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I love chickpeas. Like, really really really love them. I frequently open up 15oz cans of chickpeas, strain & rinse them, and eat them as a snack. When I was little, I called them butt beans and loved them just as much as I do now. So, whenever I see a recipe that lists these little balls of heaven as one of the title ingredients, I'm EXTREMELY likely to give it a try. Thus, Linguini with Zucchini and Chickpeas :).
Here's what you'll need:
-12 ounces linguine (3/4 box)
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-3 small zucchini, cut into thin half-moons
-kosher salt
-1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed
-2 cloves garlic, sliced
-1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
-1/2 cup grated Parmesan (2 ounces)
Here's how to do it:
1) Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, drain, and return the pasta to the pot.
2) Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
3) Cook the zucchini, tossing often, until just tender, 4 to 5 minutes.
4) Add the chickpeas, garlic, and red pepper and cook until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
5) Toss the pasta with the reserved pasta water and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan.
6) Divide the pasta among bowls and top with the zucchini mixture and the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan.
I only altered the recipe a little bit. To make it more reheat-friendly I decided not to toss the 1/4 cup of Parmesan with the entire dish. I'm not sure if I used 12oz of linguini--I had most of a 1 lb. bag left and just used all of what I had. And I added some pepper for more flavor since I thought the dish was lacking a bit. I think the pepper realllllly helped spruce it up. I can't say this was the best thing I've ever eaten, but it does have a great fresh flavor to it. It also feels really light which is great for a springtime dish. I also love the Zucchini and, of course, my chickpeas. But the best part? It reheats like a champ. I'd say its even better on day two. So I'll probably end up making this dish again!! After all, when you're cooking larger dishes for one the ability to reheat them is KEY.
Back once again with a weekend update! Here we go :)
(I made that skirt!!!)
Friday:
I spent the whole day in my pjs. Yup! The wholee day. I watched a lot of Criminal Minds and started sewing a skirt based off of this pattern.
Saturday:
I got up bright and early so that I could do yoga in the park...only to find that it was raining :(. Hopefully this week!! Instead, I spent some time cleaning and even more time sewing. I did a lottt of homework and turned in a few assignments (woo!).
Sunday:
I slept in. I had a really bad headache all day on Saturday so I went to bed really early and ended up sleeping for like 12 hours. Maybe my headache was a sign of me being really sleepy? Either way, I felt great on Sunday. I finished my skirt!!! I'm so proud of myself. It's the first thing I've ever sewn for myself. I am officially addicted. Sunday evening I went to a friend's lovely apartment to help celebrate her birthday. We all ate dinner on the roof of her gorgeous building (the view...I died) and played a silly game. I'm proud of myself for going out!
How was your weekend? Less lazy than mine, I hope :).
xoxo
Mal
Hello friends,
Recently I've been having a bit of an internal struggle and after reading a few posts over on Kate's blog, I figured it was time to share.
(I really don't have many pictures of me drinking!)
In the interest of full disclosure, I feel as though I should start this post with telling you my age (20). I'm a Junior/Senior in college (graduating a full year early), live exactly 1,763 miles away from the home where I grew up, and go to a college known for its film program (though I'm studying marketing).
When most people think of college, they assume it goes hand in hand with binge drinking experimentation with drugs, sleeping with strangers that you never call again, and skipping class whenever possible in lieu of more "fun" activities. What most adults and parents of college (and high school) aged kids don't realize is how much pressure young people are under to partake in these activities. And yes, some of the pressure even comes from our parents (you're staying in again tonight? Why don't you go out with your friends?) I feel like sharing my story (I've shared bits and pieces in the past) may help someone else who is struggling with this pressure.
In high school I never touched a drink. In fact, as I found out that each of my close friends had started to drink, I used to cry (yup, dramatic. It's all that teen angst I guess!). My reaction was even stronger when I found out that those same friends were smoking weed and, in some cases, trying harder drugs. In middle school I had a huge group of friends but as they all started drinking on the weekends, my group diminished to almost nothing. I could never understand why underage drinking was such a big deal to me but didn't phase anyone around me. I feel extremely blessed that I met some great people through my church--all of whom I am still friends with today--because they showed me that social gatherings didn't have to surround alcohol. Something about making friends while drunk seemed artificial to me. I wasn't sure that lasting relationships could be built over a stolen bottle of rum. While I knew it wasn't my thing, I still struggled over my decision to abstain. I lost a LOT of "friends" and people frequently made fun of me for being the girl who didn't drink. I also got a LOT of shit for being a virgin (whaaaat?!). In high school the easiest answer was "I've never had a boyfriend". Though that wasn't my reason for holding on to my virginity, it seemed to put a quick end to the taunting. Even though I knew I thought I was way too young for sex (good call mal!) and didn't want to experiment with drinking and drugs, I frequently considered giving it a try. It's difficult to lose most of your friends to a bottle of booze and there's always the part of you that just wants to fit in--especially in high school. I have to credit my ability to refrain from my extremely supportive parents, my best friend Kristina, and my kick-ass determination to just be me. I'm happy to say that I graduated without ever touching alcohol and never sleeping with a boy just because I knew it would make me seem "cooler".
