What I’m Into | M. Suzanne Terry

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What I’m Into – March 2015

Posted in Books, Food, Fun, TV, What I'm Into on March 30, 2015| 9 Comments »

Well, it’s here. Spring. My nemesis. And I feel bad talking about how much I despise it, because:

1) People are so happy, and while none of them cared to spare my feelings when they were endlessly (soul-crushingly, tediously) whining about my beautiful winter, I just can’t bring myself to do the same (most of the time, that is, because clearly, I’m having no problem doing so right now).

2) I literally feel bad. Spring brings out all my allergies, so working up a nice rant uses too much energy – energy better spent trying to breathe and stop itching.

I have the good drugs, though, so at least there’s that.

And at least it’s not summer. Yet.

But rather than focus on what I’m not into, let’s talk about what I am into.

My favorite thing I did this month was turn 40.

The weather was nice (and by “nice,” I do mean rainy, overcast, and mid-50s), so that was my birthday present from Jesus. We tried out a new breakfast place – Crickles and Co. – and it was amazing. Everyone basically purred through the whole meal (the biscuits – omg, get the biscuits!). After a very leisurely breakfast, a few of us went to Barnes and Noble and browsed for a while. Then I went home and spent the afternoon my favorite way – reading and napping. I woke up refreshed and ready for my birthday dinner at Greenhouse. Then we went to my sister and brother-in-law’s house for cake and coffee. The cake was coconut and pineapple, and the coffee was strong. And Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer came on the music mix right as we were about to cut the cake, so they sang the chorus instead of the traditional happy birthday song. Tammy’s explanation: “It fits. You’re halfway there. Halfway to death,” which was hilarious and pretty much my favorite thing anyone said all day. We then watched The Whole Nine Yards while everyone recovered from/embraced their food coma.

It was a great day.

What made it even more enjoyable is that I didn’t worry about the planning. Rather than try to make it this huge event, I picked a couple of places I wanted to go and limited the guest list to people who had asked what I was doing for my birthday or who regularly include me on invitations to theirs (and I kept adding people all week, because I am old and forgetful – an excuse I plan on using a lot from now on). So the group stayed small enough that I didn’t have to make special arrangements or reservations. It was relaxing in both planning and execution.

And then, of course, I have enjoyed spending time on other days with people who couldn’t make it. I have had outings and been treated to so many dinners. I love March.

Another fun thing I did this month is the Wicked Wine Run. Or rather, the Wicked Wine 1K mosey, in my case. It took place at the Lost Oak Winery in Burleson, and we had a lot of fun. Two of us dressed up like Pikachu and a unicorn. I wore a headband and funky socks (not pictured).

That’s my way to race – with four wine-tasting stops. Actually, the energy of the race atmosphere makes me want to train for an upcoming 5K, so starting on April 26, I begin my training, and I am actually excited about it. We’ll see how that goes.

In entertainment/arts news:

I’ve been binge-watching The Mindy Project. So many people have recommended it, and I finally heeded their recommendations. It did not disappoint. I love this show.
The Angry Women Blog. This blog understands me. I will be submitting posts to it within the next few months.
I tried watching Entourage. Meh. I am four episodes in, and I can’t decide if I’m actually bored with it or if, after hearing the HBO sound, I’m just disappointed that The Newsroom doesn’t start. But after four episodes, I still can’t think of a single moment that got any sort of enjoyment reaction from me. So I might have to throw in the towel on this one.
This has been a good reading month. My top three recommendations are The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway, and the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy (I’m about to start #3) by Laini Taylor. So good.

My favorite thing I made to eat was lasagna with spinach and goat cheese (instead of ricotta. DO IT.). It looked like a bad accident:

…but it tasted so good.

And my favorite non-coffee thing to drink was this tea:

It might actually replace Earl Grey as my favorite. It’s that good.

So that was my March. How was yours? I’m linking up with Leigh Kramer – you should join us!

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What I’m Into – January 2015

Posted in Books, Food, What I'm Into on January 30, 2015| 7 Comments »

January felt productive. Maybe it’s because it’s the start of the new semester, so it’s productive by design. Maybe it’s because it’s a new year, so I have a new zest for getting things done. Whatever it is, I’m happy about it.

