So hard to be creative...

Well, today I'm taking my own advice.  I tell my students that when they can't think of what to write, they should be writing I can't think of what to write.

Over the past few years I've found that it is so hard to be creative when work is intense and exhausting.  Even when I feel energetic and up for doing something creative, my brain just laughs at me! That has been part of my blogging problem...  most days I'm pooped and just can't think of anything to write!

But aha my advice is working, and I will add this, since I haven't already:

My new fashion muse, Janie Cai.

I'm tempted to call in lesbian-chic, but maybe it's more women-looking-better-than-men-in-men's-clothes.

I have been given 2 blazers that I plan to wear as soon as it is cool enough (this is happening far too rapidly for my taste) and they are washed (I tried to wear one the other day before washing it and I was in sneezeville all morning).

Is this really happening?

Next week I am turning 29!  Yikes!

School has started

And it is kicking my ass!  But, I love it.

So far the year is going well, even though I am tired and mentally and emotionally overloaded (just a touch... most of the time).  Luckily, my coworkers are fun and awesome, my class is great, and I still find driving to work in the new car really cool.

I have had a hard time these last few weeks keeping up with personal stuff (email, phone calls, craft projects, and oh yeah... this blog), but I have maintained some social hanging out and been able to sleepily wave hello to Chris when he comes home after work. I don't think I've cooked dinner in a month, so that's a little goal to work toward...

Funny Photo

"How Genetics Work" by Rene Maltete. hehe.

Goat cheese cracker spread

Last night we had some people over for a beer tasting bonanza.  It was more beer tasting and less bonanza, but a good time none the less.

I put out 3 kinds of cheese to have with the beer: chevre (goat cheese), taleggio (love love love), and smoked gouda.

I left the taleggio and smoked gouda alone, but I made the chevre into a dip.  It was a hit!
Here are the ingredients:
Chevre
A little milk to make it creamier
Chopped dates
Chopped pecans
Chopped Basil

That's it!  I just mixed it all together and we ate it on crackers.  It was easy and a great combo of sweet&savory. mmm!

Road Trip Restaurants

We just got back from a roadtrip, and we ate at 4 awesome restaurants:

For a light lunch, we stopped at Madhatter's Bakeshop and Cafe in Durham.

I had a delish chicken salad sandwich, and the seasonal side was a cucumber salad that was super tasty and fresh. It's so nice to stop on the road and have something healthy for a change.

In Old Town Alexandria we had lunch at Fontaine Caffe and Creperie. 

We started with a cheese plate, then split an Italian crepe with mozzerella, eggplant, and tomato. Scrumptious! The decor was delightful...  the walls are a slightly shimmery almost-dark blue, the furniture is rich brown wood, the light fixtures have mini lamp shades with all different patterns, and the dark wood bar was beautiful.  Somehow fancy and sweet all at once.We finished off the meal with a soft and sweet and mouth-watering mascarpone and dark cherry crepe.  I'm drooling just thinking about it.

Another great spot we found is Pupatella Pizzeria and Friggitoria in Arlington.  Boy was this some incredible pizza.  It was fun to watch the guys make the pizza and then cook it for just one minute in the burning hot wood fire oven!

Their pizza is the real deal, with Italian flour, San Marzano tomato sauce, olive oil, and buffalo mozerella. YUMmmmm!

The last great restaurant we hit up was Ettamae's Cafe in Richmond. This place is soooo cute.  It's  small but has multiple floors and an outdoor patio.  We ate inside, which is painted pink and decorated with cute and kitschy old school items.  Each table has a unique matching set of salt and pepper shakers that I'm sure were found at Goodwill, and the walls have old china plates and blown up black and white photos on them. Super cute.

Since we hadn't had breakfast and it was pretty much lunch time, we started with a cup of coffee and a peach butter tart.  Umm hello delicious.  It came with raspberry sauce and whipped cream. Love.  Then I had a sweet and savory salad of arugula, peaches, pecans, and bleu cheese with juicy grilled chicken. So good!  It was dressed lightly with a raspberry vinaigrette.  I am definitely going to attempt to make this salad at home while peaches are season.  

PS: I looked up "friggitoria" and I still don't know what the hell it is!

Skinny Dip Falls!

I wonder how Mother Nature feels about the scandalous name given to such a lovely place...

Now that we have a car, it is much easier to get out and appreciate the beauty of Western North Carolina (or as the characters in The Likeness call it, Arsefuck, North Carolina). We hiked down from the Blue Ridge Parkway to this awesome area with several "pools" and mini waterfalls.  The water was freezing, but we both got in.  Chris bravely chose the ease-your-way-in method, while I opted for the do-a-flip-off-a-rock-and-there's-no-looking-back method. Lesson for next time: bring dry clothes for the hour-long car ride home. Brrr!