “the line,” it’s your duty to introduce them.  Salted Maple Pecan won for best flavor of the night.

IMG_2567

IMG_2568

Saturday morning, we walked to get iced coffee, ate almond butter toast in the backyard and then I hurried off to get a much needed facial.  My skin really needed it and my lovely facialist (that’s not a real word, but it should be!) recommended I really up my healthy fats to speed the healing process.  She listed almond butter, olive oil, coconut oil and I definitely heard her say “make some guacamole and crack a beer.”  Say no more, I’m there!  Afterwards, we headed to a birthday party where, moments after this picture was taken, Jory pushed his nephew’s face into the cake.  Who’s really the adult here, huh?

IMG_2553

We were totally going to be good responsible adults afterwards and go the grocery store/home for dinner but then we dropped by Hannah and Josh’s and they mentioned that they were going to Humboldt for Happy Hour and we were goners.  It felt like 100° in the sun, but I sipped a Mule, ate a slider, trout dip, truffle fries and TEMPURA BROCCOLI and didn’t mind it one bit.  Finally got around to exchanging spring birthday presents and I think we all left happy and full.

Later on, we watched 10 minutes of an awful movie before I vetoed (Slow Learners is a no) then switched to a slightly less horrible movie.  I thought Mark Ruffalo could do no wrong but then I watched Begin Again.  It wasn’t that bad, but it also wasn’t that good.  Then Fred Armisen on SNL!  I feel I never fully appreciated his weird humor until after he left the show so I was so glad to have him back.  To perform a one man show during the monologue, put his foot in a bowl of guac and cause the whole cast to lose it and revive that wacky made up band concept for the last skit of the night.  Also, “Farewell, Mr. Bunting” was the best thing ever.  Go watch!

IMG_2569

IMG_2574

IMG_2573

Sunday started with a run and pancakes, because I’d been complaining about not making any in weeks and weeks.  They hit the spot!  We spent the afternoon with my niece and nephew, who we don’t spend nearly enough time with and that needed to be remedied ASAP.  We took them to see The Angry Birds Movie and look, it wasn’t even the worst movie I watched this weekend.  Ice cream afterwards, naturally.  My niece is really into her rock collection right now, so her yellow rock accompanied us on our outing.  Love those two crazy kids!

IMG_2572

IMG_2570

IMG_2571

I ate that summer salad for dinner, but who even cares because HODOR!  Still processing last night’s episode of GoT but how momentous, heartbreaking and delightfully Ramsay-free it was.  In other news, the hammock is hung, our porch swing is back in place, I have a “Summer Bucket List” out and everything feels pretty good right now.

Happy Monday!

Recently Consumed

Lauren8 Comments

A list of things consumed by my head, heart, eyes, ears and stomach lately.

IMG_2028

The Red Tent

I think this is a pretty well-known book, but somehow, I’d never read it.  Hannah’s mom, Tracey, loaned it to me and I LOVED it.  The story, the writing, the way it gave voice to a female character instead of the dozens of male characters.  It made the feminist in me say hell yeah.  It’s not often that I wholeheartedly love a book, but I felt that way about this one.

“The Unhealthy Truth Behind ‘Wellness’ and ‘Clean Eating’“

I don’t mean to offend anyone, but don’t even get me started on the gluten-free fad.  My eyes cannot roll any harder.  Much of this article was focused on Ella Mills of Deliciously Ella and I know nothing about her or her blog/cookbook, but still there were many parts in here that had me internally yelling “YES!”  Namely, Nigella Lawson’s disdain of the term “clean eating,” and this quote at the very end: “Eating a wide variety of foods, trying new things, and taking pleasure in food is good for you. Combine that with the structure of regular meals and snacks, and make an effort to include most food groups at your meals, and you are covered.”  Give it a read and let me know what you think!

Me-and-Earl-and-the-Dying-Girl-Wallpaper

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Joey and I found this on Netflix while we were in New Orleans and I cried big fat ugly tears at the end.  I couldn’t stop!  But even though it ripped my heart out, I ADORED this movie.  It was quirky, it was heartfelt, it was funny, it was excellently acted and perfectly scripted.  You always take your chances when you watch some lesser known indie film, but we found a real gem with this one.  Watch it, you won’t regret it.  Plus: Connie Britton.

“How to Ice a Layer Cake Without a Crumb in Sight”

This article from Bon Appétit was so timely because I made the crumbiest red velvet cake for Joey’s birthday and realized my icing skills needed some serious work.  I’ve never even heard of a “crumb coat” before, but that it genius!  Can’t wait to test it out next time I make a cake.  Also, originally, I used the picture from the article above but then I was like “wait, is it legal to post this?”

IMG_2516

Overnight Oats with Kefir, Berries, and Toasted Coconut

Ever tried kefir?  When I asked Joey, his response was “Kiefir Sutherland?”  Um no.  This recipe was part of a whole “Gut Health” section in the latest edition of Cooking Light and I was totally into it.  And I was also so into this breakfast, that despite it being so gray and rainy outside, felt bright and summery.  It was like the consistency of Greek yogurt overnight oats, but way less tangy.  More please!

Evil Twin Molotov Cocktail

Joey decided we should be more into bombers, so he picked this one up from the liquor store last weekend and we cracked it open last night.  Just no.  It was 13% ABV and it tasted like it too.  It was hoppy but had that sweet barrel aged flavor and I just couldn’t do it.  Better luck next time, I hope!

FullSizeRender

Vermont Peanut Butter

My Peanut Butter of the Month subscription has come to and end and I’m sad.  The silver lining is that it went out with a bang because that Vermont Peanut Butter brand chunky pb is life changing.  It is SO CHUNKY.  Like full peanuts in there!  A chunky peanut butter lover’s dream.  Looking back, that dark chocolate rosemary peanut butter was my absolute favorite, but this chunky one is a close second.

good-girl-mary-kubica

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

Just started this one and because I know it’s being compared to Gone Girl, I’ll succumb and say I like this one better.  A) So far there isn’t anything unbelievably crazy happening and B) The characters seem much more relatable and real.  I sort of already have a feeling it’s headed in a certain direction, but I’m only 60% done, so we’ll see how it plays out.  Ten points if it doesn’t end predictably.

Happy Wednesday!