Photos From The Weekend /// How Does Your Garden Grow?

Over the weekend I spent a lot of time tending to my garden. Nick and I hadn't made it up to Michigan as planned (it really was never about visiting the IKEA store, it was actually to adopt a kitten, but the shelter never returned our call *tear*) So, instead, I did a lot of work around the house.

I got tired of pulling weeds so I snapped some photos of our very first garden!

Gray Hair?

Over the weekend I had this incredibly realistic dream that involved me heading over the my hair stylist only to realize that my hair had turned completely white. Instead of continuing to highlight and dye it, my stylist suggested we just change it to be all white and no longer color it. I woke up in a bit of a panic, but at the same time, I was happy that my dream-self was accepting of the gray and embraced it. Would I be able to do this in real life? I don't know. I'd like to think so!

Here are some insanely beautiful graying ladies.

{Clockwise starting top left: Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, Jane Goodall, Stacy London of What Not To Wear, Beatrix Ost}

Isn't it unfair that men can get away with this more easily than women? {I just needed an excuse to post photos of my two favorite {among many} graying men!}

{John Slattery of Mad Men, Eric Dane}

What about you? How will you/do you handle gray hair?

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Anything exciting going on this weekend?

I am thankful it is Friday! Tomorrow Nick and I will be taking a little road trip north to Michigan. We wanted to do some shopping, check out the IKEA store, and possibly pick up a little something extra while up there. (My "little something extra" is going to be a surprise until Monday, because nothing has been set in stone.) AND! On Sunday I will be going to an Indian's game with Nick, Chase & Dad.

I had a sort of falling out with Cleveland sports, as I'm sure, every Northeast Ohioan does at some point in their lives. Within the last... well, for as long as I can remember... they've been breaking my heart.

Although pessimism seems to still be coursing through my veins. I'm ready to let the past go. I'm going to go there Sunday and enjoy myself and the company.

Have a wonderful weekend!

A letter to Cleveland, one year after "The Decision", from Ohio State blogger, Ramzy.

One of the brighter moments for Cleveland sports on July 8th.

Things I Love Thursday - July 7, 2011

The Color Of - A beautiful site where you can enter in a word and it pulls and overlays images from Flickr to create a color for that word.

TEDtalks Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity - I have to watch this every once and awhile to help me get through my creativity funks. This TEDtalks features Elizabeth Gilbert, writer of Eat, Pray, Love, and her feelings on genius and creativity. Put aside 20 minutes and watch this.

photoset of Sweden - I have been reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and I've become a little intrigued by the idea of visiting Sweden. Although, not in my near future, hopefully I can get there someday. And until then I'll look at this lovely photoset by Chelsea of Frolic.

Genevieve Nisly's Photography Blog - OK, so, I might be a little biased and sent you directly to the photos Genevieve and James took of Nick & I's wedding... but how could I not?! They are stunning and I get all emotional when I see them because they so perfectly represent the day and how I felt.

(photos from elseachelsea)

Things I Love Thursday, August 12, 2010

Alexis Anne Mackenzie, Never Be Sad, 2009

Today's TILT is all of the artists that I've found and bookmarked and have yet to post anywhere.

• Kevin Cooley: His photographs are all beautiful, but I am quite partial to the vapor trail series.
  
• Alexis Anne Mackenzie
  
• Jonathan Callan
  
• Pete Dungey: He plants flower gardens in the potholes of Britain roads.
  
  
  Jonathan Callan, The Defrauder

• Elliott Burford: These illustrations are a reinterpretation of e-mail inbox subject lines.
  
• Shawn Smith
  
• Sophie Blackall: Takes the Craigslist Missed Connections and creates whimsical illustrations.
  
• Barkley L Hendricks
  
• Spencer Finch

Sophie Blackall, Old Fashioned Girl, 2010

Bacon, Avocado, and Feta Quiche Recipe

It's about a week later than when I would have liked to post this... but better late than never, I say!

Last week at the Gervasi Vineyard Farmer's Market I met the lovely women at Capella Artisan Goat Cheese and bought two containers of their Kryoites Feta Cheese. Yum!
Anyways, as we were talking I mentioned that it would be perfect for my bacon, avocado, and feta quiche that I have made in the past. They encouraged me to give them the recipe and I told them that I would have to write it down. I basically had taken about 3 different recipes from the internet and made it my own. This time I documented my cooking!
Without further ado... Bacon, avocado, and feta quiche recipe!

Quiche Filling
4 Large Eggs
2 Tablespoons Dry White Wine
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
1 1/4 Cup Heavy Cream Scalded
1 Avocado
1/2 Pound Thick Sliced Bacon
4 Ounces Feta Cheese

The white wine I chose was not super dry. In fact, I just bought the Chardonnay/Sauvignon blend because it tasted good and I knew I would drink the rest of it with the meal!


Bacon and the really tasty feta from Capella.
I used a pre-made Marie Callendar crust, but I would say if you had a really amazing homemade crust recipe, use that!

Instructions1. Preheat oven to 375°
2. Cook bacon until it is well done and extra crispy
3. Crumble bacon and cut avocado and feta into small cubes and place at bottom of pastry shell
4. Mix eggs, white wine, salt, pepper and cream; pour over bacon, avocado, and feta in shell
5. Bake quiche at 375° for about 30 minutes (mine took a little more like 40 minutes)

I'm still trying to work out some little kinks... like this time around the bacon seemed to lose some of it's crispy texture. I'm wondering if I crumble it on top if maybe it'll stay better. Also, the cook time took a little longer than what I thought it did so I had to keep an eye on it until it firmed up.
Overall though it came out very good and paired nicely with a fresh cucumber salad and glass of white wine. My boys at up the whole quiche! Good thing I made two!

A Quick Post

It's been awhile but I'm still around. Things have been busy lately with the house and wedding planning. Work and some personal relationships had been stressful, but thankfully I've got an amazing support system (Nick, family and friends) that have helped me manage. I have had to come to the realization that some of the people whom I considered friends were not, and am working on cutting ties with the toxic relationships.
In the mean time I interviewed for, and was ultimately offered, an art teaching job within North Canton City Schools. I'm incredibly excited for the new school year! While I'll be sad to leave some of the friends and co-workers in Canton City, I think this will be much better in the long run.
Tomorrow Nick and I are back at Genevieve Nisly's to see what our engagement photos turned out like. It's going to be a lot of fun to see what James was able to come up with.