Sunrise, Sunset, Swiftly Flow The Days

I enjoyed many things over spring break including, but not limited to...

Being able to be fully mentally engaged at home with my family without worries about school looming in the back of my mind

Time spent on vacation with new friends

Sunning my face on the beach in White Rock

The scent of the ocean air mixed with hot tar 

Discovering my new favorite treat is an iced caramel macchiato

A delightfully salty/sweet Smoky Bacon Maple Bar from FROST Doughnuts

The most delicious char-broiled pizza with goat cheese (you're sold already, aren't you?), kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and whole garlic cloves in downtown Vancouver

Waking up early on accident much too often, but just in time to see sunrise over the Cascades

The ever-present clumps of daffodils and blossoming cherry tree lined streets at home

Constant March Madness upsets

Reading...FOR FUN, specifically Peter Hessler's Country Driving

Feeling no guilt in taking the time to sit at Barnes & Noble reading Real Simple cover to cover

There's Nothing Like...

...baking, then consuming those delectable carbohydrates to make you feel accomplished and delightfully full. I tend to lean towards perfectionism, in the nicest sense of the word of course, and thus baking is an easier task: if you screw up proportions or ingredients you're left...well, screwed! Cooking on the other hand has always scared me to death! It's imprecise at times, an impromptu gathering of what's stocked away in the cupboards and about to take its final breath in a back corner of the fridge. Thankfully (I'm talking to you future family) college has equipped me with the skill to look at a random selection of items, ponder them, and a couple minutes later have an "AHA!" moment. I have conquered fears: making formerly raw chicken both safe to eat and yummy, caramelizing onions, conjuring up adventurous homemade pizza with my kitchen savvy friend Karianne, roasting vegetables, and exploring my creative side with flavors and textures. 

This week I have been inspired by Joy the Baker to make vegan coconut pineapple vegan banana bread and whole wheat molasses bread. While both were quite delish, the whole wheat molasses bread was the clear winner in the "I will make this again, and probably forever" category. It was moist, dense, slightly sweet yet savory, and it tasted dang good by itself and with a swipe of cream cheese. Coupled with a crock pot full of split pea soup (I am clearly making progressive steps in conquering my insecurities about imprecise measurements here!) and some self confidence from my mom, I became capable of making a meal for a family of 5 last night. Hazzahh! 

It's About Time!

For all of you non-redheads out there, know this: there is an unspoken bond between us that none of you will ever know. It's like a magnetic mental impulse, an immediate attraction saying, "I don't know you, but I like you, because we share a beautiful genetic trait." When we're walking down the street you'd better believe we make eye contact and smile in approval! And we always get a little bit happier inside when we see another who shares our same pigment tone.

This is a tribute to all the talented redheads out there, whether you're behind the mic, on the silver screen, or just really easy to spot in a sea of bleh-ness. 

(This is what 1,000 redheads looks like. Can you spot me?)

It's The Small Things

These simple pleasures made the difference for me this week:

1. The sun is still in the sky when I'm walking home from class at 5:30.
2. Wind!
3. The squeal of aluminum bats hitting baseballs down at UW's field.
4. Crocuses seem to be sprouting up everywhere!
5. The mixed scent of fresh cut grass and gasoline from lawn mowers is absolutely heavenly!
6. The persistent smiles of Trader Joe's shoppers. Maybe it's a renewed fullness of Jesus after Sunday morning church. Whatever it is, it's joyful, and I appreciate this physical exchange of happy hearts.
7. The secret friend who left a gift-wrapped container of TJs chocolate peanut butter cups for me to find. Thrilling!
8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 for only $3 with Elisa.
9. Finding Woody Allen's Manhattan Murder Mystery on Netflix!
10. Free petite treats at Starbucks, in celebration of its 40th birthday :)

Wow...look at all the things I am thankful for!

A Little Bit of Wishful Thinking for the Future

It's going to be quite some time before I'm married with a home like this. That would require me to have a man and a job, and I am not very sad to say that I currently possess neither! A few years back my family tracked down the Father of the Bride house in Pasadena, California, and I am determined to end up on a tree-lined street with an Austin Healey in my driveway. One can dream, right? I love how elegant the neutral interior of this Williamsburg, Virginia, cottage-inspired house is. It was a fun idea to tie all the rooms together with the spring green color splashes of the flower stems.