1. I am in love with the Duolingo app. Every day, I learn new language skills. I started with just brushing up on my Spanish. Then I added Italian. Then I added French. Then I added German. So I have daily practice with each language right on my phone. Spanish and German are the easiest so far, since I have a little background in them. Italian is easier than expected. Of the romance languages I’ve studied, it seems the closest to Latin (I knew those four semesters of Latin would not be in vain!). French is kicking my butt. That’s okay. I enjoy a challenge. I know how to order coffee and affirm my singleness by declaring “I have four cats,” so the basics are covered.

2. I am almost done with my taxes. I am going to have them sent by the end of next week. This is curious new territory for me. This will be the earliest I have ever filed.

3. Speaking of curious new territory, I have displayed some mad budgeting skills this month. January is usually a pretty sparse month, because I don’t get my first teaching paycheck until February. Yet here it is, the end of January, and I still have a nice little cushion in the bank. I am so proud of me I don’t even know what to do with myself.

Last month may have been the month for food scavenging, but food prep has made a roaring comeback in the new year.

1. I am obsessed with a certain espresso-infused balsamic vinegar. My friends Beth and Kim are in the process of starting an oil and vinegar shop in town (Denton Olive and Co. – click and like!), and I might have to have them order it for me by the case. I put it on sausage and roast. I pour it on goat cheese and eat it with crackers. I may or may not have poured some in a shot class and sipped it like a fine brandy. It’s so delicious.

2. I made a lot of shortbread this month. It’s an easy thing to throw together and take to a party, and if I make two batches on the Friday night of a busy weekend, that covers every party that weekend, as I am not interested in any party where shortbread is unwelcome. It all started with this Earl Grey shortbread. From there, I discovered that you can pretty much substitute anything (lemon zest, cocoa powder, chocolate shavings, espresso powder, etc.) for the tea, and it will be delicious.

3. My supper club helped with the first round of testing for Feast. It was a glorious success. Steak, potatoes, chipotle mayo, and peppermint cocktails. Happy.

I enjoyed a lot of outings with people.

1. My new hall director, Jessa, and I had our first one-on-one. We had lunch at Seven Mile Cafe, and I splurged on an almond milk latte. Sooo good.

2. We threw a tea party at the Aubrey Area Library, and it was a lot of fun. We had scones, cookies, tea, costumes, and trivia. I felt fancy. Check out this spread:

3. Story Feast was also this month. We gathered at Adela’s house and had so much food and got to hear about what everyone is working on.

I have done quite a bit of reading this month, and it’s all been good. I can’t choose a favorite, but I especially loved Eleanor and Park (Rowell), Nocturnes (Ishiguro), Tables in the Wilderness (Yancey), and Still (Winner).

If I lived in Austin, I would be into having food delivered – quite possibly on a weekly basis, because every menu has looked amazing – from The Lavendar Goat. If you are in Austin, you should order every week and then tell me all about it. If you are not in Austin (like me), you can also get help with meal planning and follow him on Facebook or sign up for his email newsletter. We learned basic knife care this week. Do it!

I’m linking up with Leigh Kramer. Come join us! What were you into this month?

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What I’m Into – December 2014

Posted in What I'm Into on December 31, 2014| 2 Comments »

December has seemed really long. Thanksgiving seems like it was a year ago. I guess that’s good, since there’s usually a lot to cram into December. It’s also a little overwhelming, so much so that I’m almost at the end of my two and a half weeks of vacation, and I feel like I’m just getting started. But no – work comes back on Monday. I told Steph last night that what I really need is two weeks vacation and then another two weeks secret vacation where I’m still off work but no one else knows about it. Because you know what happens when you tell *cough*brag*cough* people you have oodles and oodles of free time? They trip over themselves to try to fill it up. Then you no longer have free time, which to me is the whole point of vacation. And I let them fill it up, because seeing them is wonderful, but while I have not done a single thing these last two weeks that I didn’t want to do, I have still done a lot of things and *omg tired* I need a break.

Here are some of the things I’ve been into this month:

1. Advent. It feels weird to say I’m “into” Advent. It’s not a club or a hobby. But yeah. I’m into it. It’s one of my favorite seasons of the liturgical year. I get waiting and anticipation, and it’s nice to take time to sink into it. Brenna D’Ambrosio’s In the Edges of the Day group has been vital to my ability to abide in Advent this year. Thank you, Brenna!

2. The Newsroom. I have devoured all three seasons this month. I waited until after final speeches and papers were graded, because it’s just not fair to watch Aaron Sorkin while grading undergraduates in a freshman-level course. It’s too high a standard. But after grades were in, this is pretty much the main thing I did for the next week.