The first time I got drunk was the summer after I graduated. One of the most frequent taunts about my lack of drinking was that I had "never tried it" so "how did I know it wasn't for me". I also knew that I did want to try out the party scene in college so I figured getting drunk with the people I trusted was the best way to go. I have no idea what I drank (it was electric blue and I'm assuming it was some sort of flavored vodka mixed with koolaid or gaterade) but after my first few sips I started to feel it. I ended up getting somewhat drunk and feeling like it was kind of dumb. My head was spinning, I felt pretty sick, and I really just wanted to go home but I couldn't drive so I ended up sleeping at my friend's house till like 5 in the morning then heading home. Really, it was an okay first experience with alcohol. I didn't throw up (woo!), but I also didn't really enjoy myself. I was confident that I had made the right decision by avoiding the house parties of my high school years.
Moving right along to college... I drank a lot my first semester of college. I was 18/19 and you wouldn't believe how easy it was to get alcohol. All of my friends were underage (except for one) but many of them had fake ID's. I went out pretty much every weekend (Thursday-Saturday night) and drank enough to be staggering on my walk home. Thinking back now, I really can't pinpoint any one particular night that was a ton of fun. None of my favorite memories from that first semester involved alcohol in any way. In fact, I often went out with my friends and didn't drink anything except for water. I hated that when I got drunk the whole next day was spent sleeping and feeling groggy. I hated wasting my money on alcohol (which was SO SO expensive). I got to a point in about November when I realized that I genuinely wasn't enjoying these parties. There was constant pressure to try weed. I made the mistake of telling my friends that I had never done it before and it became a challenge for them. I was also taunted MERCILESSLY about my virginity. My new group of friends didn't care that I had never been in a caring relationship. One exchange I had concerning this topic will always stick with me...
"Yeah, my family went to Church every Sunday...But let's be real. None of us are virgins."
"I am"
"What? Really? Wow...that's kind of...pathetic"
The pressure to sleep around is INTENSE, people. The idea of abstaining is a great big joke to the vast majority of young people and as women are trying to close the gender gap, they're taking their sexuality with them. Many of the girls sleep around "without feelings" because that's what men do. Why is making a decision to be a virgin not considered strong? I think it takes a lot more strength to say no than to say yes. It became a game to my friends whenever I liked a new guy "Malori! Would you have sex with him!?". At some point, it got easier to just say yes so the questions would stop. Am I the only one who thinks that's sad? Anyways, it got to a point last year when I decided I was done giving the party scene a try. I was confident that I had seen what it was and experienced it and knew that I was not interested. I started staying in a LOT more. I got a gym membership and when I was bored I would go ride the bike for a while. I started knitting a LOT and blogging more consistently. I put a lot more effort into school and made friends with the people I met that weren't really into drinking. Not too long after that, I started spending a lot of time with a cute boy that I met and I was happier than I'd been during my party phase (as short-lived as it may have been). I put some pictures of my favorite parts of freshman year below--none of which involve alcohol.
(building a fort with my roommate)
(road trip to the Grand Funk Railroad)
(My brother's rugby games)
(Cookie Monday)
A year later and I still rarely go to parties. When I do, I have one or two beers and call it a night. And you know what? I'm really happy with my life. I have a ton of hobbies, I get straight A's in school, I'm graduating a FULL YEAR early, I keep up with my blog, I have time to write and exercise, I've learned how to cook (still learning!), I save my money, I read a ton of books, and I am exactly the person I want to be. The friendships I've made that don't revolve around parties and alcohol are the ones that have lasted. I don't have a huge group of friends and the people that are closest to me are scattered across the U.S. but that's alright too.
This has been a LONG post, so if you've made it this far, I commend you! All of that writing brings me to my point. I struggle with my decision to stay away from the party scene. With that choice comes a lot of lonely nights. I spend a ton of time by myself and I really do have trouble meeting people. But, I know that the friends I make when I'm not drunk out of my mind are generally going to stick around. The relationships I have will be more meaningful and my overall satisfaction with life will be much higher. I guess I just want to say that even though its been a struggle for me, that being "malori" has been the best thing I've ever done. You should do it too. Be who you want to be. If you aren't the girl/guy who likes to go out and get drunk on a Tuesday night, then stay home. If going to clubs and bars makes you uncomfortable, there are other social gatherings. You'll be lonely sometimes. People will probably make fun of you, call you boring, refer to you as a grandma (my friends call me Phyllis), or tell you that you're "missing out". But if I've learned anything in my 20 years here on earth, I've learned that the only things you miss out on are things you actually want to do. When I go to a party and get wasted, I feel like I missed out on a night of reading or sewing or painting. Do what makes you happy.
