Copycat. My Current Fave.

I have this friend named amanda. She posted yesterday about her latest fave song. So, I decided that since my blog has lacked a little music-loving lately, I'd post my current song I love putting on repeat.


Joshua Radin. Ryan thinks he whisper-sings, but I just love it. It's just so pure and simple to me and it feels both calming and empowering. Like I could do anything. I love about all his stuff. At least one song was surprisingly parental-advisory (Ugh.), but this one's not it. You should give him a listen. It's not the official video, but it's an awesome song.

...

Alternate titles for this post were "lately", "as of late", "boston update", "update", etc.

Since church has been cancelled due to the storm, it's the perfect time to blog! This weekend has consisted of movies, tv shows, wii, and off brand otter pops, so really, there's been plenty of time to blog for a while, but mad men was just too engaging last night for me to not press "next episode", sorry.

This weekend, other than bein' lazy, consisted of us going on a double date with some new friends in the ward, Collins and Shantel. Collins is going to BU law with Ryan and they live literally right around the corner from us, too. We walked down to Brookline (JFK's stomping grounds, and the neighborhood right to the west of us) and went to a place called Shawarma King. It had good reviews and cost under $20 for the two of us, always a plus. It's near Coolidge Corner, an awesome and well-maintained area of shops and cute houses, so I think Ryan and I will be back to scope it out even more. I think there was an independent movie theater or something and I saw a review for a cheap/good pizza place nearby. Score.

In picture news, there's an awesome park to the southeast of us that Ryan and I have walked around a few times. I think we're going to make it a regular habit. And with a downtown view from the park like the picture below, who could resist, right? There are basketball courts and a huge softball field, open area with turf that's really nice and Northeastern's campus is across the fenway (this area of water/fens/pond-ish place) so we walked around there as well.  Since I had my fancy-pants camera with me I took a picture of Ryan and he took a picture of me, but since I think you guys still know what we look like, I forgoed those pictures for today. Also, his picture of me is better than mine of him. Hm. We just won't talk about that.

Recipes

Here's a list of my tried and true favorite recipes. I've put many of them on the blog already, but with cookbooks, pintrest, and a bajillion other online food blogger sites, I thought I'd post the links here and add new links after making and loving new dishes. You can find all the dishes (I think) I've posted in the food section, along with other random food-loving posts, but this is where I'll put the cream of the crop.

Also, as a little disclaimer, I don't always follow the directions to a "t". I may use button mushrooms instead of fancy schmancy ones, or an onion instead of a shallot, or 2% milk instead of whole. But I may be a big spender and decide to actually follow the directions like they say. I'd say just about 100% of the time, those small substitutions work out amazingly. It's taken me a bit of time to figure out when I can substitute what, but with a little help from google, mom, and some friendly food bloggers, you can figure it out too.

And, I don't know everything. It's obvious, but I just wanted to point it out.

Jamaican Rice and Peas
Fusilli alla Caprese
Gorgonzola Cream Pasta
PW's Greek Salad
Broccoli Salad
Black-eyed Pea Dip
Our Favorite Salad
Craisin Salad and Apricot Chicken
Banana Bars for a crowd
Spike's Village Fries (deep fryer needed)
White Chocolate PB&J Muddy Buddies
Nutted Wild Rice (aka Fancy Rice)
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Honey-Lime Enchiladas
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
Chicken Cordon  Bleu Bread Bowls
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Hawaiian Haystacks --the best ever.
Mediterranean Salad
Herbed Chicken Tenders (I haven't made the sauce)
Mushroom Risotto

The city.

I've been terrible at blogging lately. Mostly, because I feel like our lives haven't really started in Boston yet. Mostly because we contracted the worst movers ever. Mostly because we have a roach/ant problem because we live in a basement apartment by the T.

But really, we like it here, we really do. Ryan and I went on a walk last night and as we were walking around this awesome park in the Fenway area, with beautiful astro turf, watching a company softball game, a soccer game, and a pickup game of street basketball--those guys are good. And a little harsh. But so fun to play. Anway, as we were walking I realized I should have brought my camera. There's a beautiful shot of the city and park I can't wait to take.

