New Things, Old Things, Crispy Things

Urban Outfitters crop halter top, Burberry shorts, Chinese Laundry sandals

Thank you for all the birthday wishes!

On my birthday date, Fiance and I had mexican food at Hugo's where we had, among other things, fried grasshoppers as an appetizer. I told my fellow foodie friend Audrey about it the next day:

Audrey: were they good?

me: they're not bad...

Audrey: LOL.

did you finish the bowl?

me: i mean, i didn't have seconds or anything
no we did not
hahaha

Audrey: did you eat more than one?

me: grasshopper?

Audrey: yes

me: yeah, they're small.

Audrey: oh ok

me: i ate maybe...30 of them.
LOL

Audrey: LOL
omg, i'm laughing out loud

"they're not bad. i ate like 30."

me: LOL

Here's a bad photo I took of them ON MY NEW IPHONE. It's the first time in life I've ever had internet on my phone and let me tell you - IT'S GREAT. Oh you already know? Well then I'd like to welcome myself to the 21st century.

Here's a picture of myself from the 20th century. Probably 1985-1986 to be exact. My sister felt inspired to upload a plethora of [embarassing] photos from our childhood onto Facebook last week. GET A LOAD OF ME!

So apparently almost 25 years pass and not much has changed....  This both comforts and alarms me.

20-Something.

It's my birthday and I'll stab you if I want to.

Also, I'm trying out nude lipstick. This one is not bad I think. Usually I be looking a little corpsey.

Here's a classic Junior Boys song in honor of birthdays everywhere. One of my all-time faves.

Junior Boys - Birthday

Early Morning Baking

Fiance's work occasionally requires him to wake up at 5  in the morning.  Being the heavy sleeper that I am, I usually don't even remember him leaving.  Once in a blue moon however, I wake up when he does and can't get back to sleep.

Hence my GREAT IDEA to attempt making bread at 5:30 AM this past weekend.  Raisin bread, that is.

Baking From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan.  I love this cookbook.

She advises steaming your raisins to make them more plump.

Mixture of cinnamon, sugar, and cocoa powder.

The dough after being mixed, kneaded, rising for 1.5 hours, and firming up in the freezer for 45 minutes.

Yeast is the craziest thing.  The dough ball doubled in size after rising.  Then I wrapped it in plastic wrap and put it in the freezer.  It got even BIGGER and burst out of the plastic wrap.  Yeast scares me.   Also, it's called "ACTIVE YEAST."  It's like it's ALIVE. 

ROLL OUT.

Did I use more butter than directed by the recipe?  Yes.

The filling.  Notes the visible chunks of butter.

My dough baby.  So cute.

It rises again for another hour after this wherein it OVERFLOWED OUT OF THE PAN.  SO SCARY.

MMMM freshly baked bread smell is the best.

There's nothing like the first slice of fresh-from-the-oven bread.

Was pretty happy with my first attempt at bread making.  Next time I will try a savory cheese bread.

Independence day; Doggles

F21 embroidered tank, Erin Fetherstone for Target corduroy skirt, BCBG sandals, Gap belt, F21 headband

I don't like patriotic things.  Like those magnets of red/white/blue ribbons on peoples' cars.  Or those magnets of the Jesus fish, for that matter.  But Happy 4th of July!

Here are some ridiculous photos of my dogs in goggles.  DOGGLES!

Venue? CHECK.

We booked our venue for November 6, 2010.

3 WALLS OF FLOOR TO CEILING WINDOWS.

Petroleum Club of Houston