I'll be back later today with my weekend update. This week I'll be sharing my Happiness Project resolutions and doing some projects that will hopefully cross a few goals off of my 20 before 20 list. I also have some pictures to share with all of you :).
xoxo
Mal
It's friiday, friiday, gotta get down on friiiiiddddaaayyyy ;).
(old picture but I felt like this post needed some pizazz)
For me, it looks like Friday is going to be homework day this summer. It also looks like Monday and Wednesday are going to be devoted to homework as well. Can we just talk about how much work goes into on online class? Then we can talk about how silly it was for me to take not one, not two, but THREE online classes this summer. And on top of all that silly ambition, I made the decision to take three ACCELERATED online classes? Yup. I'm dumb. And I have a ton of work to do for these next eight weeks.
So today is for homework. Today is also for watching movies and sewing because if I do a whole day of continuous homework I die a little inside. Gotta keep it lively somehow...right?
Hopefully your Friday is more fun filled than mine (maybe involving crazy decisions like sitting in the front seat or the back seat?).
xoxo
Mal
P.S.
Sorry for all the Rebecca Black references...all this homework has made me a little crazy...
I loved all of your feedback on my post yesterday! It's comforting to know I'm not the only one with a ton of clutter. I thought that today I'd extend on the topic a bit and give you some of my own clutter-clearing strategies and show you some of the progress I've made. Maybe it'll help one of you kick the clutter!
(my closet)
tips and tricks
1) Get rid of the garbage first: Sometimes cleaning out a really messy area can be overwhelming. To sidestep that feeling, I look for any garbage and get rid of that first. If you're cleaning out a drawer throw away miscellaneous papers or old candy wrappers (are those just a problem in my drawers..? moving along...). If you're working on a closet, get rid of stained clothes or garments that have holes in them, are ratty, or are falling apart. It's a great place to start because you don't have any emotional attachment to the trashy things!
2) Does it fit?: All of us have clothes in our closets that don't fit us. I have clothes that have NEVER fit me. If you get rid of the things in your closet that don't fit, you'll have more room for adorable things that DO fit. And I'm not just talking about that pair of jeans you bought in a size zero in hopes of losing enough weight to fit into them. If you have clothes that you never wear because you don't feel comfortable when you wear them, then its time for them to go! I also have "fit" issues in other cluttered areas of my life. I have craft supplies that I will never use, tools from my days as a fashion design major that are taking up space, more yarn that I'd care to admit that I own--go through these items and decide if they still fit you.
3) Keep your memories: A lot of times its difficult to get rid of out things because they have special memories attached to them. While it might seem difficult to get rid of the dress you were wearing on your first date with your beau, if it doesn't fit your life anymore, its time to let it go. I've read in a lot of places (The Happiness Project included!) that it helps to take a picture of the item then let it go. That way, you'll always be able to look back at it, but pictures take up MUCH less room than actual objects.
4) Sometimes, you should keep it: This completely contradicts my last point. Sometimes, you really should hold on to a sentimental item. I keep a big memory box for those items for a few reasons. First, all my important items are stored in the same place. Second, they aren't taking up place in the day-to-day places of my life. Try to limit the amount of items you keep (this is where a box comes in handy) but you should definitely keep some things.
5) Do it again!: Once you've done your first round of clutter-clearing, do it again. Sometimes just the act of getting rid of things will make you realize you don't actually need all of the things you decided to keep. It gets a little easier the second time around! Trust your gut, if you think its something you don't want then let it go.
6) Have fun: This is the most important tip. Put on some music, watch a sappy movie, or do it with friends. Whatever you have to do to have some fun with it, make that happen. Then it feels less like a chore and more like fun :).
So that's my strategy! But, what about you?
When I asked for your strategies in the comments yesterday, one of my fabulous readers suggested the One Year Rule. If you haven't used something in a year, its gone! This is a great way to get rid of clutter. Sometimes I can't remember the last time I used something and that's generally a sign that I can let it go. Thanks so much Amanda.
If you keep leaving your tips I'll keep adding them to this post.
What tips do you think I should add?
If you follow me on Twitter, you probably noticed my incessant tweets about The Happiness Project. As I was reading this fabulous book, I wanted so badly to get started on my own happiness project but I thought it would be best to finish the book first :). I also could hardly wait to share the book with all of you!
First things first, my review :):
I truly enjoyed this book. I found it to be completely inspirational (as you'll see here on the blog) and a really easy read. The book chronicles a year in Gretchen Rubin's life where she set resolutions for herself that led to a happier life. This book is really similar to many of the other one-year-project books out there (like eat, pray love) but I connected with it SO MUCH MORE. Why? You ask. Because Gretchen didn't go on an exotic journey, sell all of her belongings and live in a cardboard box, quit her job and travel to a remote location for an extended period of time, or anything else drastic. Each change she made to her life was small, quantitative, and occurred all within the confines of her already-established life. I love the idea of using what you've got and making yourself happier. After all, not all of us can afford to leave our lives behind and take a long journey to find ourselves...right?
