This has been quite the Valentine's Weekend. Pancho got in Friday afternoon and after sweetly driving me around downtown so I could do errands, we got straight to celebrating. He got me a deep-tissue massage (so excited), Toblerone chocolates, and these sweet flowers in a pink striped potter I can use once I've inevitably killed off the plant. (terrible, but true) I got him chocolate croissants from WS that are apparently out of this world amazing but due to the snow storm and UPS being royally incompetant, they are still sitting in a warehouse when they were an overnight air delivery. Probably no longer frozen after 5 days, so I'm a little miffed and will be on the phone to correct it very soon. But besides that little snafu, the gifts were superb.
Ok, so, Friday night we went to see Valentine's Day which has like a million famous people in it. It was verrrrry cute, I loved it, there were some really hilarious scenes that made my face hurt I was laughing so much. It was a packed theater and my guess is that there were no more than 10 guys. Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Garner, and Emma Roberts were extra good. I liked seeing Taylor Swift but she plays the ditziest high schooler it was cringe-worthy. Highly recommend it.
Then we met up with some of Pancho's friends from Hopkins that now live in Philly and some of their friends from med school. Somehow I ended up very very drunk. By somehow, I mean, a long island and 4 beers. yikes. Needless to say, Saturday morning was rough. very rough. But we started watching some of the Oylmpics coverage and made chocolate chip cookies from scratch (I have such a chocolate monster of a boyfriend) and before I knew it, it was time for dinner.
Got dressed up (boots, black pants, black and white silk top) and we headed over to Center City to Bistrot La Minette, this adorable little French restaurant. The reviews on Yelp were all glowing and it ended up beyond my expectations. Started with this delicious apple, pear puree, cinnamon cocktail, wonderfully buttery and garlic escargot in adorable individual pots for each snail, and warm baguette slices. Pancho had terrine (chunky pate) and then orange-glazed duck. My main course was lamb stew with duck confit which was hearty, thick and like heaven in every bite. AND then, as if I could eat another morsel, we got pot de chocolate for dessert. Basically a little bowl of chocolate mouse/pudding with delicate butter cookies to dip in. Topped off with chocolates made in-house and some red wine, we were in food heaven. I love good food and every thing was authentic and served beautifully. Very very impressed. It was romantic and the definite highlight of the weekend.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Fact: I survived a blizzard.
So... about that last post, about "Snowmageddon." Ummm.. well, I spoke too soon. Because Tuesday night-- Wednesday we got hit with a blizzard. A real, honest-to-goodness blizzard. Did my little ol' Floridian heart think such a thing was going to happen in "Oh, Philadelphia doesn't get that much snow"? NO. But it was awesome. Mainly because I never left my toasty apartment, and I could look on in wonder from the inside. It sleeted, it snowed, it was super windy. And the white stuff just piled onto the snow from Saturday that still hadn't even begun to melt. yikes.
Today I couldn't take it anymore, already going stir crazy, so I just went on a walk to the ATM. lol. (I needed some sort of purpose). It was glorious outside. Cold, but I was bundled so it felt good, sunny, and with rain boots I feel invincible so I can stomp around to my heart's content. The roads were in various states of packed snow/sorta plowed/cleared and already muddy. I'm actually dreading what this is all going to look like when it starts melting. ughhh. But, its still nice and clean and white now. I posted photos on Facebook. Its difficult to explain the ridiculousness of how much snow there is. 3-4 foot piles between the sidewalk and street.
Pancho is coming in on the train tomorrow. So far there are no delays, keeping my fingers crossed. The plan was for me to do some grocery shopping and then pick him up on the way back, but I have serious doubts about the road conditions. sigh. Driving on snowy-ish roads is terrifying but maybe everywhere I need to go is all salted and plowed. Let's hope.
