Cooking Inspiration

For me there is no better way to relax than to curl up with a good book. So I spent a lot of my vacation this past weekend reading. One of the books I just finished is Julie & Julia which is being made into a movie that comes out soon. It's about a woman who decides to cook through Julia Childs' cookbook in 1 year and blog about it. It was different than most books I read and kind of slow to get started, but I really enjoyed it!

Of course I also am a huge fan of cooking blogs and one of my favorite things to do is follow other people's recipe blogs and find new things to make! (of course, I prefer baking to cooking, so most of things I look for are yummy desserts like the ones from Bakerella!). So this book also interested me from that point because it was just her adventures and mess ups in the kitchen and continuing to cook even when everything is a mess (and uh, I tend to make a mess in the kitchen!)

So while reading all of this it really made me want to cook. I have been on a quest all summer looking for various recipes to make and I have whole collection to try and yet somehow still eat Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches for every meal...

But the more I thought about the cooking, the more I realized that I need inspiration (as if a hundred cooking blogs and a book aren't enough inspiration?) and want I really want is an apron. Now I love to bake, so how I have gotten by this far in life without an apron is beyond me (although when I told Mama Reed this weekend that I really want an apron her response was "why?" as if that is a trivial thing... haha)

So now I have been on the search for the perfect apron (although Mama Reed also pointed out that they are "very easy to make" and I shouldn't waste my money buying one) and my current favorite is:
Why? Because it's pink and brown and just really fun! But for now I will keep looking and may even consider making one as Mama suggested!

And I was inspired because I did have something other than PB&J for dinner tonight! I made a turkey tenderloin and mashed potatoes! Not the most complicated of meals, but it's something right?

along for the ride

Right now, I am on vacation in Galveston with my mom and my brother and so far it has been a great trip. We spent a day at the waterpark and a day laying at the beach (I have some very weird tan lines.. my leg has 2 red stripes and then a white one and the other has a patch of red even though I was very careful about how I applied sunscreen... hmmm)

But I have to say one of my favorite things so far has been being able to exercise by the beach! Both mornings I have gotten up and gone on a long walk/jog along the seawall and it has been such a nice change of scenery. And all week I have been wanting to ride a bike... I think it's a combination of several things...

1. One of the books I brought with me this week (which happens to be called along for the ride) talks a lot about bike riding

2. As I went on my walks there have been several people out biking

and

3. I haven't riden a bike in a very long time and I have been wanting to for a while

So this afternoon I rented a bike and rode along the Seawall... and I felt like I was a kid again! I haven't had a bike since I was probably in middle school and I've thought about getting one, but know I would not use it enough. Although I did see someone this morning with a beagle running alongside their bike like this:

... and if I could teach Allie to do that I might reconsider ;)

But it has been a great weekend and I have enjoyed being away for a little while. Tonight we are ordering pizza and staying in to relax!

What's been going on?

I know it's been a while since I've written anything. Basically all my life has consisted of recently is working, pretty much non-stop and then being exhausted every evening and sleeping. Nothing too exciting to update on! But I did have a wonderful 3 day weekend for the 4th of July!!

I started off Friday by sleeping in and then taking Allie for a long walk. We went over to my mom's around lunch time, and Allie stayed with her for Friday night and Saturday! I headed out to Addison for Kaboomtown with Erin and her parents!

We enjoyed some hotdogs and a funnel cake while waiting for the Fireworks and then saw the amazing fireworks show!

On the 4th I woke up and went down to the pool at my apartment. It was the first time I had been swimming all summer and it was so nice to lay out and a read a book by the pool and then swim when I needed to cool off! Great start to the holiday :)

I also decided to use my laid-back day on the 4th for crafts. I have had a pattern to sew this blanket for a long time and have been wanting to make it. I decided to start by making a smaller version (that could be Allie's of course, because my dog is ridiculously spoiled) so I could practice it. Luckily Hobby Lobby had all of their fabrics 30% off on Saturday, so I got some good deals! I spent the afternoon on Saturday sewing and finished the blanket and I think it was a success:
Well that is about all that has been going on with me!