3. Food scavenging. I have been shameless. I can’t remember cooking once this whole month. I take that back – I made meatballs. But other than that, I basically scavenged. I took home a vat of leftovers from Thanksgiving, and freezing some of them took me all the way through finals week. Every time I went to a party or gathering (and it was December, so I went to A LOT), and the host at the end of the night said, “Please. Everyone take some of this home,” (this might be a Southern thing) I did. I said yes to every freebie food that was offered to me this month. Favorite score – half a dozen everything bagels.

4. Reconnecting. I visited my hair stylist/colorist for the first time since August. We had a lot of catching up to do. I saw lots of family at Christmas, spent a day with Michelle, Steve, and Savvy, and have had dinner with beloved ones whom I hardly ever get to see when we’re living our normal lives. It was nice.

5. Dog sitting. I have been spending the week with these two little nuggets:

I caught them sharing a pillow, even though most of the time they act like they don’t like each other. Sleep shots don’t lie, pups.

D’aw. They’re so cute and cuddly. I just want to squish their faces with love. Some of their cutest moments are when they are sleeping. You know, when they are NOT staring at me or following me around the house or smacking their gums or barking at absolutely nothing. That is NOT cute. But most of the time – cute.

Buddy, Maddie, and I have enjoyed the crisp weather from the backyard, taken naps, and binge-watched New Girl. Good times.

Another thing I am into this month is nostalgia. December is a looking-back month. Five things I’ve been into this year that I want to carry into 2015 –

1. Meeting online friends in person. I haven’t done that since fandom, and I forgot how much I love it.

2. Feeding people and entertaining. That’s going to be a theme for me this year.

3. Poetry – writing it, reading it, reciting it to innocent bystanders/students.

4. Art journaling. My art journal is less art/more journal, but it’s mine, and I enjoy it.

5. Playing around with the blog. I’ve guest posted and hosted others here, and I have plans to do more of that (invitation coming next week, in fact). I also have enjoyed having themes and series. I want to continue the Coffee Shop Road Trip this coming year, and I haven’t given up on Getting It Together, although I am willing to admit that it might be a life project. I think it is for everyone, though, so I’m okay with that. I can’t wait to see what happens here this coming year!

So that’s my month/year in review. What are you into?

I’m linking up with Leigh Kramer – join us?

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What I’m Into – September 2014

Posted in Books, Denton, Food, What I'm Into on October 1, 2014| 9 Comments »

September is always such a tease. It gives us a few cool days. A friend whose birthday is in the middle of the month says that Jesus always makes the weather nice for her special day, and I’m inclined to believe her. It always manages to make its way back up to the 90s at some point during the month, though. I could do without that.

Looking forward seemed to be the theme of this month. I am about to start October Unprocessed and 31 Days of Movement, so I have been collecting recipes and ideas for exercise that fits into a busy lifestyle. So I have stacks and stacks of cookbooks and get-your-life-together books all around the apartment.

September was full of friends and food. The DFW Story Feast had fondue night. There is a particularly telling picture of me where I am not at all looking at the camera but rather am focused on the smothered piece of bread at the end of my fork. I do love cheese. We meant to art journal that night, but…cheese.

I tried Hypnotic Donuts and Cultivar Coffee for the first time. They have branched out from Dallas and made their way up to Denton, and I’m so glad that they did. Sonja and I each had a donut and then went back for poutine and a chicken biscuit. And it took me the entire time I was there to realize where I had seen this couch before:

My grandmother had this exact same couch. If you look closely, you can see the pictures of the pheasants. This made me feel oddly at home. It seemed fitting that I should be eating biscuits and drinking really strong coffee near this couch.

That’s right. Getting all my bad habits out of the way before I start an October of eating and doing things that are good for me.

Other than cookbooks, I have only read two books, but I enjoyed them both. Cassandra Clare’s City of Heavenly Fire was a quick read and a nice (albeit very predictable) conclusion to the series. But Jasper Fforde’s The Eyre Affair was my favorite. I feel bad for it, being my favorite in a slow reading month. It’s not hard to be the better of two. But even if I’d read twenty books this month, it probably would still have been my favorite. It was clever cornucopia of literary references, and it made me want to read everything mentioned.

As far as music goes, I have had either Rude or All About That Bass stuck in my head all month. I only find one of them tolerable. It’s been tedious. I would like to say that this is teaching me patience, but I’m pretty sure it’s just fueling my rage.

Micah and Raven both had birthdays this month. They’re getting so big, and I see them so rarely. I might have to make a dash to Fort Worth in October to visit.

So that’s my September. What was your September like?