Today I couldn't take it anymore, already going stir crazy, so I just went on a walk to the ATM. lol. (I needed some sort of purpose). It was glorious outside. Cold, but I was bundled so it felt good, sunny, and with rain boots I feel invincible so I can stomp around to my heart's content. The roads were in various states of packed snow/sorta plowed/cleared and already muddy. I'm actually dreading what this is all going to look like when it starts melting. ughhh. But, its still nice and clean and white now. I posted photos on Facebook. Its difficult to explain the ridiculousness of how much snow there is. 3-4 foot piles between the sidewalk and street.
Pancho is coming in on the train tomorrow. So far there are no delays, keeping my fingers crossed. The plan was for me to do some grocery shopping and then pick him up on the way back, but I have serious doubts about the road conditions. sigh. Driving on snowy-ish roads is terrifying but maybe everywhere I need to go is all salted and plowed. Let's hope.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
"Snowmageddon" of 2010
It snowed! Lots and lots and lots this weekend. It. was. awesome. (said like that little kid on The Incredibles)
It started Friday evening and didn't stop until Saturday afternoon. Estimates range from 22 to 28 inches for Philadelphia, so I'm not 100 percent sure exactly how much, but obviously enough. I spent a lot of time sitting at my kitchen table just watching it fall. Totally transformed the view. Everything is completely covered by white. Its very pretty. Looks like winter. Wish it looked like this for all of winter. Got bundled up on Saturday afternoon (when it was still 22 out but supposedly felt like 7 according to the weather report) and went playing with my friend, Noria. By playing I mean throwing myself into piles of snow, literally throwing myself, I even have a bruised knee as proof. (apparently one pile wasn't as packed as I thought so I plunked right through it to the ground) but made snow angels and tried to pack snowballs but it wasn't wet enough. It was wonderful. The roads hadn't really been plowed so people were just walking in the middle of the street, also because the sidewalks were like up to my knees almost. Very peaceful and quiet and makes all the other cold and non-snow days worth it. And we're supposed to be getting more snow on Wednesday! If I hope for a Snow Day am I jinxing it?
I was very good today and spent time catching up on my reading and getting ready for the week. Didn't watch the Super Bowl, but I did just happen to switch over during commercial on Nightly to catch the Tebow commercial. I don't know what the big deal was, it was like the lamest commercial ever and didn't even explicitly say anything about abortion. Hopefully I can see the highlights of some of the good commercials later this week, though.
Very excited that Pancho is coming on Friday to spend Valentine's weekend! We're going to this romantic French place, Bistrot La Minette, over in Center City for dinner. Haven't done anything fancy in a long time so really looking forward to it.
It started Friday evening and didn't stop until Saturday afternoon. Estimates range from 22 to 28 inches for Philadelphia, so I'm not 100 percent sure exactly how much, but obviously enough. I spent a lot of time sitting at my kitchen table just watching it fall. Totally transformed the view. Everything is completely covered by white. Its very pretty. Looks like winter. Wish it looked like this for all of winter. Got bundled up on Saturday afternoon (when it was still 22 out but supposedly felt like 7 according to the weather report) and went playing with my friend, Noria. By playing I mean throwing myself into piles of snow, literally throwing myself, I even have a bruised knee as proof. (apparently one pile wasn't as packed as I thought so I plunked right through it to the ground) but made snow angels and tried to pack snowballs but it wasn't wet enough. It was wonderful. The roads hadn't really been plowed so people were just walking in the middle of the street, also because the sidewalks were like up to my knees almost. Very peaceful and quiet and makes all the other cold and non-snow days worth it. And we're supposed to be getting more snow on Wednesday! If I hope for a Snow Day am I jinxing it?
I was very good today and spent time catching up on my reading and getting ready for the week. Didn't watch the Super Bowl, but I did just happen to switch over during commercial on Nightly to catch the Tebow commercial. I don't know what the big deal was, it was like the lamest commercial ever and didn't even explicitly say anything about abortion. Hopefully I can see the highlights of some of the good commercials later this week, though.
