life, lately.

This semester totally kicked my ass.

I spent days elbow-deep in 20-page articles to extract a couple of sentences for a research paper. I read through countless job descriptions, only to nix the majority of them because, well, I’m overly picky some (most) times. I ate several pints of Ben & Jerry’s (… cause everyone knows that 1 pint is actually just 1 serving, right?). I ventured to the laundromat for the first time. I changed laundromats because… oddballs and weirdos. (Enough said.) I ran around campus for group projects, then ran around the city for job interviews. Needless to say, sleep was minimal. I spent a week wearing a suit and pairing it with the same 2 dress shirts; I never felt as thankful to put on a pair of jeans as I did by the end of that week. I sat on my bed and ate a slice of the best pumpkin pie I’ve ever had. I sat on my bed and let mascara run down my face (perfect make-up is overrated). I walked 20 minutes to get another slice of aforementioned pumpkin pie from Flour Bakery, only to find that THERE WAS NO MORE PIE (!!!!!). I handed in an absurd number of papers and projects; a few of those are probably some of the best work I’ve ever done. I started running. I stopped drinking coffee. Yeah, that didn’t last long (surprise!). I got stuck at JFK the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I discovered the wonder that is a cheddar/ brown sugar/ apple crepe (SO good).

In other words, this semester has undoubtedly been my best yet. Simultaneously torturous but exciting, challenging but beyond rewarding.

I don’t have a recipe for you today, but I do have a random collection of phone pictures that recap some sources of inspiration or happiness from the past few months. In other words, life lately.

roasted corn & avocado salad

So here’s the thing: I really don’t have any semi-decent excuse for being M.I.A. the past three months. I’ve had this recipe in my arsenal for quite some time, but I just haven’t been able to bring myself to write. And considering that this summer has given me so much to write about… it’s weird. I know.

the bar snack blondie

This is it.

This is the post in which I tell you that I’m a selfish person, and have the evidence to prove it. This is the post in which you get a glimpse into the thoughts of my former seventeen-year-old brain (thankfully, said brain has matured some since). This is the post in which I may simultaneous disgust/ confuse/ and impress you. The is the post in which I present you with what I have proudly dubbed “The Bar Snack Blondie.” (This is also the post in which I audaciously throw the word “the” in front of a recipe name, evidently.)

BUT we are talkin’ pretzel crust, smoked almond blondie, toasty potato chip top and chocolate drizzle. Bar Snack Blondie isn’t enough; the “The” is necessary.

So yes, this is that post.

how to treat yo’ mama (and in turn, yo’self) this mother’s day

Well, I think the answer as to how to accomplish this task is pretty obvious: with food. More specifically, with food that you, yes, YOU!, have prepared with those very hands of yours.

Food aside for a minute, a card is also a lovely gesture – especially if you’re not spending the day together. (This is my way of sneaking in an anecdote of my occasionally ridiculous life… Annnnnnd go!)

On Wednesday after work, I rushed to the post office to drop off my cards. I was so determined to beat the last collection of the day that I somehow didn’t see the mailbox “door” (which has a handle, mind you), and instead only saw the open slot above it. After staring at the contraption for a good two minutes, I finally dropped the cards in the slot… only to see the handle literally a second later. I immediately panicked and thought my cards were lost in the Boston Post Office Black Hole, so I hopped on line to alert one of the employees to my misplaced cards.

Turns out the slot is an acceptable place for your mail too… Who knew?

Also, did I mention that my cards were mailed with THE UGLIEST stamps? Yep, those were the result of my post office adventure the day before. Manly muscle car stamps on feminine Mother’s Day cards. Wonderful. (Surprise, Mom!)

Now, back to food! And where better to start than breakfast (/brunch)?!

white pizza with scallions and parsley

I may or may not have eaten this pizza for breakfast.

By “may or may not,” I mean I most certainly did eat this pizza for breakfast.