I’m linking up with Leigh Kramer – join us!

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What I’m Into – July 2014

Posted in Books, Denton, Food, Story Sessions, TV, What I'm Into on July 30, 2014| 2 Comments »

July is pigtail weather. July is also finding-things-to-do-indoors weather.

What I did:

For July 4th, I made Sloppy Joes (Mom’s recipe that is basically meat, ketchup, and sweet pickle relish – also good on lentils but drain the relish first to avoid soupiness), Caprese Salad bites (although mine didn’t look that pretty…in fact, they were mostly assemble-yourself bites), and White Sangria (after comparing several recipes, I just dumped peach nectar, vanilla vodka, brandied peaches – aside: delicious – and Moscato in a pitcher) and made everyone come to me. Then I watched the fireworks from my couch. Happy.

The DFW Story Sisters came to Denton this month. So naturally, we hit the square. We started at Jupiter House, wandered through Recycled Books and SCRAP, and followed dinner at Abbey Inn up with ice cream.

Michelle, Steve, and Savvy came to visit the next weekend. They brought over Mr. Chopsticks for lunch, and then we spent the afternoon on the square collecting leaves, looking at books and candy, having a little dance party, eating ice cream at Beth Marie’s, and having dinner at LSA.

Her fannish glee in mid-squee. We swear she picked Smallville up all on her own with no coaching. I love this little face!

Supper Club hit Wine Squared again this month. I think we’re in love.

What I read:

I again spent the month looking over cookbooks. I’m going to stop pretending this is a seasonal thing. Cookbooks are my jam. Ohhh…jam cookbook! *plots*

Moving on…

My two favorite recommendations:

– Joy the Baker. If it were possible to make love to a cookbook…

And apparently, others have felt the same. About every ten pages or so of the library’s copy, I would find crumbs or flour dust between the pages. On the one hand, I totally understand. These recipes demand immediate baking. On the other hand, come on, people! Library books are communal books! All the more reason to buy my own copy, I guess.

Everything I have tried so far is glorious, but I especially recommend the vegan pumpkin walnut bread and the banana rum cake with brown butter frosting. Or the goat cheese-pepper-cocoa truffles. Or the coconut macaroon ice cream. Oh, I can’t choose. Just buy it and make it all.

– The Runner’s World Cookbook. Part of me thinks, “Most of this information is on the Internet somewhere. I could just look there for free.” I can’t bring myself to settle for that, though, when all of it is right here, neatly organized into one beautiful book.

Reasons I will be buying this book:
1. The charts and lists. It gives a easy comparison guide for different grains, fats, and proteins.
2. A basic whole grain pancake recipe, followed by two pages of batter and topping variations – most of which I would have never thought of on my own, and I experiment a lot. I can’t wait to try the Speakeasy Special and the Sweet Southerner pancakes.
3. Chicken Not Pie. As a loather of chicken pot pie, I appreciate a recipe that takes everything I would like about it and leaves out the rest.
4. Steel Cut Oatmeal Risotto. This is an example of my favorite thing about this book – they took food I love and made in a slightly different way to make it new and interesting.

To watch:

This is a short list. I’m making my way through Boston Legal. It’s hilarious. I recommend it, if for no other reason than to see William Shatner and James Spader in flamingo costumes.

My favorite things people did on the Internet:

I’m linking up with Leigh Kramer – come on over and tell us what you’re into!

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What I’m Into – June 2014

Posted in Books, Story Sessions, What I'm Into, Work, Writing on July 3, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Oh, June. I’m into you. I didn’t expect to be. Maybe the surprise of it is what makes it so mesmerizing.

The snow cones don’t hurt, either.

Words:

Poetry, food, and friends. Even with two jobs in full swing, June demands vacation reading. I moved my reading lamp to the bedroom, so I have been drenching myself in the poetry collections I keep on my bedside table every night and every morning. Suddenly, waking up isn’t so hard to do.

Chocolat – Long-time lover of the movie (because Johnny Depp. And chocolate. But mostly Johnny Depp), I knew I’d love the book as well. This book will make you hungry…in so many ways.

Ruth Reichl’s debut novel Delicious! was wonderful. I am biased, because having collected most of her other books and tried most of the recipes within them, I love her and sort of want to be her when I grow up, but Reichl knows how to tell a story. Also – don’t worry – the gingerbread recipe is at the back of the book.