Very excited that Pancho is coming on Friday to spend Valentine's weekend! We're going to this romantic French place, Bistrot La Minette, over in Center City for dinner. Haven't done anything fancy in a long time so really looking forward to it.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
It's late (1:10am) and I'm tired but I don't feel like actually going to sleep. Except I should, and I need to. I will regret this tomorrow. It doesn't feel late and thats the problem. Like I just want to keep wasting time online or do something. Therefore I shall blog.
My cohort had a Game Night tonight at one of the girl's apartments in Center City. I've been to 4 other people's places in my class now and seriously, the sight of a living room as an actual living room, is sometimes almost too much to bear. Don't get me wrong; I love my apartment and I honestly think its perfect sized for one person, but having the option to have room for a couch or a cute overstuffed armchair would be nice. So we played Taboo, for our 3rd consecutive game night. I will confess to initially stumbling on "actor" as my first word. I just get a little anxious -> tongue-tied -> feeling as if there are no words in my brain. But then I found my rhythm. I also brought beer bread that I made from a Trader Joe's mix. Quite possibly one of the easiest things to make. ever. Open mix, add hard cider, pour in loaf pan and drizzle melted butter. Bake. and it tasted pretty darn good.
So there is a Winter Storm Warning for this weekend. Apparently its a Big Deal. Like, potentially 12 inches of snow between tomorrow afternoon and Saturday afternoon!! I'm envisioning me all cozied up inside, hot cocoa, catching up on all my tv shows from this week and my reading (boo) with the snow flakes gently falling.... Then I'm heading out to jump around in it and frolic with another girl from the South. (because we still think snow is awesome)
What else....?
Classes are going well. I actually feel on top of things. and prepared for discussions. Its a great feeling. Though I'm beginning to have anxiety about my research paper. Our first drafts are due in a month which is problematic because I do not feel at all ready. ugh. It will get done. It will get done. It will get done. This is true and I know it, but its the actual doing that is yucky.
Pancho has been getting some exciting news from grad schools and has interviews lined up. Looks like we'll be in Boston, Philadelphia, or Atlanta come September. I honestly have no preference at this point, I have pulls toward all of them. Crazy, considering that I wanted to live in Boston for, oh, say, 10 years but seriously now I'd be happy in any of them.
Ok, I've written myself sleepy. Guess this was a good idea after all.
My cohort had a Game Night tonight at one of the girl's apartments in Center City. I've been to 4 other people's places in my class now and seriously, the sight of a living room as an actual living room, is sometimes almost too much to bear. Don't get me wrong; I love my apartment and I honestly think its perfect sized for one person, but having the option to have room for a couch or a cute overstuffed armchair would be nice. So we played Taboo, for our 3rd consecutive game night. I will confess to initially stumbling on "actor" as my first word. I just get a little anxious -> tongue-tied -> feeling as if there are no words in my brain. But then I found my rhythm. I also brought beer bread that I made from a Trader Joe's mix. Quite possibly one of the easiest things to make. ever. Open mix, add hard cider, pour in loaf pan and drizzle melted butter. Bake. and it tasted pretty darn good.
So there is a Winter Storm Warning for this weekend. Apparently its a Big Deal. Like, potentially 12 inches of snow between tomorrow afternoon and Saturday afternoon!! I'm envisioning me all cozied up inside, hot cocoa, catching up on all my tv shows from this week and my reading (boo) with the snow flakes gently falling.... Then I'm heading out to jump around in it and frolic with another girl from the South. (because we still think snow is awesome)
What else....?
Classes are going well. I actually feel on top of things. and prepared for discussions. Its a great feeling. Though I'm beginning to have anxiety about my research paper. Our first drafts are due in a month which is problematic because I do not feel at all ready. ugh. It will get done. It will get done. It will get done. This is true and I know it, but its the actual doing that is yucky.
Pancho has been getting some exciting news from grad schools and has interviews lined up. Looks like we'll be in Boston, Philadelphia, or Atlanta come September. I honestly have no preference at this point, I have pulls toward all of them. Crazy, considering that I wanted to live in Boston for, oh, say, 10 years but seriously now I'd be happy in any of them.
