Solo Bike Adventure and more

A few weeks ago, a friend asked me what I thought was a totally ridiculous question.  She said, ‘How do you feed yourself?’.

Um… With a fork.  Sometimes chopsticks.  Occasionally my hands.  Usually a shovel.

What she meant was… how do you feed your creativity?  My initial answer was bewilderment.  What?  Don’t people just work and work until they can’t work anymore and then collapse on the couch and watch reruns of The Voice?   Not everyone does that?  Oh…

My friend was right.  Creativity is such a bountiful blessing but it does take some tending to.  Creativity can be exhausted.  I reach that point in my brain often and it leaves me wondering exactly what else I can smash butter and bacon into (I’m sorry/not sorry that I do that).

Work is awesome and I’m a total fiend for it, but it’s not a creativity feeder.  Couch-time is just like turning my brain to stand-by mode… welcome... Read the rest of this post..... »

    

Friday is a dangerous day.

Friday afternoon, after a long week of words and dishes and more dishes and words… I feel very deserving.

I feel like I deserve a double cheeseburger with short ribs.  I feel like I deserve a negroni or several.  I feel like I should see how many Oreo cookies I can fit in my mouth… just so I know… in case anyone ever asks.

Maybe I am deserving of such indulgence.  Maybe though… maybe I’m just eating my feelings a little bit.  Real life.  I’m just being honest.

Here we are staring Monday in the face.  I’m ready for something green… and something a little less short rib-y.

A few months ago we talked about juicing.  It’s totally a thing.

Takes some fruits and vegetables, mash them through a grind-y thing, drink the juice and hope it tastes good.

Today’s Apple Cucumber Celery Kale Ginger Juice definitely tasted great!  Not like short ribs… but... Read the rest of this post..... »

    

I’m currently working on the pie chapter for my new cookbook… the new book that doesn’t yet have a name, but does have an awesome (and ever evolving) BRUNCH CHAPTER, and should be in your hot little hands in Fall 2014.  Now though… now, I’m working on the pie chapter.  It’s a humdinger.  It’s a doozie.

 A lot of words go into the making of a pie.  A lot of butter goes into the making of a pie.  A lot of proportions, and cream, and cornstarch, and hope, and confidence, and trust, and joy.  Sometimes tears.

If you do it right, you can taste it all.

It’s hard to find the words to express the chaos and triumph of pie baking.  It’s also hard to find the words to express the chaos and triumph of writing a book.

Whoa.  Wait.  Did I just have a breakthrough?

While I gather my thoughts, gather my butter, gather my pie recipes and try to get everything sorted… I’m realizing that some... Read the rest of this post..... »

    

I realized this week that I use Instagram at a mini vacation from work.  I click on my phone, tap into the Instagram app and scroll through images of your lives.

My mind wanders through pictures of your perfectly portioned lunch, your late afternoon coffee meeting , yes your child is totally cute… of course I’ll tap like on that picture.

You’re a farmer in the English countryside?  Show me things!  Help me escape!

You love taking pictures of your shoes?  Sure, I’m into it.  I’ll like that!

You like holding random objects up in front of a white backdrops?  I’m down.

You’re Rihanna?  You’re crazy and I kinda love it.

Ooh… you had a party and I wasn’t invited?  That’s awkward for everyone, now isn’t it?  Suddenly this mini work vacation feels bad.

Aaaand, just as easily as I click in for vacation… I can click out.

Um… Instagram vacations might not be... Read the rest of this post..... »

    

This is my Dance Like Nobody Is Watching Sandwich.

I’ve been pretty humble on my blog up until this point, but it’s time I tell you something:  I’m an uh-mazing dancer.  (This is a bald-faced LIE!)

In my dreams, I’m an amazing dancer.  In reality I’m a whole lotta elbows on the dance floor.  Things get real arm-y.  I also have this butt move that I’m pretty sure is flawless… but I refuse to bust that move in any sort of close proximity to a mirror.  I fear I may be sadly mistaken.

I dance like nobody is watching because on a dance floor, no one is watching!  Everyone is too consumed with their own possibly embarrassing butt move to be concerned with me, their elbow-y neighbor.

I’d like to take this moment to kindly suggest that we also eat like nobody is watching

Maybe that means putting peanut butter and sweet pickles on the same sandwich.  Go on… I dare ya.

I am not pregnant.... Read the rest of this post..... »