Not Dead

I promise I'm not dead. Despite the fact that all I'm really doing is thinking about blogging, I haven't had a drop of time to post since last Thursday. I've been overwhelmed by real life and the extra work I've taken on. This may even be my only post this week. I promise I'll be back very, very soon, though. Promise.

What's for Dinner?

This seems to be the question that A.P. and I sigh about the most. I am responsible for feeding us on a daily basis, but I can't tell you how tiring it gets. It seems like every night A.P. asks me what's for dinner, and every night we have to figure out what we're eating. I love to cook, but I'm always so tired after work that cooking is sometimes the last thing I want to do. So I'm always on the hunt for a quick and easy recipes. I made a variation of this recipe from Martha Stewart for us the other night and the results were delicious!


Here's my variation on Martha's recipe:

Pork Chops with Parsnips and Carrots

Ingredients:

Pork Chops (whatever cut you prefer)
Parsnips (2 large)
1 cup baby carrots
1/4 c. chopped parsnips
1/8 c. cider vinegar
Sea Salt
Pepper
Olive Oil

Heat 1 tablespoon or so olive oil in a large dutch oven or lidded frying pan. Salt and pepper pork chops and cook over over medium to high heat until brown on one side (about five minutes). Meanwhile, peel and chop 2 good sized parsnips into rounds. Quarter the larger pieces. Flip pork chop and brown for 1-2 minutes. Add parsnips and 1 cup baby carrots, adding additional salt and pepper to taste. Cook until vegetables brown slightly, then place lid on pan and lower heat. Cook for about 5 minutes. Remove lid, and stir in 1/8 cup cider vinegar. Cook for 1 minute, and remove pork chops. Continue cooking vegetables until cider vinegar is reduced. In the last 3o seconds, add the chopped parsley and stir around. Remove from heat, and serve immediately.

I wanted to make a mushroom barley risotto to go with this, but this took so little time, that I didn't end up having time. This was so delicious that A.P. gobbled it up! I didn't omit the shallots on purpose, I just sort of forgot about them. I'm sure this variation would be good with shallots, too.

Now if only I had taken a damn picture!

(Photo via Martha Stewart)

Book Geek

A.P. made fun of me A LOT the other night because I became obsessed with this site after finding it on Avoision. Better Book Titles tries to summarize a book with a new title. The result is hilarious! Here are some of my favorites.

Macbeth

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

The Great Gatsby

Beowulf

(All Photos via Better Book Titles)

Oh, Deer!

I don't know what my fascination with deer is, I really don't. Nevertheless, like birds, I love them. When I first moved in with A.P., I bought the cardboard deer head you see below, mounted it to the wall above our barrel. (Say what?!? It looks cool, and always gets compliments, so meh.)

And now, after reading yet another deer inspired design post on A Cup of Jo, I'm thinking I'm ready to buy the real thing, vintage of course, or a cool resin version.


Plus 10 more deer inspired decor items.

1. Quirky Deer Art

2. Metallic Deer Antler

3. Vintage Miniature Brass Deer Rocking Horse

4. Cute Deer Print for Baby's Room

5. Sophisticated Deer Print for Living Room

6. Adorable Deer Pony Tail Holders

7. Fawn Onesie

8. Two-headed Deer Necklace

9. Vintage Brass Deer Hook

10. Cardboard Deer Head

(Deer Bathroom Photo via A Cup of Jo; 1. Quirky Deer Art Photo via BeatUpCreations on etsy 2. Metallic Deer Antler via AustinModern on etsy 3. Vintage Miniature Brass Deer Rocking Horse Photo via filedaway on etsy 4. Cute Deer Print Photo for Baby's Room via leearthaus on etsy 5. Sophisticated Deer Print for Living Room Photo via RococcoCo on etsy 6. Adorable Deer Pony Tail Holders Photo via okeykaraoke on etsy 7. Fawn Onesie Photo via Msg1983 on etsy 8. Two-headed Deer Necklace Photo via Fable and Fury on etsy 9. Vintage Brass Deer Hook Photo via Portuguese Vintage on etsy 10. Cardboard Deer Head Photo via ModCloth)

Love, Hollywood Style

Here's a little Valentine's Day inspiration for you! I'm in love with these photos of these in love classic Hollywood couples.

1. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward

2. Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier

3. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard

4. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor

5. Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart

6. Jimmy Stewart and Gloria McLean

Happy Valentine's Day, lovelies!

(Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward Photo via Guest of a Guest; Grace Kelly and Price Rainier Photo via CBC; Clark Gable and Carole Lombard Photo via Dr. X's Free Associations; Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor Photo via Nightmares and Boners; Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart Photo via BonzaSheila; Jimmy Stewart and Gloria McLean Photo via Juggle)

Dance Me to the End of Love

Monday is Valentine's Day, people! Here's a very late, but appropriately themed Friday dance!

First up we have this gorgeous Valentine's Day themed engagement shoot photographed by Laura Leslie and featured on Green Wedding Shoes.


Also...

...slip one of these printable Valentine's Day themed coffee sleeves on your sweetie's morning brew.

...channel Betty Draper in this pretty vintage nightie.

...suds your deer ones up.

...how many ways can I tell you I love you? Let me count the languages.

...a place for the lovebirds' wedding rings.

...Je t'aime these cute earrings.

...sip your soda with these flirty straws.

...brighten up a room with this vintage red phone.

...wear this with your best LBD for a poppie of color.

...sweeten up baby's room with this sweet message in vintage blocks.


I've never been so happy for a weekend to arrive. I'm planning on attending a work training tomorrow, then napping the day away! I need to catch up on some rest this weekend. And Sunday is supposed to be warm...40 degrees! So perhaps we will finally leave the cave and play outside a bit. Have a great weekend, party people!

(Dance Photo via Jess James Jake Authentic Vintage; Valentine's Day Engagement Shoot Shot by Laura Leslie via Green Wedding Shoes)

Work, Work, Work

I am so sorry for not posting yesterday, people. I started a new temp job on top of my regular job, and this was the first week. What that means is that twice a week, I stay after work and do another job. That means twice a week, I work 12 hour days: 7:30-7:30. It, well, sucks. But it means more money in my pocket, something for my resume, and surprisingly I get some of my regular work done during the extended hours, so in some ways, I bring less work home. It's just temporary. I'm going to see how it goes, and then I can decide if I want to do it permanently. So far, it's exhausting. I had to drink a cup of coffee tonight to stay away, and I rarely drink coffee (I'm more of a Diet Coke person).

Anyway, yesterday, I came home, cooked dinner, watched a ton of TV, and completely forgot to blog. By the time I remembered, I was so tired, I just skipped it altogether. Since I'm not really bringing home work this weekend, I figured it's a good opportunity to pre-write a bunch of posts so that this absence doesn't occur again. In the mean time, though, this post might have to suffice for tonight. I'm so tired I can't even see straight.

Let's dance tomorrow, peeps!