Ok, I've written myself sleepy. Guess this was a good idea after all.
Friday, January 22, 2010
the weekend is here
I have no set plans for this weekend but maybe hanging out with CJ tomorrow. Havent seen him in like 2 months which is just sort of ridiculous seeing as how we live in the same city. and these days thats about as good (and as close) as I'm liable to be from people.
This week was pretty normal I'd say. Usual hum drum school/read/meetings/life routine. Although I did come back on Tuesday morning from a long weekend in Baltimore which was basically phenomenal. I always forget to post about awesome stuff until like days (weeks) later when details aren't as fresh but we went on a brewery tour of Clipper City. It was a lot of fun, got to sample 5 different kinds of beer (in our souvenir beer glass!) and then got a tour of where they make and bottle it. Got to smush hops in my hand which is really stinky and sticky and tasted barley which was like cereal. Apparently the best way to enjoy a beer is in a non-frosted glass (not the bottle) after its sat out for 10-15 minutes.
Pancho and I also tried our hand at making homemade Cocoa Chile Truffles. They turned out awesome and were actually super easy to do. You melt butter, unsweetened and semi-sweet chocolate with heavy cream, chill in fridge for 3 hours, and then scoop out balls and roll in confectioners sugar and cocoa chile powder. Done. The chile powder blend gave them a bit of a kick but very yummy.
And one night we ended out at this bar in Fells Point that had a really wide selection of Belgian beers and I got Lindemans Framboise which I haven't had since I was in Brussels (2.5 years ago) and I loved drinking this stuff. Though it was way way cheaper there. and sadly, it was not at all like I remembered, or perhaps something got lost along the Atlantic crossing. Its a fruit beer and its supposed to be sweet but whatever I had last week was like syrupy sweet. ugh. However, the drinking was salvaged by the hard cider I had picked up earlier at Wine Source. I now do my alcohol buying in MD because sales tax in Philly just went up to 8%. It kills me.
I've been to all my new classes now and they're going to be fine. Reading is just starting to pick up, so not entirely stressed yet. And I'm still working at my resolution to have more fun. The 1st year girls had a game night last night. I brought Bananagrams which I got for Christmas. Walking with it just the 4 blocks was pretty funny because people gave me odd looks. and we played Taboo and then just gossiped and ate cupcakes. lol. And tonight I went to the joint History/History of Sociology and Science grad happy hour. Yay for free cheese and beer. In consequence, I have missed Brian Williams twice this week. Its a travesty. But I did just watch the Jersey Shore finale. so you know, I'm not totally lacking in media and pop culture this week.
This week was pretty normal I'd say. Usual hum drum school/read/meetings/life routine. Although I did come back on Tuesday morning from a long weekend in Baltimore which was basically phenomenal. I always forget to post about awesome stuff until like days (weeks) later when details aren't as fresh but we went on a brewery tour of Clipper City. It was a lot of fun, got to sample 5 different kinds of beer (in our souvenir beer glass!) and then got a tour of where they make and bottle it. Got to smush hops in my hand which is really stinky and sticky and tasted barley which was like cereal. Apparently the best way to enjoy a beer is in a non-frosted glass (not the bottle) after its sat out for 10-15 minutes.
Pancho and I also tried our hand at making homemade Cocoa Chile Truffles. They turned out awesome and were actually super easy to do. You melt butter, unsweetened and semi-sweet chocolate with heavy cream, chill in fridge for 3 hours, and then scoop out balls and roll in confectioners sugar and cocoa chile powder. Done. The chile powder blend gave them a bit of a kick but very yummy.
