Valentine’s Day Wears

February 17, 2015May 2, 20151 Comment

I hope you had a happy Valentine’s Day with your love/friends/pet/favorite meal. I spent the morning watching reruns of Sex and the City (a great Valentine’s Day show) then met up with Domenico to make curried vegetables over polenta. Then we grabbed a tsoynami, I dropped off my Sheepish Heart Bomb hearts, and we headed to the movies to watch the Oscar-nominated short films. It was a lovely evening, and I decided not to take my camera along. Emily did snap a few pictures of my hearts day outfit before I left though. I was totally decked out in my lip-patterned dress, my kissing kids necklace, and my knitted heart hair clip. As you can see, Rae was my valentine for the day.

The next morning, we went to the VNSA annual book sale, did a little browsing at Frances, and then split some sandwiches at Hula’s. Of course, we did have to do some economics studying, but overall, it was a pretty lovely Valentine’s Day.

10 Ideas for an Alternative Valentine’s Day

February 12, 2015May 2, 2015Leave a comment

1. Make an indulgent breakfast and laze around all morning. I recommend these strawberry buttermilk doughnuts.

2. Print some sweet valentines to pass out. I love these ones from The Black Apple and these Downton Abbey-themed ones.

3. Knit a stuffed anatomical heart. Or if you don’t have time, knit a quick heart hair clip.

4. Stay in and watch a great, classic romantic movie like Funny Face or When Harry Met Sally.

5. Make this hilarious and punchy “bang me” valentine for your special someone.

6. Go on a bike ride to your favorite book store with your date and pick out a book for each other.

7. Participate in a cool, collective project like the One Sheepish Girl heart bomb. I did it last year and it was great fun.

8. Bring some love to your office with these super simple valentines for co-workers.

9. Fill someone’s car/closet/cubicle with heart-shaped balloons.

10. Have a Galentine’s Day brunch with your gal pals.

This year, Domenico and I are probably going to repeat our Valentine’s Day plans from last year by watching the Oscar-nominated short films at Camelview 5. We’re not going to eat out this time to avoid the craziness, but will make dinner together and probably do some kitchen dancing. Of course, we might go out to split a milkshake or a slickable.

My Year in Review

January 1, 2015May 2, 20151 Comment

2014 was an especially busy year, full of new endeavors and old friends. During the past 12 months, I started two new jobs; watched the complete Gilmore Girls series; became the editor-in-chief of a literary magazine; taught myself how to crochet; traveled to Seattle, San Francisco, Portland, and Virginia; read possibly my favorite book ever, Carmelo; and began the process of selling my knitting. Here are some of my favorite moments from 2014.

1. When I made this vegetarian sweet potato chili.

2. When I knitted two hearts for Valentine’s Day. (One is anatomical and one symbolic; both are soft and fiber-y.)

3. When Domenico went to Payson and found the lake snow dusted. We ate chili there too!

4. When Domenico, Emily, Tommy, and I spent the day in Phoenix at the Book Swap and Phoenix Flea Market.

5. When I made bacon jam and grits crackers shaped like the state of Virginia for my visiting relatives.

6. When Domenico and I drove up the California coast, visiting flower fields, touring old castles and prisons, eating amazing food, and trying to figure out the San Francisco bus system.

7. When I got to celebrate my wonderful dad on Father’s Day.

8. When I got to show Kaylie and Ted all my favorite things in downtown Phoenix, like The Phoenix Public Market, Short Leash, the Melrose District, Lux, and Welcome Diner.

9. When I spent a week with my BFFs Kaylie and Rylee in Portland. We made crafts on Kaylie’s floor, ate ridiculous ice cream, saw so much beautiful green, and made plans for our future together.

10. When I traveled back to Virginia for a cousin’s wedding and spent the weekend exploring an old plantation and introducing Domenico to my sweet family.