Horrible me

I've been awful at keeping consistant at posting to my blog. This is another promise to jump back on the wagon. Maybe if I try to just post once a week, I'll do better. Seems like however, after I write this post, I'll feel the need to write soon after about something amazing and spectacular. Pace yourself, Jonelle. Pace.
I just read some wonderful posts about summer lists. Things people want to taste, see and do. Maybe I'll try to gather one up myself sometime. Soon, but not too soon. I do have similar goals as these people for the summer, but I have one enormous, pressing matter to deal wit before that. I can't wait to be living in Bloomington full time!

Who knew....

...that little leather bound books could make a girl so excited!?  I'd like for you all to meet my Moleskin City Journal.  Moleskin City Journal, meet.......ummm, well I'm not for sure who you will all meet here, but meet my blog followers.

You'll have to bear with me folks.  I'm new to using Adam's camera.  This shoot was also a chance for me to play around with it a little.
Any who, my Moleskin is of the one and only CHICAGO!!!

 And to give you a bit of an idea of what exactly you do with a City Journal, I'll show you.  She's filled with maps.  One of the entire Chicago area, as seen here.

And there's even a very helpful one of train routes and stations.  Then, each "burb" of Chicago has their own little blown up map.  And all of the maps are full of open-ness to put whatever you want on them.  You know, like the amazing little bistro, or the movie theater that has $5 matinee, or the art studio that offers classes, then you can write your hearts content out about them further back in the book where blank pages are left for your enjoyment.  Or write about whatever really.  You could keep a log of trips there, for those who only visit the city.

This is the area that Adam and I have become rather familiar with.  This, and the area a little further south.  I mean besides being familiar with Michigan Avenue & Lake Shore Drive.  I mean, who really doesn't know what's located on the latter two.  But this is where we frequent when we visit.  Our friend Tom lives in this area, so we get to see a lot of what there is to do in this area.  Arlington & Clark is what we get to tell the Cab Driver.  (Sometimes, when there's a group of us, with all our junk, it's too cumbersome to take the bus or train).  Let's test everyone's map skills & see if you can locate it...  And now, we have to learn a different intersection, as he just bought a condo (just several block away).  We're helping him move next weekend!

This is what I'm really looking forward to using though.  One of these tabbed sections allows you to have a food journal!!  Gosh, I'm such a foodie.  The only request I have when we visit Chicago, is that we eat at places that aren't available to us normally.  I love going to the local places in Chicago.  Food is sooooo spectacular there, because the city gives you so many options.  Like for instance, in Lincoln Park where Tom lives, with in walking distance from his apartment, you can get el cheapo gigantic burritos, Irish guinness and colcannon, a Five Guys' burger, $15 all you can eat sushi, the most stellar challah french toast, not to mention all the bars and drink specials you could ever imagine.  And these are just a few of the places we've been so far.  Now I can keep track of everything I ever put in my mouth there.  AMAZING!!!

 And for all you packrats out there, she's even got a place for you to hoard a few goodies.

Hello Pocket!!!  I have yet to write much in her, as you can see thus far.  I hope to start adding next weekend.  And since she is pocket size, the odds of losing her are higher than say, if she were the size of an atlas, because I mean, come on, who loses an atlas.  But she's uber convenient being that small.  If, by chance, I do misplace her though, there is a place for owner information.

Sorry if I bored anyone with this post, but as I mentioned at the beginning, who knew little leather bound books could get someone so excited!?  I was in awe when I opened up the package and saw this Valentine's Day, and had to share.

Dulces for my Sweet

Yesterday, Adam and I celebrated our Valentine's Day.  Seemed a lot more practical to do it yesterday, than today.  Sundays are a day of relaxation.  But I don't like my evenings to be crammed with much.  That way I don't get all riled up and have issues going to bed.

Any who, we decided this year to make a "fancy" dinner at home.  We ended up making shrimp scampi, roasted fennel and pancetta salad, and creme brulee!  PS- worst job ever would have to be peeling and deveining shrimp.......yuck!!!  It was super delish!!  And despite having agreed to not get eachother gifts, the silly boy got me some spring flowers and a Moleskin City Journal.  If you don't know what that is, it equals amazingness.  I don't want to spend my time just blogging about that today.  So maybe I'll dive into it later this week.

But dinner was a success!  We even got dressed up, as in I wore a dress, and Adam put on a shirt and tie, and pretended we were at a restaurant.  It was great!  And the "restaurant" had a stellar house band.  Thank goodness Dave Brubeck was in the area.  It was great!