And one night we ended out at this bar in Fells Point that had a really wide selection of Belgian beers and I got Lindemans Framboise which I haven't had since I was in Brussels (2.5 years ago) and I loved drinking this stuff. Though it was way way cheaper there. and sadly, it was not at all like I remembered, or perhaps something got lost along the Atlantic crossing. Its a fruit beer and its supposed to be sweet but whatever I had last week was like syrupy sweet. ugh. However, the drinking was salvaged by the hard cider I had picked up earlier at Wine Source. I now do my alcohol buying in MD because sales tax in Philly just went up to 8%. It kills me.
I've been to all my new classes now and they're going to be fine. Reading is just starting to pick up, so not entirely stressed yet. And I'm still working at my resolution to have more fun. The 1st year girls had a game night last night. I brought Bananagrams which I got for Christmas. Walking with it just the 4 blocks was pretty funny because people gave me odd looks. and we played Taboo and then just gossiped and ate cupcakes. lol. And tonight I went to the joint History/History of Sociology and Science grad happy hour. Yay for free cheese and beer. In consequence, I have missed Brian Williams twice this week. Its a travesty. But I did just watch the Jersey Shore finale. so you know, I'm not totally lacking in media and pop culture this week.
Friday, January 8, 2010
free time
Back in Philly and school hasn't started again. Hooray. Although I feel I'm sort of wasting time, but thats the point of vacation, right? I did get over to Williams Sonoma today, however. I was on a mission, though, which is a good thing because that place is like kryptonite. I want almost every single item there. Ostensibly, I needed to get a baking spray for my new cookie-shaped cake pans so the cake actually comes out, but I totally got sidetracked by the over abundance of amazing cooking stuff. I think I want to be an adult and have a job so that I can outfit a kitchen with fancy and completely unnecessary but wonderful things. But I did good, got out--just barely--with the most intense looking can of professional baking spray you've ever seen. Its not kidding around. Very excited to try it out next week when I make the cake again for my visit to Pancho. I'm sitting here writing about this and like actually longing to be back at the store. sigh. Damn you grad school and your complete command over my finances.
It snowed last night. Just an inch, but it was so nice waking up to see everything covered in white. The first time I've actually been in town when it snowed. I like it.
I bought a set of 10-lb free weights this week in hopes of getting toned again. They're like really heavy though. I get fatigued pretty quick. sad. I miss SW Rec so so much. Spinning class, all those machines. Can't wait to join a gym again but going to have to wait. I should probably also figure something out about the floor so I can do crunches and all that stuff because the hardwood right now is not inviting. at all. Eh. Taking a laissez-faire approach to exercising but maybe the weights will inspire me.
Brian Williams on Leno tonight. Gonna try to catch that! Feeling like I didn't get enough Nightly over the holidays.
It snowed last night. Just an inch, but it was so nice waking up to see everything covered in white. The first time I've actually been in town when it snowed. I like it.
I bought a set of 10-lb free weights this week in hopes of getting toned again. They're like really heavy though. I get fatigued pretty quick. sad. I miss SW Rec so so much. Spinning class, all those machines. Can't wait to join a gym again but going to have to wait. I should probably also figure something out about the floor so I can do crunches and all that stuff because the hardwood right now is not inviting. at all. Eh. Taking a laissez-faire approach to exercising but maybe the weights will inspire me.
Brian Williams on Leno tonight. Gonna try to catch that! Feeling like I didn't get enough Nightly over the holidays.
Friday, January 1, 2010
01/01/10
...and another year is upon us. 2010 is going to be good. even maybe momentous? I can feel it. 2009 was all about lots of change which this year probably will be, too. more of the Major Life Events category. I have 2 resolutions: have more fun and wear my retainer. Definitely doable as well as good for my health. Have yet to work out exactly what more fun will entail, but I just know I want it.
After warm, glorious, sunny Florida for Christmas, I'm now in Georgia. My last Winter Break. Boy, I'm going to miss month-long vacations. Went to Chattanooga for the day on Wednesday. The Tenn. Aquarium is awesome. I want to be a sea otter in my next life. Also went to Ruby Falls which is the tallest underground waterfalls or something. Its 1000 feet down inside Lookout Mountain. really cool. Saw stalagtites and stalagmites and other bizarre water-dripping-related geology.