So that brings me back to my own little happiness project :). I was so inspired by her book that I decided to give it a try. I'm not particular unhappy, but I'm also not living every day to the happiest! I often let bad moods consume my day and I frequently make the choice to be sarcastic and closed off instead of being vulnerable. I'm still working on my own list of resolutions but I thought I'd kick things off in the same way as Gretchen did in her novel! So, I've been clearing out the clutter in my life! I started in my closet, moved to the hall closet, then took care of my bathroom. Next I'm tackling my book shelf and my desk. I'll probably finish off the clutter-clearing with my computer. It's surprising how hard it is to get rid of the clutter in your life! Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, but I tend to get really attached to objects/clothes/books/etc.
What are your best clutter-clearing tips? Do you have trouble getting rid of things too? I'd love to hear about your experiences!
I also wanted to see if any of you have read this book. If so, how do you feel about it? Have you ever implemented resolutions for happiness into your life? Please share!!
It's back to cleaning for me...
xoxo
Mal
After I visited the Green City Market a couple weeks ago, I was really in the mood for something that tasted natural and healthy. Something about all that fresh food... So when I got home, I threw on my apron and got to work.
I had flagged this recipe in an issue of Real Simple ages ago and finally picked up the necessary ingredients to put it together.
Here's what you'll need:
And the end result...
In the end, I made a really pretty dish. Personally, I think it could have had a little more kick to it. Maybe next time I'll throw in some red pepper flakes? I'd definitely recommend trying it out. The recipe was super simple and would have taken me about 30 minutes had I not photographed my ingredients in such a fancy way. The other issue I ran into with this recipe was with the barley. It said to buy quick-cooking barley but I couldn't find any, so I simply bought barley in bulk from whole foods and let it soak overnight in a bowl of water. Equally effective, but a pinch more work than some of you may care to do!
Enjoy!
Last week I spent the week visiting my family and taking a break from real life. I only had a week off between the end of the semester and the beginning of summer school and my internship. I decided to take all my summer school classes online so that frees up a lot of time, thank god! Anyways, last week while I was home I decided to stop by my high school to visit my favorite teacher (what up Boggsy!) This is what I wore...
sunglasses: RayBan
top: Volcom (borrowed from mom)
skirt: Forever 21 (thrifted $6.00)
One of my favorite things about not being in high school anymore is the fact that I no longer have to abide by a dress code. I don't think I dress inappropriately and I always hated the silly dress code rules (such as, no spaghetti straps allowed). Having said that, I have a little anecdote about my visit...
As I was being escorted to my old teacher's classroom, I heard a woman shouting "Young Lady!! YOUNG LADY!!". I turned around and realized it was the vice principal. She and her family are friends with my family (I've even vacationed with them in the past) and so she immediately recognized me. I laughed and said something like "you were going to dress code me, weren't you?" and she admitted that she thought I was a student. We exchanged pleasantries then she turned the topic back to my outfit. She told me that I really couldn't be wearing what I was wearing and asked if I had anything to put on over my spaghetti straps. I calmed explained that I wasn't a student and that I didn't have anything else to put on.
As we were talking, the principal walked up and got involved in the conversation (she is also a family friend). She began to tell me that what I had on was inappropriate and asked if I had anything else to put on. Again, I told her that I WAS NOT a student and that my outfit wasn't inappropriate. We went back and forth a few times--her telling me I was scantily clad, me explaining that I wasn't a student and did not need to abide by the dress code. The conversation ended with the principle telling me she "couldn't have me on her campus looking like that". She told me I could either change clothes or come back another day in a more appropriate outfit. So, she had me escorted to the nurses office so I could change clothes before I was allowed to go upstairs. I had driven my mom's car so I asked the nurse if I could see if maybe my mom had a sweatshirt or something in the car--luckily she did so I threw it on and was allowed back on campus.
Honestly, I left the campus feeling extremely offended. As silly as it is, I felt like I was in high school again and was kind of humiliated. As I walked to the nurses office, I definitely had to take some deep breaths and tell myself not to cry (silly, I know, but I'm a crier). I was shocked that they made me change my clothing and I wonder if I had been a parent if I would have been treated the same way. It's been almost a week since the incident and thinking about it now I'm still sort of embarrassed. So here's my question to you, wonderful readers. Do you think that my outfit was so scandalous that I should have been asked to change or to leave campus? Did you have dress codes at your high school? How do you feel about dress codes in general? I'd love to hear your take on it.
xoxo
Mal
Oh! P.S.