And my friend Beth Morey’s The Light Between Us was launched this month. I ordered a paper copy but I couldn’t wait for it to get to me, so I grabbed an e-copy as well. It’s a fast read, because you don’t want to put it down. This book + beach + mai tai = perfect day.

Friends:

June was full of fun.

Our Supper Club went to Wine Squared for Sumptuous Sundays on Father’s Day. We enjoyed a wonderful three-course meal with wine pairings for each course which included the most glorious pork loin I’ve ever eaten and a port I actually enjoyed. We, of course, hastily signed up for their wine club. We’re hooked.

Summer seems to be the time for transitions. Several friends have moved/are moving/got new jobs, so I got to celebrate with them. My old boss Dennis got a job at another school, so the Dean of Students office (where he worked at UNT) had a farewell party for him. Lisa from my book club moved back to the east coast, so we had a special book club meeting (read: night of wine and Texas-themed food/presents) to send her off. And Jayne and Connor are moving to Juneau soon, so I got to see her last week and will see her again at their garage sale on Saturday. Added bonus – I bought this adorable thing from them, which is the perfect cabinet for my liquor:

Dear Savvy turned two. What she’s into? Daniel Tiger and butterflies.

(And cake. And Daddy.)

Because none of us could make the in-person Story Sessions retreat in Austin, the DFW Story Sisters decided to have our own party. Adela hosted us for an evening of wine, food, and conversation, and it was a balm to my soul.

Products:

Um, who knew about Arbonne and failed to tell me? Kim lured me to a party one Friday with the promise of wine (pretty much the only reason I’ll ever leave my house on a Friday evening), and I’m so glad she did. I tried all the things, and I AM NOT ALLERGIC TO ANY OF THEM. This never happens. I ordered the daily face regime for sensitive skin and the deodorant, but I want to buy everything. I’m having a party in August, and I’m at least going to sign up to be a preferred customer.

Equal Exchange’s Red Cherry Challenge -in addition to their already stellar business practices that ensure a livable wage and a workable business model for coffee farmers, Equal Exchange is donating ten cents for every pound of coffee purchased this year to the Red Cherry Fund, a grant program for farmers in El Salvador and Guatamala, where climate change has wreaked havoc on their businesses. I pledged to buy five pounds of coffee a month (which is actually a pretty conservative estimate for me). Will you join the challenge?

TV/Movies:

The first weekend of the month, I did a little dogsitting, which means I also did a lot of Netflixing. In one weekend, I watched Season 3 of Sherlock (!!!) and both seasons of Orange is the New Black (also !!!). The dogs were incredibly calm, aside from during that pesky storm incident, and I like to think it had something to do with my good taste in programming.

Well, I say they were calm. This is the look you get from Maddie when you suggest that she “go outside” during OITNB:

No one gives side eye like Maddie.

I also watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I liked it, but I don’t know if I would have liked it as much as I did if I hadn’t been chatting about it via Facebook with the Story Sessions while watching it. It was clever. You should see it.

The Internet:

– Women ignoring men as art

– June 4 was National Hug Your Cat Day, and The Bloggess encouraged all of us to celebrate.

– This was followed two days later by National Donut Day. Mmmm….donut….*salivates*

– Addie Zierman wrote The Non-Blogger’s Guide to Blogging series. This is the first blogging series that hasn’t made me want to throw my hands up in the air (and wave them like I just don’t care) and erase everything I’ve ever done online because why bother if I’m not going to be perfect at it. If you want to improve your blog but can’t stand advice on how to improve your blog, go give it a read.

So you can see why I have such a crush on June this year. Link up with us over at Leigh Kramer’s blog to let us know what you were into in June!

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What I’m Into – May 2014

Posted in Books, Food, Getting It Together, What I'm Into, Work, Writing on May 31, 2014| Leave a Comment »

I love this May. May is usually crazy and full of transition. And this one was, too, to an extent. But the weather has been unseasonably cool and gorgeous:

And my day job is Summer Housing (i.e., working with college students) instead of Summer Conferences (i.e., working with minors…who…I’m sure it’s different when they’re your own…but working with other people’s children makes me never want to find out). So I had a fantastic May and a fantastic start to summer.

How May makes me feel. This cat understands me.

Here’s what I’m into this month:

To write:

I started my Getting it Together series on the blog. I am enjoying the food. I am tolerating the cleaning. My entryway is giving me fits. I hope the rest of the rooms aren’t this much of a struggle.

My favorite post that I wrote this month was Badger. It was good to talk about it, and I think I was fair enough. It’s hard to be fair when you’re telling your side of the story.