We were walking and I was thinking about how even though I miss Provo--I miss cheap rent, how BYU maintenance was amazing, quick, and great, how grocery shopping wasn't such a chore--there are things that I love about the city. Like beautiful parks within walking distance, having a MLB team right in our backyard, and these crazy cool accents, and I'm so grateful to be here. I love walking everywhere, and being so close to the river, so I can see beautiful scenes like this whenever I want.

park city

Also in June…maybe July? we went to Park City for a little outlet shopping and some Fat Kid pizza. Both experiences = awesome. The v-neck shirts that I bought I wear all the time. They're my new favorite. And I still think about that amazing pizza. I wish we would have gone back to do some of the awesome outdoor summer activities PC offers, but the day was still an awesome success. The pizza is from Maxwell's and it was awesome. Really, really, really good. Also, that regular sized pizza box has three super large pieces in it. It's big.

These entries are slightly depressing, seeing as we may never really be back in Utah for long enough to go to all our fave places, but hey, all you Utah kids, you better take down this advice. You'll be grateful, I promise.

 

 

hayden in provo

I'm a terrible first-cousin-once-removed-in-law. Whew, what a mouthful. Anyway, Hayden (Ryan's cousin Jen's son) came to Utah early in June to go to EFY and we were able to hang out with him the weekend before he went. We tried to be cool, hip, young college grads, and hopefully we succeeded. At least kinda?

We went putt-putt golfing at Cascade and then went to Terra Mia for dinner afterwards. We tried to think of other places to go, but we knew that his whole family loved Terra Mia after I took them there while they were in town for lunch on their way back from their spring break vacay, and I just really wanted to go there anyway. Success. I highly recommend their pizzas and pastas. I would venture to say it's the best Italian food for a good price in the Provo/Orem area.

We had a ton of fun and I can't believe that we may not see the Dilles for a whole year. Let's just not talk about it.

 

 

jamaican rice and peas.

A long time ago, in our apartment in Utah…maybe two months ago? It seems like forever. I made a recipe called Jamaican rice and peas. Which is amped up beans and rice. And it was awesome. I didn't take a picture, sorry. I got pretty lousy at that when we started moving and packing and our house looks…well, like it does now, I guess.

Back to the rice. It was awesome and not really hard at all. I highly recommend eating it. You could serve it as a side, but we made it as a meatless main and it's a full protein with beans+rice so it's a win-win (both cheap AND healthy).

via simply recipes

Click on the link and make this dish pronto. Two things that we did differently. One, I used chicken broth instead of stock. Two, I used a jalapeño instead of a scotch bonnet pepper, since Macey's doesn't carry them. The nice part is that whatever you use, you don't ever put the seeds in the dish, you just get the flavor of the pepper, so it's not too spicy. We loved it with the jalapeño pepper though and may just stick to that, since we know it isn't too spicy.

adirondacks. pt. 2

Remember that glorious picture of the chairs outside my parents new place?

Turns out my little sister took it.

I edited it, and she took it on my camera so I told her that I have the rights to it.

Which technically I do.

But I just thought you should know.

My sister can rock a camera.

I'm going to say that it was with a little help from me…

And my rockin new camera.

Credit: Brynn Dalby.

new addition.

Ryan and I are seriously loving this ottoman. 

I have a feeling that more teal will be entering our home as well. 

Get ready.

*picture taken with my mac. I know it's terrible quality, I just had to get a picture up pronto, to show my  undying love.

a rainy day.

Yesterday we went to the grocery store to begin stocking up on a few things. We went to Aldi, the German chain, to stock up on cheap-o off brand staples out in Medford and it was a total success. Also, we bought popsicles. A summer staple that I had yet to eat while slowly melting in the New England Heat.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. It had sprinkled earlier that day, poured the day before, but for some reason, Ryan had decided that we shouldn't pull up to our apartment, unload, and then park. He decided to park, unload, and then walk the two blocks to our apartment.

The only problem with this is that is started to POUR right when we got 20 feet from our car.

POUR. 

I promptly sandwiched myself as close to the building wall as possible, stole the umbrella, and made Ryan take the groceries back to the car. Then we both headed to the car, were soaking wet, and drove the .2 miles to the apartment, unloaded, and I put the stuff away while Ryan parked, and walked back soaking from head to toe.

