I decided to get out of my hermit-y shell last night and meet up with some of my favorites at the new Surly tap room here in Minneapolis. It was packed on a Wednesday. 1 hour 45 minute wait for a table (we just went to stand on the second level). I can’t imagine what this place is like over the weekend. The place is huge though, so there was plenty of room. And it was gorgeous. With good beer. I’ll go back.

While not being social, I have been doing some cooking (this, this, this, and this) and getting back into some cross stitch and reading. Fun times. (Not being sarcastic)

Some other fun times were when I came across these links this week.

• Move over detox recipes, the Superbowl is coming up and you know what that means… chicken wings (baked chicken wings with thai peanut sauce, bourbon maple glazed chicken wings, crispy baked chicken wings with oyster sauce) and amazing things with cheeseeee (chicken nachos, cheddar cheese and bacon stuffed pretzel buns, pretzel dogs with cheese sauce, easy pizza dip)
• Then there are all of these delicious chocolate Valentine’s Day cakes: nutella molten cakes, chocolate fudge cakes for two, and fudgy chocolate cake cups. I’m sure these are just the first of many more recipes to come over the next week or so!
• Speaking of Valentine’s Day, 23 surefire ways to get a date on Valentine’s Day. I don’t need that though, I already have two dates: chocolate cake (see above) and red wine (see below).
• Here’s a trick for choosing wine so you never have to stress about it again. When in doubt, choose Malbec.
• Also, a list of 10 inspiring career profiles. So impressive. All of them.

Please let me know if you come across any good recipes/cross stitch patterns/books! Thanks!

xojfaye

 

 

 

 

 

In 2012 I made this daily thought calendar out of a little planter I found at an antique store and lots of index cards. Now it is full of 3.04 years of memories. It’s fun to look back and it’s surprising how easy it is to recall the some of the more seemingly insignificant memories (random coffee dates, brunches, various chats during long Saturday runs, busy days, movie marathons, silly jokes) along with the more significant ones (weddings, marathons, vacations). This leads me to believe that no memory is insignificant at all.

I’m eager to see what types of memories I can fill this with in 2015! I came across these things this week. Maybe we can do them and I’ll makes notes about them?

• Bake some eggs: northern Indian style, spicy & with potatoes, orrrrr with a Mexican twist (which I am making tonight!!!).
• Carb it up with these simple, cheesy pastas: spaghetti with parmesan brown butter & cheese & pepper pasta orrrrr this truffled gnocchi macaroni & cheese.
• Make dip-dyed watercolor stationary and send letters to each other.
• Listen to this song, which I rediscovered this week after not hearing it in a very long time. (PS – she is coming to wits. I will be there too. In the audience.)
• Think about this guy from Tuesday’s SOTU.

Go do fun things. Mmk. Bye.

<3jenna

I won a Vitamix (!!!) and I don’t think my life will ever be the same. I have been using my Magic Bullet for the last 7ish years. It treated me well, whirling and swirling and making me oh so many (hundreds upon hundreds!) of smoothies. But. A VITAMIX. It’s just so… powerful. I have big plans for this contraption (hummus, soups, dips, smoothies gahhhhh). Thank you, thank you to Stephanie from I Am A Food Blog & Vitamix!

PS- If you read blogs that do giveaways, sign up for them. In 2014 I won $300 of Driscoll’s berries (in coupons), a Nespresso machine, and now a Vitamix. Never hurts to try!

Now onto some fun Thursday things:

• Ok, this music video. I was definitely not this cool when I was 11, nor was I ever that excited to go to K-Mart, but I do have a couple #1 girls.
• Have you listened to Serial yet? I finally got on the bandwagon (thanks, Kristin!) and am now obsessed with Podcasts in general.  Anyways, this Serial: The Rom Com is hilarious.
• I have been craving this burger all week. I first stumbled across it on Sunday morning after a night of drinking beer with friends. So yeah, perfect.
• Do you have any enemies? If so, you should ship them glitter.
• I have about 47 crafts planned for this weekend and this no sew braided rug is one of them. Realistically I’ll probably get 1.5 done, but hey, a girl can dream!

