~*~birthday pie~*~

August 24, 2010

Tonight we had my birthday pie (chocolate chess). I had to wait for it because my birthday fell during thesising, graduating, and moving, then I didn't know what kind of pie I wanted, and finally I hate to wait until everyone else's birthdays had passed so the house was empty of dessert. It was worth the wait. :) It was yummy! Beverly did a great job.
I've never known someone to have a birthday go over three months. ;)

Can you see the 25 spelled out?

Hospitality Under the Influence

[photo courtesy http://pimpstitch.typepad.com/blog/2008/11/i-3-craft-books-.html]

When I found out I wasn't keeping Sayer after all, I decided I wanted to go shopping with my birthday money. After lunch with Tommy at Cajun Boilers, Zach and I headed over to the Hot Springs Mall.

I wanted to go to J.C. Penney's because, with their rewards program, you can earn 10 free bucks a month. I found a pair of Bisou Bisou jeans for $11(!) and a pair of cute shorts. (I haven't paid this much for shorts in years; I never do because I hardly wear them, but I wanted to buy a fancy pair. ;)

Then I went to Vanity to use my 20% off coupon. I found this cute grey and black dress with Erin's help; I'm going to wear it Monday for our engagement anniversary celebration. I also got an adorable filigree flower necklace in black, silver, and grey with rhinestone centers. Unfortunately it's too long to wear with my dress, but I like it so much and it matches my black wardrobe, so I'm going to keep it!

Finally we headed to Books-A-Million so I could pick up some lighter reading than The Pilgrim's Progress. *lol* I got The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (finally!) AND I Like You: Hospitality under the Influence by Amy Sedaris.

I am in lust with this book. Seriously. It's sooooo funny!! It leaves me in stitches, as they say. Every time I came across it, I would comb every page reading bits here and there and laughing. I love the Sedaris' siblings' humour. Amy's advice, though often dark and twisted, still rings true while I cannot turn away from the photos of Amy dressed as every kind of hostess imaginable or of the food--faux or not--that feels like it came from a cookbook recovered from my Grandma Cellars' kitchen. The recipes don't seem too bad either. :)

Did I mention I only paid $7.97 for this book?!

It's the thought that counts.

July 14, 2010

2 surprise cards in 2 days :)
I feel so loved!
Thanks so much!! *love*

[One is from Monica, one is a late b-day card from Grandpa Pharr and Grandma Jean.]

Chocolate Love: Just 2 of My Favorites

[photo courtesy http://jenniesaysrelax.com/?tag=mass-media]

June 16, 2010

I finally broke into my second and last candy bar from my birthday basket Zach gave me. :)
(I devoured the white chocolate one ages ago. Well, "devour" is not the appropriate word. I had enough restraint to eat tiny pieces here and there over a number of days--my plan with this one, too.)

This is so so so good.
One of my favorites. It's up there with the Milky Way (regular and Midnight), the Crunchie, and any white chocolate bar (including cookies and cream, although I could do without the cookies).
That reminds me that I STILL haven't tried Milky Way Simply Caramel. Unbelievable.

Anyway, Monica and I picked up our first Chocolove bars during my senior year at Whole Foods (formerly Wild Oats, which was a much better name if you ask me). I later bought the Ginger Crystallized in Dark Chocolate and kept it in my desk in Dr. Fowler's office for ages; for some reason, I was too scared to eat it. I fretted I wouldn't like it, and, as I felt the same way about the Green Tea Kit-Kat's Zach brought back from Japan on his China trip and was proven correct i.e. Green Tea Kit-Kat's = ICK, I think my caution was justified. Although I believe it has since expired, I still have that ginger chocolate bar. Nuts I am.

On that first trip, I think Monica got the Raspberries in Dark Chocolate and shared with Rose and Emily who LOVE raspberries and chocolate. My best friends in high school largely disliked chocolate, so I was blessed to find like-minded individuals at UCA. Score! :)

There are many reasons this is one of my favorites:
1) I LOVE dark chocolate.
2) I LOVE the orange peel. I once made rustic biscotti with orange zest and cornmeal, and those twice-baked biscuits were so so so good. I love the texture the peel adds to the chocolate. I tend to let it melt in my mouth until the peel is exposed, and then I savor the subtle orange flavor the zest provides.
3) I LOVE that this chocolate bar includes poetry! Hello, Food Heaven for English Majors! Zach and I would sell these puppies at our Literary Bakery. Monica and I collected our wrappers when we lived together and posted them on the refrigerator.