I always love when you all leave me comments and every time I get a comment I try to add another blog to my reader. Sadly, I don't have time to read hundreds of blogs every day so I had to find a new way to connect with all of you fabulous readers! So... I've gone back to replying to your comments...in the comments. I used to do this when I first started my blog, but for some reason I stopped. I'm bringing it back!!
“All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare.” -Baruch Spinoza
(source)
I just wanted to pop in to say hi! This is my last full day of vacation so I'm packing, soaking up some last-minute sunshine, getting my nails done, and tying up loose ends all around town.
I'll be back to regular posting next week :). I loved your comments on the scandalous book list I posted yesterday. I read a FANTASTIC book this week and cannot wait to share it with all of you :).
Have a fabulous Friday and an even better Saturday. I'll see you on Sunday with a great quote.
xoxo
Mal
So I'm home for the week spending time with my family, which means a fair amount of TV time. We were watching our local news and a story about a mom who was trying to ban a book came on. During the story, they referenced a book of the top 100 banned and challenged books. Umm, what!? This book is SO MUCH COOLER than the 100 books you should read before you die. Also, I've read so many more of these titles. I thought I'd post this list as well because it makes me feel a little scandalous!
1. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling (I've read most of them)
2. Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
3. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
4. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
5. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
6. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
7. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
8. His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman
9. ttyl; ttfn; l8r g8r (series), by Myracle, Lauren
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
11. Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
12. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
13. Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
14. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
15. The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
16. Forever, by Judy Blume
17. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
18. Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
19. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
20. King and King, by Linda de Haan
21. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
22. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar
23. The Giver, by Lois Lowry
24. In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
25. Killing Mr. Griffen, by Lois Duncan
26. Beloved, by Toni Morrison
27. My Brother Sam Is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier (I'm like 90% sure I read this in school)
28. Bridge To Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
29. The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney
30. We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier
31. What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones
32. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
33. Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson
34. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
35. Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison
36. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
37. It’s So Amazing, by Robie Harris
38. Arming America, by Michael Bellasiles
39. Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
40. Life is Funny, by E.R. Frank
41. Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher
42. The Fighting Ground, by Avi
43. Blubber, by Judy Blume
44. Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
45. Crazy Lady, by Jane Leslie Conly
46. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
47. The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby, by George Beard
48. Rainbow Boys, by Alex Sanchez
49. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey (started it)
50. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
51. Daughters of Eve, by Lois Duncan
52. The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
53. You Hear Me?, by Betsy Franco
54. The Facts Speak for Themselves, by Brock Cole
55. Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Green
56. When Dad Killed Mom, by Julius Lester
57. Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause
58. Fat Kid Rules the World, by K.L. Going
59. Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
60. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
61. Draw Me A Star, by Eric Carle
62. The Stupids (series), by Harry Allard
63. The Terrorist, by Caroline B. Cooney
64. Mick Harte Was Here, by Barbara Park
65. The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien
66. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor
67. A Time to Kill, by John Grisham
68. Always Running, by Luis Rodriguez
69. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
70. Harris and Me, by Gary Paulsen
71. Junie B. Jones (series), by Barbara Park
72. Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
73. What’s Happening to My Body Book, by Lynda Madaras
74. The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold
75. Anastasia (series), by Lois Lowry
76. A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving
77. Crazy: A Novel, by Benjamin Lebert
78. The Joy of Gay Sex, by Dr. Charles Silverstein
79. The Upstairs Room, by Johanna Reiss
80. A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck
81. Black Boy, by Richard Wright
82. Deal With It!, by Esther Drill
83. Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn Reynolds
84. So Far From the Bamboo Grove, by Yoko Watkins
85. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by Chris Crutcher
86. Cut, by Patricia McCormick
87. Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
88. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
89. Friday Night Lights, by H.G. Bissenger
90. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’Engle
91. Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George
92. The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar
93. Bumps in the Night, by Harry Allard
94. Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
95. Shade’s Children, by Garth Nix
96. Grendel, by John Gardner
97. The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende
98. I Saw Esau, by Iona Opte
99. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume
100. America: A Novel, by E.R. Frank
How many have you read!? Are you more scandalous than me? I think everyone should be a scandalous reader :). Makes reading sound sort of sexy, don't you think??
xoxo
Mal
I am a huge worrier. I am also really hesitant to overload my plate or jump into new things because I'm afraid I'll be in over my head. So, making post-graduation plans and figuring out this last year of school has proved to be quite a daunting task. You are some of the best listeners I know of, so I decided to document my progress with you! Let's get started...
This summer I'll be in summer school and interning with a Chicago-based company. I'm really excited to experience my first summer in Chicago and work at my first "real" job (something that isn't retail or my dad's company). When I was applying for internships, one company was full for the summer but had fall slots open. I interviewed for a fall internship and was accepted into the program (I'm thrilled!). I've also laid out my schedule from now until graduation (I know my exact schedule through December and the classes I'll be taking in the spring). All of this sounds so exciting, and it is, but there is a part of me that isn't quite ready for all of this just yet. I've been soooo consumed with worry about making all these decisions.