And today, I baked!!

These golden treasures would have to be my newest favorite cookie.  It combines all of my favorite things: peanut butter, the texture of oatmeal, and GINGER!!!  Oh yes, that's right, I said GINGER!!!  They get a double dose of it, ground ginger and the ever delightful crystallized ginger.  I found the recipe by chance here.  But instead of being called "Ginger-Touched Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies", it should be Ginger-Kissed.....as in kissed by heaven!!  The pieces of crystallized ginger get all chewy and melty.  One bite, and they just make you smile.  But enough of my rant over my new sin.  You all just need to make them yourselves.  They're best right out of the oven :)  These will be made again.  No doubt about it!!!

Hope everyone has/had a great Valentine's Day with their loved ones!  I know I did!  :D

My 1st COMPLETE Sewing Project!

And it only took me two days to complete it!!  I'm so excited!!  Here's my new tote.  She's a lil bit shallow, so she'd be good to take to the market, and maybe the library.....  Don't think she'll be able to hold too many groceries.

This isn't the greatest picture of her, but it's insanely sunny out (despite the snow) and there's a funky shadow in pretty much every corner of our apartment.  But I have a "twin" to work on next.  'Cept she'll have a blue body with orange reinforcement on the bottom.  By the way, not a big fan of the straps.......like at all.  If I didn't have such a weird o.c.d. about me, I would try putting the straps on from the inside, but since I've already claimed the fact that there will be twins, they'll both have the straps on the outside.....  Guess I'll just keep that tid bit tucked away in back for the next time.  I don't think she turned out too shabby though, especially for a beginner, but lets not test if it's square, nor if my lines are straight :-o  oops!

I should be hopping the shower soon.  Adam and I are heading to Fort Wayne this evening to check out some art and jazz at a Ft. Wayne Downtown Improvement District event.  Should be fun.  It's just a real bummer that we have to travel an hour to get stuff like this.  Goodness, I can't wait 'til we're out of Warsaw.

Another relaxing Saturday

I think I'm becoming a home-body.  And getting spoiled by these weekends of not having any plans.  It's very relaxing.

Adam and I did do a little bit today, but nothing too "productive".  We stopped at this little consignment shop in town.  And of course, we found something neat.

This bowl we found is orange, purple, and like a transparent gold glass.  We have it on our table turned upside down with a string of Christmas lights tucked inside. Makes a nice lamp, with a very warm glow.

Then a stop to the library, a few things at the grocery store, and a trip to LOWERY'S!!!  After checking out quick a few sewing books from the library, I finally found a project that I liked, and was actually going out to get the materials to make it.  BUT, silly me, I got the wrong amount of material :(  So I just adjusted my pattern a little bit.

This is what I got done so far today. It's going to be a re-usable grocery tote!  I got enough two colors of fabric, and will be making two of these things.  They'll just be a squattier shape due to the previous mentioned error.  Oops!!  Oh well.  If I don't like them, I can give them as gifts ;)

So sad.....

So, this is what's left of the church I grew up in.  It's such a sad sight.  I want to share how much it meant to my family and myself, but I'm kind of at a loss of words to describe it.  Great-Great Grandparents Bernard & Katherine names were on the stained glass windows, Grandma Mary & Grandpa Walter were both highly regarded for their involvement in the church, Mom was a lectern along with an organist (since middle school, and the priest told her she was going to do it) and I was an mass server and occassionally "lecterned" as well.  St. Isadore (the farmer) Catholic Church was a small little sister parish to St. Michael's just down the road.  We shared a priest (sometimes two).  And were very much self sufficient due to the help of all the parishioners.  But alas, the Toledo Diocese decided that it must be closed.  What the true reasons are, we will probably never know.  It was definitely thought to be a "scandel".  After almost 5 years sitting vacant, the diocese decided that they had to finally demo it.  My mom got these pictures the first day of it, which was just after Christmas.  But there's so much more I could go on about with this, but I won't.  The picture itself probably speaks more words than I ever could.

You can kind of see my favorite part of the church peaking through.  On the back wall, up above the choir loft, was a huge, circular stained glass window, in shades of red, blue, pinks and yellows.

*sigh*

I love Chicago. I feel the need to go soon for retail therapy!! This is Adam and I visiting the "bean". It was rather cold that day.

Blogging from my cellular?!

Who knew!!
Got to sit down at the sewing machine last night. I now know how to spool the bobbin, thread the needle, and get 'er ready to sew. I even ran a prototype for a project I've got in line for next Christmas!
On a side note, ever heard of The Vitamin String Quartet??  I've recently began listening to them again.  Definitely check them out.  They're a string quartet (obviously) and they cover classic rock, new rock, punk, emo, pop and other classics.......  Talk about giving music you're already familiar with, a new twist!!