To read:

Summer (and perhaps my Getting It Together project) have me dreaming up food ideas and being drawn to ideas that others have dreamed up. So I read cookbooks and foodie memoirs and foodie fiction even more than usual.

There are not many books that I read and then need to go immediately and buy because I can’t stand the thought of being without it. A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg is one such book. This is my favorite book that I’ve read this year. It’s a treasure. And arugula salad with dark chocolate bits? Pretty much the best idea ever.

I also read Keepers by Kathy Brennan and Caroline Campion. Most of the book is meat-intensive, which I am not, but I will end up buying it for the sauces alone. I’m a sucker for a sauce.

To watch:

I have continued my obsession with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I will probably end up buying it by the end of the summer. Such great characters. Such amazing one-liners.

I have also watched Chocolat four times. Because chocolate. And France. And Johnny Depp. I will probably watch it four more times before I return it to the library. Because I checked out the book, so I’ll need to watch it again after I finish the book. NEED.

To hear:

I’ve been writing and scheduling posts for What Not to Say, so I’ve been listening to my WNTS station on Spotify. Maybe not safe for work, depending on your workplace.

To eat:

May has been DELICIOUS. As part of my Getting It Together series, I’m going through some of Mom’s recipes, so May has tasted like my childhood. There was cavatini (which is basically pasta, sauce, ground beef, pepperoni, and cheese, all in one glorious dish), chicken salad, and sausage balls. I’ve also made a couple of loaves of beer bread, which makes fantastic toast for breakfast. Food at my house has been so good that I haven’t even wanted to go out, which is unusual for me, but it was a nice change.

We’re gathering at Leigh Kramer’s blog to talk about what we’re into – join us!

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What I’m Into (finally) – April

Posted in TV, What I'm Into, Writing on May 5, 2014| 4 Comments »

So I got an iPhone last month.

In April, I made friends with Instagram.

I like the black-and-white filter:

And whatever filter this is:

So everything is getting Instagrammed. EVERYTHING.

And I also added the Pinterest app. Apparently, I’ve decided that I’m done with ever being productive again.

Here’s what I was into during April when I managed to tear myself away from my phone.

To write:

I wrote about 25,000 words on my What Not to Say project (which now has its own blog space for the pieces that are public-ready-ish). I’m excited to start this back up again. It’s been a few years. I like adding new things and seeing how my writing has changed as I edit.

My two favorite posts that I wrote this month:

My guest post for Jane Halton entitled How the Bangles Saved Me from Purity Culture.
My call for guest posts for the Coffee Shop Road Trip.

To read:

I read Lean In. I have feelings, and not all of them are positive. But I read it. I’ll probably buy it, if for no other reason than her fantastic source section. The chapter on mentoring was a work of art.

My favorite book I read in April was The Giver. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

To watch:

April starts end-of-the-year madness at the residence hall and in my classes. So I watch more TV than usual. The only thing I’ve been watching, though, is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Four seasons of Buffy in one month. I feel like a bad Joss Whedon fan, because this is the first time I’ve watched it. Impressions so far:

Willow is my favorite.
Spike is a close second. “You made a bear! Undo it! Undo it!” HILARIOUS.
According to BuzzFeed, I’m Giles. Acceptable.
Riley is boring. Just so, so dull. I’m ready for him to leave. I don’t even care how.

To hear:

This is a short list. Crazy times at work mean silence is happiness at home. In fact, this might be a non-existent list. I can’t even think of one thing I have listened to.

To eat:

I have really been into guacamole this month. I just can’t get enough of it. I will drive through just to get guacamole and chips. I’ve mostly made it at home, though – just an avocado, a tomato, a little cumin, a little cayenne, and a healthy squeeze of lime juice. Happy.

And that’s what my diet usually looks like when the weather gets hot (for me, hot = above 75). Fresh vegetables and fruits. I forgot how much energy this gives me.

Want to share what you’ve been into? Join us over at Leigh Kramer’s link-up.

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What I’m Into – March

Posted in Andilit, Books, Food, Story Sessions, TV, What I'm Into on March 31, 2014| 4 Comments »

March is my favorite month. October is a close second, but it cannot compare to March, because March is my birth month! The thing I was into the most was turning 39. I received both yoga pants and wine as gifts, and I appreciated them, so clearly I am right on schedule with fulfilling the stereotype.

Winter persisted into the first week of the month and royally screwed up my class schedule, but I can’t even be mad about it. It turned Spring Break into two weeks for me at the school where I teach, since I’m only there on Mondays.