[http://eatnvegan.com/?cat=6]

The poem in my birthday orange bar is by none other than Billy Shakes! I present you with SONNET 20:"A woman's face with nature's own hand painted,
Hast thou, the master mistress of my passion;
A woman's gentle heart, but not acquainted
With shifting glance as is false women's fashion;An eye more bright than theirs, less false in rolling,
Gilding the object whereupon it gazeth;
A man in hue all hues in his controlling,
Which steals men's eyes and women's souls amazeth.
And for a woman wert thou first created,
Till Nature as she wrought thee fell a-doting,
And by addition me of thee defeated,
By adding one thing to my purpose nothing.
But since she pricked thee out for women's pleasure,
Mine be thy love and thy love's use their treasure."

Granted, this appears to be from the "Fair Youth" group, but I'll take it! Now if only we can make it to Conway for the Shakespeare Theatre!

[http://scienceblogs.com/neurotopia/2009/11/friday_weird_science_oxytocin_1.php]

Dublin Mudslide is my FAV-O-RITE.
I mean, how can you not love "Irish Cream Liqueur Ice Cream with Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies and a Coffee Fudge Swirl?"
And it is the perfect (and, might I add, long-awaited) reward for reaching a very difficult goal--learning to swim! Now, I can't exactly swim very far, but I did swim some on my own, and Zach agreed with me I had earned the treat I was saving. *lol* :)

[photo courtesy http://www.kosmonutzrattery.com/kosmonutz/AnyaAngelusLitterpage.html]

P.S. I just had to put this picture, although it is low quality. Some rat breeders decided to be clever and name their litter after Ben and Jerry's flavors. But how could no one want Dublin Mudslide?!

Mama's Mother's Day Lunch at Mimi's

Today Zach and I met my mama at Mimi's for her belated Mother's Day lunch/my birthday lunch. (She works A LOT.)

I had another great salad; I have really been on a salad kick lately. (healthier food = happier) I had the Balsamic Chicken and Pistachio salad with had baby greens, tomatoes, feta cheese, dried cranberries, fresh strawberries, and the obvious ingredients from the title. It was so yummy, and I'm actually eating the leftovers right now. :)

She had already given me my birthday present at graduation, but we held off on her Mother's Day because we thought we were going to see her sooner than this. :I

She loved her present, but she really loved the card, and I have to say, that I totally understand. It had blue hydrangeas on it (my favorite) and butterflies, and I got so darn excited getting to buy "From the both of us" cards. *lol* Everyone thinks I am really talented in the card sentiment area, but Zach also wrote something really sweet. :)

[I really wanted to get "From your daughter and son-in-law" and "From your son and daughter-in-law" cards, both those were a tad more expensive. :]

We had a great time, even though we were all exhausted, and I actually napped on the way to the restaurant. I was a little grumpikins this morning. (Sorry, Zach.) Thankfully my mood improved as the day went on, and when we got back from Toys 'R Us and Gordmans, we took a nap!

I love you, Mama! You're the best Mama!!


{This is seriously the best photo we got. We are not looking our best, although I like how my mama and I sorta match, and Zach has his patent no-smile smile. :}

May Day 2010 = 25th Birthday

Zach and I started my birthday off at the Farmer's Market with Anne and her boyfriend Jordan. We had never been and were very excited to see how large it is! We got some lettuce for a salad and some tomatoes, onion, and pepper to put in our spaghetti this week. Zach wanted to buy some strawberries, but another shipment wasn't going to arrive for awhile and we knew we could get the same price at Whole Foods, so we skipped on them.

Then Monica joined us at Rivermarket Books and Gifts. I got a 1947 copy of Little Women! It is beautiful. :) I've been trying to collect copies of it, even though I hate to admit that I don't like the novel nearly as much as the films. But I've been really bad about getting copies, so I could NOT pass on this one.

with my 1947 copy of Little Women

Monica and her book pouch of Divine Secrets

Finally, we meandered down the street to the Saucer where I enjoyed a nice plate of cheese fries and my birthday beer (my new favorite Spaten Optimator Dopplebock). They had part of the front blocked off for the party, so we settled in some couches in the back. It didn't quite make for the best conversation, but I still think we had a nice time.

English girls reunited!!

Anne & Jordan-they're adorable!

Zach and I came home for a nap before dinner at Mike's Place. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture because we were running late and the weather was BAD. As we were walking (or rather, RUNNING) up to the restaurant, the tornado sirens were going off. All of the Toad Suckers were just standing there, gawking at the sky, although some were blocking the entrances to the restaurants along the street. At Mike's Place, a group of very unsophisticated people were smoking IN THE DOOR with their dogs. How nice. We were seated in the back, but they actually moved some of the people dining up front by the windows.

Leisl turned out to be our server, and she was awesome (as always)! We had to have some coconut shrimp, and for dinner we had raspberry chicken with broccoli and okra. I had a mojito, of course! Zach wasn't feeling too great, so he only ate three shrimp. I told him he was going to turn into one. :) And Leisl sent some turtle cheesecake home with us.

A perfect birthday night!