Inspired by the book I'm reading right now, I've decided to take a deep breath and relax. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I need to get pumped up about all these incredible opportunities knocking on my door. I get so wrapped up in my potential inability to navigate my future that I forget to be happy about where I am today. I'm a nut. I feel like this insane fretting isn't specific to me. How do you all deal with stress about the future? Any tips and tricks about avoiding the whole "overthinking" thing?
Finally, I want to draw your attention to this Ipad 2 giveaway. I really want one but am desperately poor so I think it'd be pretty freaking cool to win it. You all should enter too!!
xoxo
Mal
So after seeing write-ups about Super Natural Cooking on some of my favorite blogs (Lottie & Doof, Design*Sponge, Food in Jars) I decided to see what all the fuss was about. Only after revisiting these posts did I realize that I ordered Heidi Swanson's first cookbook instead of her newer one hahaha. Oh well :). I'm still pumped up about it!
Over the weekend I tried my first recipe from the book--Springtime Minestrone with Basmati Rice. I kept everything pretty much the same as the recipe but I wasn't able to find brown basmati rice so I used white rice and I'd say it tasted pretty delicious.
You might notice that there is always a heap of cheese on top of the recipes I post. That is because I have a serious love affair with Parmesan cheese. I almost always throw a heap of Parmesan on top of any noodle/risotto/rice/soup dish I make. Trader Joe's has a pretty great bag of shredded Parmesan so that's generally where I get mine. I know that some people would say my Parmesan love ruins the integrity of my food--but at least I don't salt the hell out of it...right??
I don't really know the rules on posting recipes from books but I don't want to be breaking any rules or exploiting Heidi Swanson's hard work so I'll just suggest that you check out her blog or go and buy yourself a copy of Super Natural Cooking.
xoxo
Mal
Friday:
This was my first day home since January. It was so nice waking up at my parents house and seeing the Arizona sunshine pouring through my window...at the ripe hour of 6:30 in the morning. I got a new haircut on Friday, got some lunch with my mama, swam a little bit, and started reading a new book.
Saturday:
I woke up EARLY again (7:00), lounged in the pool with my mom for a while (got a gnarly sunburn on my back!), then got ready to do some mom-errands with her. We went to Barnes and Noble, Target, and Nothing Bundt Cakes and got some lunch at this delicious restaurant here in Phoenix--Pomegranate. The rest of Saturday was spent on the couch watching TV, doing blog things, and reading. I'm still open to any and all marketing questions you have concerning your blogs so please, leave them in the comments!
Sunday:
Woke up at 6:30 again (really, this needs to stop), and got some breakfast with my dad. We chatted for a bit over some yummy breakfast burritos then made our way over to Ikea so I could pick up some fabric. I ended up getting a LOT of fabric and I'm really excited to use it. I want to make some cute skirts and dresses :). Sunday evening we all went out to dinner to celebrate my older brother's 22nd birthday. We topped the night off with some red velvet cake and cookie dough ice cream... om nom nom.
This was my only weekend at home since I head back to Chicago on Saturday so it was nice to soak up a ton of family time!
There are so many old friends I'd like to see while I'm home but since I'm only home for a week, all I feel like doing is snuggling with my family and relaxing. Do any of you feel this way when you go home to visit? That is, if you don't live where you grew up!
I'd love to know how your weekend was, so if you do a weekend update leave the link in the comments :)!
“Second-hand books are wild books, homeless books; they have come together in vast flocks of variegated feather, and have a charm which the domesticate volumes of the library lack.” --Virginia Woolfe in Street Haunting
(via. Sweet Home Style)
I'm in Phoenix now soaking up some much needed sunshine and relaxation. My posting should remain regular but if I disappear you know its because I'm in a relaxation coma :).
Before I head to my parents lush couch to read a book, I wanted to tell you that I'm putting together a series (or maybe an e-book?) about marketing and branding your blog. I'm really excited to put this together but I want to make sure it benefits YOU. So here's what I want to know. What are your marketing questions when it comes to your blog? I'd like to address as many of your questions as possible in my project. So lay it on me! I'm planning on covering everything from developing your logo to more complex ideas like positioning your blog and retaining readers.
So that's my question!!
What questions do you have when it comes to branding and marketing your blog?
xoxo
Mal
I'm going to start this post by saying that I freaking love farmers markets. Something about the combination of fresh food, friendly vendors, and the community atmosphere at farmers markets just makes my soul smile. The weather is FINALLY warming up here in Chicago so the markets are starting up again--or in the case of Green City Market, just moving back outdoors.