Story Sessions had its first Story Feast (in-person meeting of local peeps), and ours was a small feast, but Marvia and I had fun hanging out at La Madeleine.

I got to spend a little time with Mom and Dad over break. Mom had her first cataract surgery, so I went along to keep Dad company while he waited.

I took care of my friends’ dogs while they were out of town for about half a week. While I was there, I had an uncomfortable realization. One of the dogs was dumb and needy but the sweetest dog in the world, and the other was smart and funny but also kind of an asshole. I was dog-sitting every guy I’ve ever dated or liked.

I am also in the middle of two classes – Brandy Walker’s Be Course for Lent and the Reframing Collective through Story Sessions led by Jennifer Upton. That’s why you’ve been seeing more pictures than usual. I’m taking more.

Oh, and I got an iPhone. This will be the first phone with a data plan I have had (I know, welcome to the 21st century, and I can stop churning my own butter now). I haven’t activated it yet, but I do have active plans to become addicted to Instagram.

Those are the highlights. Here’s what was playing in the background.

To write:

I have Fishbowl mapped out. I put the chapters in order. I know how it’s going to end, and I know how I’m going to get there. This is huge.

I have an idea that’s been brewing a while concerning the things people say to single people (and specifically, what I could stand for them NOT to say. . . just ever again). So April, I’m going to write it out. I’m going to bleed 2,500 words a day to see if I have enough words to start another project. This could easily become a community project in the future, but for now, I’m going to see what I have to say about it.

My two favorite posts I wrote this month:

– My link-up piece for The Girls We Once Were, called Renaissance Girl.

– My answer to Andi’s prompt to give myself ten nuggets of writing advice.

To read:

– Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet. I loved it, particularly the parts about solitude.

– Vonnegut’s Welcome to the Monkey House. My favorite story was “Who Am I This Time?”

– Stephen King’s 11/22/63. Whose idea was it to have an 800+ page book for book club? Oh, right. Mine. Well, I share the blame. I guess we all chose it. It’s a quick read, though, for 800 pages. Because Stephen King.

Goodreads tells me that I am 11 books behind schedule on my reading challenge (100 books) for the year. I would exclaim, “800 pages!” but that first book I read this year was really just a transcript of a speech, so I’m going to call it even. I am trying to remember that I catch up in the summer and not let Goodreads psych me out. And maybe I could also remember that the world won’t end if I only read 90 books this year.

Some gorgeous things were written on the Internet this month. These are my favorites:

When I Measure the Distance of God by Preston Yancey

Speaking Fear, Praying Shalom by Osheta Moore

You Don’t Have to Be Pretty – on YA Fiction and Beauty as a Priority on the Belle Jar

How Riding is Worship by Katie Rutledge

When World Vision Drops Me by Benjamin Moberg

The Internet has also been a tough place to be this month. Lord, have mercy.

To watch:

Three words –

House.

Of.

Cards.

I watched both seasons in three days. I couldn’t look away.

I am avoiding Psych and Scandal spoilers. I’ll watch them after the semester’s over, when I can devote the appropriate measure of time to them. I think I’m actually going to start Psych over and watch from the first season. That will give this season time to come out on DVD so that I can have it for my very own. I love that show.

I finally saw Catching Fire. I liked it just as much as I liked the first one. As much as I like the story, I feel that I should have more to say about it, but no.

I had a nice time this weekend re-watching one of my favorite movies – Under the Tuscan Sun – and drinking wine and eating my weight in pasta.

But my favorite thing that I saw this month? Veronica Mars, of course. These were the highlights for me (and I don’t think any of them are spoilery):

– Veronica is back with the old school pop culture references – “You weren’t planning on carrying me through the airport, were you?”

– “You should only wear this.” Both times.

– Logan leaning against the car. Rewind and pause.

– Dax Shepard cameo, for the win.

– Mac’s hair. If I could pull off short hair at all, this is the haircut I would wear forever.

There were so many other things I loved about it, but any time you could spend reading about them would be better spent watching it.

To hear:

The Be Course has me dancing as a spiritual practice and also eating very fattening things so that my spiritual practice needs to take on some movement lest I gain 50 pounds during the class. So music has been mostly house and trip hop. My neighbors don’t even know what to do with me.

To eat:

I have had a lot of baked goods this month (observe the pear tart above). Brownies, cookies, cake. I am in a constant state of sugar high. This has to stop. Of course, it’s chocolate chip cookie week in our e-course, and I’m a very good student. . .