Seriously, it was POURING. And it had just been sprinkling earlier. You can't tell, but Ryan was totally drenched. It was pretty bad. And all of our groceries had rain on them, or the paper boxes of cereal and pasta were totally soaking.

We promptly stayed inside, watched some netflix tv and a movie, and pretended to eat popcorn, since that's what we would have done if our microwave was here.

Amy.

Two Saturdays before we left, Amy came down to Provo for a little breakfast and farmer's market-ing. We tried out the Awful Waffle (it's right across the street from JDawgs (just saying JDawgs makes me drool and be jealous of everyone living in Provo right now…)), a cute little bfast stand, and we liked it. I think it's time that Provo had somewhere else to eat other than Kneaders, which isn't even in Provo.

EDIT: Ok, there is one is Provo, but I always think of the one on University Parkway in Orem, my bad.

Anyways, the Provo Farmer's Market is fun, everyone should check it out at least once, and they always have good-smelling food vendors too. I always seem to have eaten before going, but if you go around lunch-time you should definitely hit one of the mexican/el salvadorian/crepes/you name it, they have it places and eat up. The stuff always looks so delicious.

And the handmade crafts and local produce are fun too. Maybe I'm just a huge proponent of outdoor markets in general (and currently upset that Boston's famous one is on Sunday…grrrr), so check it out if you're in the area, then go up to SLC's the next weekend. Hurray for summer, farmer's markets, and good friends.

Amy, I miss you already! Did you buy that hair wrap at the market? Never stop tweeting please, or else I don't know what I'd do with myself.

the new place.

Unfortunately, our movers won't be here for another week. Ugh, I don't want to talk about it. Hopefully, next weekend we'll get some serious unpacking done, and maybe even a few things hung up, but in the mean time, here are some pictures of our new apartment.

When you first walk in the door you walk right into the kitchen. For now, it's a little discombobulated, but we've bought some dish towels and soap and things since this picture, so it looks better, promise. In fact, more of our house looks better than when I took these pictures, and looking at them makes me want to organize it more after I'm done typing this up…

Right by the kitchen is the bathroom. Odd, but what can you do. We like it, and the fact that we can store things below our sink. And that it came with a new shower curtain.

A hallway, but not just any hallway. It's got some built-in storage. Which is much needed now that we're in the city.

And then you come to our bedroom. More of a camping room these days, but we're super grateful to the Johnson's for letting us borrow their air mattress in the mean time and I'm just glad I don't have to live out of a suitcase anymore.

Our living room. More built-in storage, which I'm a huge fan of, and we've even got a place to put our tv, so I'm super glad we got rid of our tv stand back in Utah. Again, kinda looks like we're camping, but whatev.

And a super cool part of our little place is an extra room! I think we'll end up putting most of our pantry food and clothes and storage in here. Love it, and that we can close the door, so it doesn't have to be that pretty, really.

Also, the paint is some kind of eggshell white or something, which is nice that it's not all white. Love it. Who wants to come visit soon?!

adirondacks.

*I want to make posts about all the travels and fun things we did on our way from Provo to Boston, but I'm afraid I'm going to jumble them up. Some pictures are just too cool not to share, I guess it depends on how well I like the pictures at the moment that decides what gets posted when. Ah, the mind of a woman.*

I can't get over this picture (you should click on it immediately and make it your computer background pronto).

I took it at my parents and I love it so.

 It reminds me of my dad, and how much he loves the adirondack chairs they bought for their porch. 

It reminds me of my mom, since the last tie I talked to her she was sitting on the chairs, reading a book, and still in her bathing suit from being at the pool earlier that day. 

It reminds me of summer and the amazing happiness that the sun brings into my life. 

And it reminds me of vacations and how relaxing and calm they should always be.

Goodbye Wymount

Before I post pictures of our new place, I thought I'd post a formal sendoff of our old place. It's more for posterity's sake, really. Also, I had just gotten my new camera and man, it can make any place look pretty darn great.

Dear Wymount,

I won't miss those white cinderblock walls, or all that grease that got stuck in the crevaces behind our stove that didn't have a vent, but I will miss our awesome quad, our friends, and constantly reminisce about all the awesome memories that we had in our home in Provs.

Love, Emily

Ah, big pantry how I will miss you! Here's to moving to a bigger city and smaller apartment :)