Andddd now I bid thee farewell. Have a great day!  <3jenna

My array of breakfast beverages: green smoothie (banana, blueberries, almond milk, spinach, chia seeds, and spirulina), water with apple cider vinegar, and black coffee. It’s a great way to start the day.

Another great way to start the day? Reading through these things!

• Are you a morning person? I’m not really, but I used to be and would like to be one again. My sister and I signed up for this course. You should too!
• So many salads and bowls full of veggies and love: Power Salad, Citrus and Greens Salad, Superfood Crunch Salad, Beet, Apple, Quinoa, and Sprout Salad, Spicy Sweet Potato and Green Rice Burrito Bowls, Roasted Nourish Bowl, and Vegan Quinoa Bowl
• 2015 Food Trends – better start eating more fat, peas, and insects!
• It never hurts to read through great advice.
• Learn to perfect the deadlift and get your butt in shape (literally).

By the way, it is 4 degrees right now, but “feels like” -12 degrees. Umm… brrrrr. It’s an improvement over the -20 degrees yesterday. But still, not OK. I’m in hibernation mode.

Stay warm. xoxoooojd

 

You guys. I took the day off of work today. Best idea ever. I slept in and then went for a nice, leisurely run. There was even a little bit of snow! So perfect. I went about 6 miles, which is the longest I’ve run since the marathon. I just took it easy and wore my heart rate monitor to make sure I was staying in my “Zone 2”. Lately running has really been spiking my heart rate up too high – not good. Gotta keep that in check.

For the rest of the day I’m going to relax, drink a lot of coffee, get a massage (!!!!), finish my Christmas shopping, wrap presents, and bake. Ohemgeeeeeeiamsoexcitedddddd.

I’m excited about these fun links too. Check them out.

• Text Me Merry Christmas came on as I was listening to Songza this week and I thought it was super silly. Plus, I’m a sucker for some a cappella and I love Kristen Bell.
• Soooo… can we go to Cuba now? I want to.
• Spruce up your clear iPhone case with some floral tattoos. I’m gonna.
• Set goals and make them happen. What do you want to accomplish in 2015? I am in the middle of making my list.
• Completely obsessed with ginger and molasses-y things. Like these ginger snap cookies, gingerbread scones, gingerbread waffles, gingerbread muffins, ginger biscotti, chocolate gingerbread cookies, and gingerbread ornaments. Oh, and can’t forget about these molasses creams with ginger cream cheese frosting that I posted last week!

I hope your day is amazing as mine has been so far!

xojd

All about the winter things these days: ugly Christmas sweaters, holiday potlucks, upside-down pear gingerbread cake, Christmas markets, Winter Songs, and cookies, so many cookies (have you seen my Instagram lately?!). Also, winter running, because it is so very necessary.

I love winter. In three months (preferably less) it can go far, far away, but right now I will enjoy it for what it is. You should too. Also, enjoy these things:

• Please give me a bottle of Veuve and then we’ll celebrate knowing the right way to pop champagne.
• This homemade mulling spice mix would make such great hostess gifts. The idea of mulled wine just warms my soul.
• Some essentials for holiday entertaining. Bust out the candles and games!
• Keep track of all the “best of the day” thoughts in 2015 with this fun DIY.
• Gimme all the cookies: rosemary salted caramel linzer cookies, almond espresso cookies, orange-cranberry cookies, triple chocolate truffle cheesecake cookies, cherry almond shortbread cookies, healthy gingerbread cookies, rosemary shortbread.

I am headed off to the great land of Sioux Falls, SD tonight for Sister Weekend!! There will be crafts, wine, snacks, Disney movies, manicures, and more crafts. It’ll be amazing.

Hope you have a fabulous, winter-filled Thursday!

JD