During the dog-sitting/House-of-Cards-watching days, I developed an unholy affinity for peanut butter puff cereal. I enjoy both the Mother’s and the EnviroKidz (yes, with a z) versions of this treat. As with all sugar-laced cereals, I try to mix it with plain Cheerios or plain puffed corn or wheat, but I have had at least one bowl a day for the last half of the month.

On Saturday, I took the marinara that was left over from supper club and mixed it with browned sausage. I shaved a liberal dose of Parmesan over the top and put it on pasta. So simple, yet so perfect when paired with birthday wine.

I’m linking up with Leigh Kramer – come by and tell us what you’re into!

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What I’m Into – February 2014

Posted in Books, Food, What I'm Into, Writing on March 3, 2014| 2 Comments »

February was a fun trip to meet dear ones from the Internet in person, a gathering, and weird weather.

It was affirmation, anxiety, a bit of melancholy, and a grounded feeling that I’ve been missing lately. Welcome back, old friend.

I attended the IF: Gathering in Austin, and I stayed with Story Sessions sisters at a house in Dripping Springs. The conference was good and nerve-wracking and triggery and crowded and inspiring and loud. The stay at the house was relaxing and lovely and easy (for the most part). And Nicole and Jennifer gave me shells and found poetry (don’t judge their gift by the quality of the picture above).

February weather is on crack. I mean, I know I am in Texas, so I guess I am used to it. But it was icy the first half of the month and 60-70 degrees the second half. And today it’s “icy” again.

Here’s what I was into this February:

To write:

I am on schedule with my goal to write 100 blog posts this year. I totally count posts that I guest-write for other places.

One of my poems was featured on the Story Sessions site – How It Begins and Ends

Possibly the most important thing I will do this year – guest praying as part of Osheta Moore’s Standing our Ground…in Prayer series

I am also on schedule with Fishbowl word count. It might actually get finished this year!

To read:

I read about poetry and food this month. More accurately, I read books that made me want to go to places.

My favorite poetry was Mary Oliver’s A Thousand Mornings. It makes me want to go back to Cape Cod.

I finished Plum: Gratifying Vegan Dishes from Seattle’s Plum Bistro. There’s not much chance that I will ever make any of the gorgeous dishes in this book, but if I decided to, there’s plenty of detail in the recipes. There is a great chance, however, that I will make a point to visit the Plum Bistro the next time I’m in Seattle to taste the gorgeous dishes in this book.

My favorite thing that I read in February was probably Style Me Vintage: A Guide to Hosting Perfect Vintage Events. When and if, at long last, I finally get married, the bachelorette party will be a Speakeasy. I already have the playlist started and half the menu planned (and by “half the menu,” I do mean the beverage portion).

To watch:

This month, I learned what everyone was raving about. Downton Abbey and Sherlock. I love Downton Abbey, but I need to own Sherlock and watch it forty-two times and maybe write some fanfiction.

I also started watching The Following. My boss suggested it, and I agreed to give it a try, because I love me some Kevin Bacon. I don’t know if I can recommend it, because you guys – this show freaks me out. It’s so damn creepy. I wouldn’t wish the emotional and mental torment this show has put me through on anyone. I am also attracted to the serial killer on the show, and I am a little uncomfortable with that. If you watched Dexter or Breaking Bad, you can probably handle it. I’m just not used to this sort of thing. But it’s so good, so I just can’t quit it.

To hear:

Because I’m super excited about the Veronica Mars movie, and I’m currently reading Welcome to the Monkey House (Vonnegut), it just seems fitting that February would be full of The Dandy Warhols.

Also, Stephanie Trick on piano makes me miss my piano:

And I have basically been listening to every version and spoof of Let It Go I can find. Here are my favorite three:

To taste:

So, on the way home from Dripping Springs, Adela and I stopped at Rolling in Thyme and Dough. Weird name. GLORIOUS BREAKFAST SANDWICH. Egg and cheese on a croissant….with pesto. Also, it’s just a cute place. It would not be unreasonable for you to travel from wherever you are just so you can enjoy this sandwich.

This pales in comparison to the Breakfast Sandwich of Glory, but I have also been on a chicken salad kick. I normally despise mayonnaise, but occasionally, I just have to have chicken salad. My favorite – rotisserie chicken (because I totally cheat and get my chicken already roasted at the Kroger), Vegannaise, red grapes, celery, and pecans on rye.

I’m linking up with Leigh Kramer – go over and see what everyone is into!