Spent New Years Eve baking my new Williams Sonoma cookie-shaped cake. It was adorable. And delicious but had some serious sticking problems. Watched the entire disc 4 of My So-Called Life and then went to a party where the next oldest person was 40. yup. I basically hovered next to the food the entire night. and thereby prevented any hint of a hangover for today. score. I also looked amazing if I do say so myself. Why didn't I look this good in high school? Better late than never I suppose. :)
And so far today I have made Pancho's Mom's texmex dip for the 3rd Friday in a row, watched Suze Orman approve and deny people to buy questionable (and expensive) items, read Ms., scoured ESPN and NYTimes online, and am now left with a wonderful dilemma-- nothing to do! Sugar Bowl game tonight, though. Going to settle in with the aforementioned dip, order some pizza, and watch Tebow win his last Gators game. Although I think one of the ESPN articles had it right. We're a spoiled fan base. UF returned 3000 of its 17500 tickets because they couldn't sell them while Cincy sold out in 3 days. I hope we give 'em a good showing tonight.
And.. finally. An excellent reason for me to continue not having cable. I haven't watched MTV since early fall 2008 when I gave up on The Hills for good (seriously, best half hour of my life gained back) and so I have been blissfully unaware of whats now on. EXCEPT last week when Eduardo alerted me to the absolute ridiculousness that is Jersey Shore. and having access to my parent's tv. Naturally, I had to watch it. It is so so soooo bad. yet I will watch the newest episode tonight right before the Sugar Bowl. I go back to Philly next week, a little terrible tv is perfectly acceptable. or is it? Also, in related news, Secret Life of the American Teenager is back for new season on Monday. For that, I have no shame. I relish the terrible acting.
After warm, glorious, sunny Florida for Christmas, I'm now in Georgia. My last Winter Break. Boy, I'm going to miss month-long vacations. Went to Chattanooga for the day on Wednesday. The Tenn. Aquarium is awesome. I want to be a sea otter in my next life. Also went to Ruby Falls which is the tallest underground waterfalls or something. Its 1000 feet down inside Lookout Mountain. really cool. Saw stalagtites and stalagmites and other bizarre water-dripping-related geology.
Spent New Years Eve baking my new Williams Sonoma cookie-shaped cake. It was adorable. And delicious but had some serious sticking problems. Watched the entire disc 4 of My So-Called Life and then went to a party where the next oldest person was 40. yup. I basically hovered next to the food the entire night. and thereby prevented any hint of a hangover for today. score. I also looked amazing if I do say so myself. Why didn't I look this good in high school? Better late than never I suppose. :)
And so far today I have made Pancho's Mom's texmex dip for the 3rd Friday in a row, watched Suze Orman approve and deny people to buy questionable (and expensive) items, read Ms., scoured ESPN and NYTimes online, and am now left with a wonderful dilemma-- nothing to do! Sugar Bowl game tonight, though. Going to settle in with the aforementioned dip, order some pizza, and watch Tebow win his last Gators game. Although I think one of the ESPN articles had it right. We're a spoiled fan base. UF returned 3000 of its 17500 tickets because they couldn't sell them while Cincy sold out in 3 days. I hope we give 'em a good showing tonight.
And.. finally. An excellent reason for me to continue not having cable. I haven't watched MTV since early fall 2008 when I gave up on The Hills for good (seriously, best half hour of my life gained back) and so I have been blissfully unaware of whats now on. EXCEPT last week when Eduardo alerted me to the absolute ridiculousness that is Jersey Shore. and having access to my parent's tv. Naturally, I had to watch it. It is so so soooo bad. yet I will watch the newest episode tonight right before the Sugar Bowl. I go back to Philly next week, a little terrible tv is perfectly acceptable. or is it? Also, in related news, Secret Life of the American Teenager is back for new season on Monday. For that, I have no shame. I relish the terrible acting.
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