I found out about the market on one of my favorite food blogs, Lottie and Doof. After reading a post about a local chef who makes some delicious tamales, I knew I HAD to go and get some for myself. Note: I read that post at 1:30 in the morning on Friday evening (I guess that's technically Saturday morning) and the market opened at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday. I immediately got into bed with dreams of tamales dancing in my head.
When I got up, I quickly showered and packed up my purse then caught a bus to the market. My first stop was obviously the tamale tent and when I got there I saw a giant "SOLD OUT" sign. Break. My. Heart. I spoke to the chef for a minute and was assured that she'd be back every Wednesday and Saturday with a much larger supply so she didn't sell out as quickly. Have no fear, I'll get my tamale yet!
Since the reason for my visit was a bust, I decided to look around and enjoy the other vendors' fare. I got a scoop of candied maple pecan ice cream from Snooklefritz, which was absolutely DIVINE, and looked around.
I think my favorite was the River Valley Farmers tent. They are mushroom farmers (swoon!) and they had a beautiful set-up complete with free samples, and some delicious products. I ended up buying some garlic lover's pasta sauce from them and I'm pretty excited about it!
My other purchase of the day was some fresh ciabatta rolls from Crumb. The foccacia slices looked HEAVENLY but I couldn't justify the $3 because I no longer have a job haha. Maybe next time? The chef was so sweet and was really working the crowd well. She did a great job--I will definitely be a repeat customer.
All in all, the market was fabulous. I learned some important lessons!
1) have a dog. I felt really out of place without a furry friend.
2) get there EARLY! Almost all of the prepared food was sold out by the time I got there (around 10:15) so next time I'll have to make an effort to get there earlier in the day.
3) always bring an umbrella. It started sprinkling a little bit so I had to head home because I didn't want my camera to get wet. If I had brought an umbrella, that wouldn't have been an issue. Silly me!
Ever since I found out I'm graduating in a year, I've been thinking seriously about what I'm going to do after I'm out of school. There is a big possibility that I will no longer live in Chicago when I'm done so I've decided to soak up as much "Chicago" as possible while I'm still living here! Over the weekend, I got a pretty good jumpstart into the whole "experiencing my city" thing.
One of my favorite parts of living here are the little locally owned and operated businesses. I loveee doing my homework in coffee shops so I'm always trying to find new ones to satisfy my love. On Friday, my lovely friend Lauren and I went to Noble Tree Coffee and Tea.
I ordered a french soda (raspberry, of course) and impulsively bought a lemon cookie as well. Both were pretty tasty!
(source)
We spent about three hours doing homework and my only complaint is with the weird playlist. It sounded more like I was clubbin' then in a coffee shop! We kept giggling with each song because it was so weird.
(source)
I can't decide if I'd go back again. When compared to my other homework hotspot of choice (Bourgeois Pig) it just isn't as captivating. It was, however, much more spacious, and the decor is really cute. That was really nice--especially since I didn't go alone. It's nice to have the option to spread your work out across a large table versus a tiny one. I think I'd have to try it at least once more before making a final decision!
Any Chicago natives out there, do you have coffee shop suggestions? I'd love to give them a try and review them!!
xoxo
Mal
I'm really bad at keeping up with features because I tend to forget about them. I'm trying really hard to keep things up and running though so here is another weekend update :)!
Friday:
I slept in late, did some snugglin, then got my day started. My friend Lauren and I met up at Noble Tree Cafe to do some homework. Friday evening was spent doing various apartment things. (one of my roommates moved out so there's some furniture moving, heavy cleaning, and redecorating going on)
Saturday:
I woke up bright and early to get to the first outdoor Green City Market of the season. I got there around 10:30 and almost everything I wanted was sold out so I'll have to get there earlier next time! When I got home, I finished a few of my finals, cooked up some delicious lunch, and sang along to some Michael Buble, Jamie Cullum, and Frank Sinatra courtesy of the best pandora station ever. Saturday evening I got some dinner at Flat Top with my friend Eric (YUMYUMYUM) then spent the rest of the night scrapbooking and watching movies on Netflix.
Sunday:
I woke up early on Sunday as well because I had a lengthy to-do list to get done. I cooked some breakfast, cleaned my apartment, and redecorated my entryway. I set up a menu for dinner as I thought I would be cooking for three of my friends (dinner didn't end up happening!) and got some groceries for the meal. After I got home, I spent some time at Reckless Records with Ben picking out some great vinyl for his collection. After that, Sean and Kristina (two of my best friends that get mentioned around here a lottt) spent the night at my place because they are leaving from Chicago for INDIA today. They're going to be doing some missions work over there and I'm so proud to call them my friends. We took it easy and watched Easy A while munching on some snacks (chocolate chip cookies from Trader Joe's). We said our goodbyes this morning, keep them in your thoughts and prayers!
Overall, I'd say this weekend was a HUGE success. I spent time with people I love, slept in, crafted, ate delicious food, cooked, cleaned, decorated, and experienced new things. I wish all weekends could be this wonderful!
