pinterest

Share a Recipe, aka: I can’t cook, so you get someone else’s.

- Mel

Today’s Blogger, May I? prompt is Share a Recipe.

Blogger confession: guys, I really can’t cook. Most days I wonder how I survived being so independent so long. While one of those was cheese, the other was I ate crap, processed foods (and a lot off the value menu at Wendy’s). Thinking about that now makes me cringe.

I can honestly remember specific meals that turned out well enough to serve to other people, and I replicated them regularly: Brussels sprouts with balsamic and slivered almonds was a favorite side; a simple tossed pasta with olive oil, lemon, and peas was another. I always brought cheesy potatoes to holidays. Once I made my friend and I mushroom risotto, after having it in a restaurant and having NO CLUE what I was doing (and my friend, god bless her, for having dinner with me). Once I cut up bing cherries and tossed them in a cream sauce with asparagus — yes, I did that! (It was fucking delicious.) My stuffed peppers were amazing. My Mexican twist on stuffed peppers was even better.

But I only had myself to impress.

Twice I even made a moussaka which is really complicated and basically redeems my cooking skills once a decade. I know if I put my mind to it, I could probably make anything, but it will just take two hours longer than the recipe or anyone else on earth who cooks, and by then I’ve drank an entire bottle of wine and eaten a box of cereal in waiting. And I’m drunk now… so, what?

Cooking sucks, OK?

But Pinterest does not!

shared recipes

And this is where I share all my diet restrictions-friendly recipes with the boyfriend when we plan meals. The end.

But not really the end because you know what really sucks: The few meals that I did know how to cook? I can’t eat anymore because of my diet restrictions. This cooking thing will likely be what running was to me last year — pure seething hated madness — to what it is now — a developed passion THAT I HAD TO TRAIN FOR. I just need to get over my resistance to learn.

Is there mental training for cooking?

Weekly Therapy: if it ain’t broke… it’s probably ligament damage.

- Mel

the week:
How did this week go by so fast?

I had my first follow-up dermatology appointment since my MOHs surgery. Everyone keeps telling me the scar “looks really good!” or “they did a good job!” And why do I still feel, like, HAVE YOU SEEN MY FACE?! I know, I need to get that looked at… I did get a referral for another dermatologist in the area who can treat some of my other face “issues” — procedures they don’t do in my doc’s office (microderm, deep peels, laser). So, yay?

MOHs scar, circa four months ago
MOHs scar, circa four months ago

I also openly admitted that I’m all for Botox, just “not yet.” How you know you’re a 30-something.

weekend:
Date night at the Three Rivers Film Festival. We’re going to see the Lance Armstrong documentary, and then probably get some more bourbon and snacks at Butcher & the Rye. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been dreaming about that cauliflower dish since last weekend. Yes, CAULIFLOWER.

Saturday, my team is hosting a derby training camp. Which, meh, I’m off skates because my foot started bothering me again this week (I was actually starting to get excited about skating again). Scheduling an MRI as we speak.
Sigh.

seven things, seven days:
1. Took my few days off this week to binge-watch the first two seasons of Scandal. OBSESSED!
2. A day spa is opening in my neighborhood — I’m so freaking excited!
3. Also back on the Sprig box bandwagon.
4. Now that I know we’re hosting some family for Thanksgiving, I’m starting some Holiday Meal Planning Pinning. Leave me some ideas, please!
5. The coffee table I wanted from West Elm is DISCONTINUED. I’m so mad. SO MAD.
6. Running outside in the cold. Nope. Can’t get used to it.
7. We all have people like this in our lives. Energy vampires: how to avoid being drained (and a quiz!). {via Psych Central}

Every 30-something needs… a pair of comfortable flats! (that are not tennis shoes)

- Mel

I am at a crossroads with my shoe collection. Aside from weddings, I can’t tell you the last time I wore a pair of heels in the last year. And yet, I own something like 80 pairs. Most of them still in storage from the move LAST October! And yes, I have plans for ridding my life of them. Interested?

This means that I’ve been rotating through my flats — a modest collection — and yet, none of them fit properly. Being comfortable has so much to do with well-being. Mood is directly tied to footwear: Flats for comfort, heels to make you feel powerful, boots to keep your feet dry, wedges to make you look like a dumbass when you’re tripping all over the sidewalk. Why else do we go shoe shopping when we’ve had a bad day, amiright?!

On my radar: are they really as comfy as advertised?
On my radar: are they really as comfy as advertised?

Seriously. I’ll pay ANYTHING to own a pair of flats that don’t tear apart my heels and inside of my foot or push on the outside bone near my pinky toe. (OK, probably within reason.) New Toms: terrible. I love my Toms wrap boots SO MUCH, but every time I wear the casual flats, I end up having to slip out of the heel and step on the back of the shoes for the remainder of my errands. Because, OUCH. This happens with SO many pairs of flats for me. The new slip-on Skechers I bought recently? Super comfy in the store, but ONE AFTERNOON of wear put horrible blisters on BOTH feet. Awful, terrible, bleeding blisters. Like, how the hell am I supposed to skate with open sores on my feet?! Strappy sandals are the worst — digging, rubbing, too tight… I refuse to wear flip-flops in the city, so don’t bother suggesting. I’ve tried brands like Mia, Converse, Chinese Laundry and BC Footwear.

Even wearing regular tennis shoes on a hike started rubbing rough on the side of my foot around mile 3. These were fitted by a shoe store professional, by the way. If you’re curious, even with semi-custom skate boots, I still have fit problems, mostly in the heel. It’s a never-ending battle with footwear.

Needs: comfort, support, prefer leather (so it’s something that will eventually mold to my feet AND hold up) — in a style that can go both casual-to-happy hour.

SEND HELP TO MY FEET, 30-somethings!

Drool over SHOES!!! with me on Pinterest.

Home Decorating: A kitchen inspired by Pinterest

- Mel

I was so excited to see this Pin of a coffee station that I recreated it for my own. I’m not usually that much of a copycat, but it was just TOO perfect for the empty space in my kitchen.

And the result finally gave me the ideas on how to decorate the rest of the kitchen! MORE WIRE CAGES! {bonus points if you used your Mommy Dearest voice}

The small buffet is from an online store that shall not be named because, well… they sold me a piece of shit. The cabinet was on sale for $160 and ended being REALLY cheaply made and cannot be moved, for fear of falling apart. In the past, I’ve purchased VERY well-built furniture from stores like West Elm for the same price range and those pieces have really held up – I’ll stick to what I know in the future. Thankfully, the boyfriend could reinforce the structure, making it a bit stronger (can you believe they didn’t even include screws that were the proper depth? I suppose you can…). I won’t make the same mistake in purchasing a sideboard for the dining room.

Shelf Unit is from Hobby Lobby (make sure you use the online coupon to save 40% on one item!)
I love you, blogs & coffee print is from etsy {I won from another blogger last year}
We received the Polish soup mugs from the boyfriend’s aunt for Christmas. They were just too beautiful to be hiding in the cupboards!

This set-up has already changed at least 6 times since we’ve put it together (as far as decorating goes). But it’s such a cozy, intimate little space that is helping me love our kitchen. Even if I think the floor still needs to GO.

{From the Vintage Wren – source of some awesome DIY and decorating ideas}