Hooray for Lazy Weekends!!

I'm making granola again today!  It was that tasty!  : )

Also going to bake cookies today.  The boys down in the shop at work helped me out with my car two weeks ago (you know, when all that prepping was happening for the weekend in Petoskey, and Adam was working late nights).  Any who, they pretty much changed out two radiator hoses for cost of parts.  Thought maybe I could repay them for their services with some sweets!!  I wanna make a different, sort of out there cookie if I'm baking, but the more I'm thinking about, I'm coming to a conclusion that with those boys, simpler is better.  So I guess Chocolate Chip it is.......  Bummer.  : /

Also on today's "pseudo" agenda:  researching how to make homemade candles, and sitting down at the sewing machine for a while!!!!!!  <-- Super excited about that one!!!!

After the extended weekend in Petoskey, I'm so relieved that we don't have to go anywhere this weekend. Who knew you could be more exhausted after a vacation?!

I'm Good to Go!

I had big plans for baking snacks for mini vacay this weekend.  And I got it all done!!!!

2 loaves walnut-oatmeal bread   CHECK
1 enormous bag of chocolate-coconut granola   CHECK
1 batch fluffy homemade marshmallows   CHECK

*whew!*  I think I was a little over zealous in my desires.  Any ways, whoever said that making marshmallows was hard, lied.  These were a cinch to make!  I pretty much am in love with Two Fat Als.  So much so, that I created a wish list on Amazon just to remind me that I need to get it whenever I have the chance!  My only regret on making the marshmallows, was that I was NOT prepared for the mess that dipping them in the dark chocolate would create.  It killed our kitchen! :(  *note chocolate drips all over stove top.

And of course I had to sample my bounty!  I think you all should come check on us this weekend at Dan & Michele's condo.  Come Monday, we might all just be in a sugar coma.

I did it!!

Or, rather I tried.  Adam's working late this week.  It's the first week of the new semester for Ivy Tech, so in other words......Adam gets to work loooooong hours.  So I had to entertain myself somehow.

I've been getting snackies ready for Petoskey!!!!  Yep, it's that time of year again!!  Anywho, I MADE BREAD!!!  Like real bread, like loafs of bread, not just fruit breads.  The recipe I found for it is from this neat little food blog I found.  The couple seems alot like me and Adam, recent college grads, and frugal foodies.  Two Fat Als gave me the idea for Walnut Oat Bread.  I have yet to try it.  And I'm dieing to!  But my taste buds will have to wait 'til Petoskey.  Mmmmm.......fresh bread smothered with Nutella............I can't wait!!!

Let them eat cake!

So as I mentioned the other day, I was highly anticipating my Mom coming for a visit this weekend.  Her birthday is Tuesday this week, so Adam and I gave her an early birthday celebration.

For her birthday, I baked a cake!!  Not just any cake.  I baked a three layer fluffly, yet crummy buttermilk cake, loaded with macadamia nuts.  Between those layers was a raspberry filling, and the whole package was covered in a velvety white chocolate buttercream frosting!!!  Something like this one here.  Except I cheated, and bought my buttercream frosting and added melted white chocolate to it instead, because there's this cake decorating place in Fort Wayne (which my lead to more vices).  And lemon leaves are hard to find around here.  Maybe if I lived in Florida??  Probably not though.  But I decorated my cake a little differently.

My Mom loved her cake!!  Along with the dinner we made her as well (Sticky Orange-Balsamic Glazed Chicken & Lemon Risotto).  After church, bread & dipping oil, a glass of wine, dinner & dessert, we were all pretty miserable........by miserable, I mean stuffed beyond all belief.  So we spent the rest of the evening listening to jazz, drinking tea and watching Mom open her birthday gifts.  It was a great time! :)

While mom and I were in the kitchen, I asked Adam to take some pictures of the cake for the blog.  This is what he came up with.  I love it!

On a side note, it's a busy week, getting ready for Petoskey and the big ski trip.  And I have a few things planned to make to bring up with us, as treats for the evenings.  Hopefully I'll have enough time to get pictures of them for the blog.

Tomorrow my mom is coming in for a visit. I'm cooking dinner and baking a cake! And I can't wait!

So, i've decided that i want to blog, again. But decided i won't limit myself. Don't worry, i won't get rid of the recipes, but try to include more. Stay warm!