What did you do with your weekend?
“I wish I could make my hands a snow globe and hold this moment under glass forever” -Grab on to me Tightly As If I Knew The Way
xoxo
Mal
It's been a while since I've reviewed books for all of you. I haven't been reading quite as much recently because I've been trying to get through the end of my semester in one piece. I haven't stopped completely though, so let me share what I have read recently!
Girl
The back of the book describes the novel as "A Catcher in the Rye for the Grunge generation". Seeing as how I loveddd Catcher in the Rye, I figured I'd give it a go when Amazon suggested it to me. What's the verdict? Guilty! Just kidding. I enjoyed the novel but I'm not in love. It's written in stream of consciousness so its a really easy read. I found that when I sat down to get through a chapter, I'd end up reading 50 pages because you just get lost in the story. Overall, it is a really universal story with some great scenes. I'd suggest it :)!
The Heart of the Matter
As you may have seen on TV, the movie for Something Borrowed is coming to theaters soon. The same author of that wonderful book (seriously, soo so good) wrote this guy as well. I am NOT a fan of romance novels but I can't get enough of Emily Giffin. My friend Ariel bought Something Borrowed for me two years ago for Christmas and immediately after I finished it, I ended up buying ALL of Ms. Giffin's other novels and LOVING them. This book had a somewhat disappointing ending (in my opinion) but was awesome none-the-less. I'd absolutely suggest it!
The Tipping Point
This is a fantastic marketing book. But it appeals to everyone! It explores the reason that epidemics "tip". What makes a trend catch on? It's fascinating. I'm really not doing a great job of explaining it so you should probably just check it out.
What have you been reading recently? I'd love to hear :)
xoxo
Mal
P.S.
Did you see what I did with the Title there? Man, I'm clever!
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before, but you all are literally the best blog readers a girl could ask for. I wouldn't be where I am if none of you cared to read what I say so thank you times a million for that! This morning, TWO of my readers did some wonderfully sweet things for me and I'm blown away.
First, I came home from class and had this GIANT box waiting for me at home. I LOVE getting mail so I was already pumped up.
Then I opened it and saw this CUTEEE packaging (seriously, that sheep ribbon is killing me) which was accompanied by the most heart-warming card.
What was inside all that wrapping, you ask?!
THIS PILLOW! Quick story: A girl commented on one of my blog posts a longggg time ago and when I went to her blog she had a post about these really cool pillows she was making for her etsy shop. I didn't know who she was but I distinctly remember following her blog hoping she'd post a DIY or get her etsy shop up and running so I could buy one of these pillows. Turns out, she's one of my great blog friends now and she sent me a pillow because she's the sweetest. I am sooooooo excited to give this little guy a home :). It fits in perfectly here in my city! Thank you, thank you, thank you Mackenzie! Clearly, all of you should head over to her blog and see for yourselves just how great she is.
Next up, a newer reader around here nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award. When I first started blogging I used to be SO jealous of the ladies who received these awards so I'm blown away that someone has nominated me for one (The lovely Chrissy passed one along to me too). Thank you sooo much to Simonette (I hope I got that right!).
So the rules of this blog award are to thank the one who bequeathed it to you (check!), write seven random facts about yourself (see below), and pass it along to fifteen other bloggers (ehhhh that's a lot...).
My Seven Facts:
1) I am a TOTAL morning person. I have never met anyone else who feels this way. I am generally happiest when I'm up with the sun!
2) I don't really like movies that I know will have a happy ending. I feel like that's really predictable and I'd rather spend my time watching something that keeps me on my toes.
3) I always wear two rings--one is a tiny house that my best friends Sean and Kristina bought for me and the other is a set of stackable rings with hands that hold each other. That sounds so confusing. Maybe I'll post a picture of how they work sometime. It's a seriously cool ring, I get compliments on it all the time.
4) I am too impatient to wait for my nails to dry after I paint them so there is always at least one nail that has a huge bump in it.
5) True Life: I spend way too much time reading blogs.
6) I loveeeeeee to read. I'm always reading like a million books at once. Right now I'm in the middle of 12 books. They're all strategically placed around my apartment/life so that whenever I reach for something to read there's a book to meet my needs.
7) I spend almost all of my money on food. I love to cook/eat out so when I get my paycheck I'm usually at the grocery store picking out something new and exciting to cook or going out to a restaurant (new or old) to inhale something divine.
I was supposed to give this to fifteen other bloggers but that seems a little bit obnoxious to me so I'm going to give it to three ladies that I've been enjoying a lot recently.
1) Kate's Irrelevant
2) My Little Artichoke
3) All Dressed Up
Sighhhh you guys are the best :). I'll be back tomorrow with a lateeee Vloggin' Vednesday and some other goodies.
xoxo
Mal
