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1.30.2019

the stew: a review.


bad lighting, delish stew.

Have you made THE STEW yet? Alison Roman's chickpea recipe has been everywhere since published in the NY Times at the end of November, and it took me until now to make it.

What is it? A bunch of chickpeas are sautéed with ginger, garlic, onions and turmeric and then get smashed and simmered with coconut milk and vegetable broth. Add some kale (or any other leafy green you have on hand) and simmer a bit more, and the final product is garnished with yogurt (omit if vegan), mint, and some previously reserved crispy-ish chickpeas.

HOW is it? Honestly, it blew me away. I'm the kind of girl who could never go vegan due to my love of all things dairy, and this would have been just as amazing without the dollop of yogurt. The flavors that come to together are super complex and comforting, and the coconut milk really takes everything to the next level.

Suggestions? I followed the recipe to a T and I wouldn't change anything--it calls for a teaspoon of red pepper flakes and I'm a total weenie when it comes to spice but it was perfect (noticeable but not overpowering). If you're sensitive to spice I would reduce to 1/2 a teaspoon. Also, I probably could have cooked the chickpeas during their initial sauté for a bit longer--that helps it become thicker, and I ultimately cooked it longer than the recipe required to get the thicker consistency. It definitely thickened up after being refrigerated for leftover day two.

Final takeaway? Pure deliciousness--like nothing in my usual recipe repertoire but I will 100% be making again.

1.28.2019

weekend things.


tunes behind the counter at Portland Dry Goods.

Hello! I meant to check in last week, but with the new job starting I was all over the place. So far, I'm loving it. I'm going to be very busy but everyone is so nice--it's refreshing. It's definitely an adjustment going into an office (I've mostly worked from home the past 3 1/2 years) but the fact that I can walk there is huge--I just need the weather to cooperate. It's also been an adjustment for Olive: I have an amazing dog walker who adores her, but I think me not being home all day was a bit of a shock to her system. She seemed better by the end of the week, but I felt bad.

On Friday I was pretty wiped so I ordered Thai takeout from Pom's and read magazines (it was perfection). Years ago, this used to be my Friday night ritual and I'm happy to be reinstating it, especially now that I found a great Thai place that delivers (so crucial).

First thing Saturday morning I took a PB Reform class (my studio finally has it) and it was nice to mix things up. I spent the rest of the day cleaning, doing laundry, and getting organized. I also finished reading One Day in December and it wasn't my favorite. I much prefer creepy thrillers to romantic books.

Sunday I went grocery shopping and took Olive for a long walk and lounged the rest of the day. I was going to make THE STEW for dinner until I realized while prepping I didn't have any turmeric. Super annoying. I'm going to pick some up today and make it tonight.

Here's to a good week!

1.16.2019

this or that: bike baskets.

nantucket bike basket co wire basket / nantucket bike basket co tuckernuck adult classic

Once the weather cooperates, I plan on riding my bike to work and I'm in the market for a bike basket to hold my bag (in lieu of using a backpack). I love all of the baskets by the Nantucket Bike Basket Company and I'm leaning towards the wire version (although now I need to decide between the front and rear basket options--so hard).

Which would you choose?

1.14.2019

weekend things.


small bites at chaval.

drinks at bramhall.

super delish breakfast at hot suppa.
new sunglasses that were the perfect accessory to my mood on Saturday.

good times with my dearest friend.

I had a great weekend - it was equally social and lethargic and just what I needed. On Friday my dear friend S. came up for the night. We hadn't seen each other for almost a year, so it was great to catch up and have some facetime.

It was SO freezing Friday, so we hit up a couple of places around my neighborhood (Chaval, Bramhall and Pai Men Miyake) and got drinks/small bites at each place. I clearly can't hang like I used to, and I woke up hurting a bit on Saturday morning. We managed to snag a table at Hot Suppa for breakfast, and it was incredible. I got the pulled pork egg sandwich and S. got the fried green tomato eggs benedict, and it made me feel a little better.

I spent the rest of Saturday napping on the couch and ordered pizza delivery. I was truly a waste of space.

Sunday I was a bit more productive and did laundry--I watched football and made cauliflower gnocchi with turkey bolognese (both from Trader Joe's) for dinner, and then it was early to bed with a watermelon mask.

I'm hoping to be productive and get some things done this week (including some painting--stay tuned).


1.11.2019

some very good news.


good omen latte art.

I got a job! After two and a half months of being a (very stressed out) lady of leisure, I start a new job on the 22nd and I couldn't be happier.

I've wanted to work for this company for a year but the timing has never been right. A couple of former colleagues work there and I kept in touch and maintained connections--after a couple of meetings last week and this week, I got an offer. The job is based in Portland and I can walk to work  (I'll be doing a little traveling as well). It's the position I've wanted for a very long time in the industry where I've spent most of my career, and I think it's going to be incredibly challenging and rewarding. I'm so psyched.

I don't know if I just needed to put my unemployment status out to the universe in order for these stars to align, but whatever the reason, I'm super excited for this next chapter.

1.02.2019

happy new year.


{ via rifle paper co instagram }
Hello, 2019. Did you have a good New Year's? Mine was perfect: I declined a couple of invites and spent the evening with Olive, cheese, and blood orange martinis--I finished season 6 of Game of Thrones and was in bed by 9:30. It was everything I wanted.

This past year was a bit of a mixed bag. The highs included selling my old house, buying a condo and moving to Portland, and the lows were having a bit of a health scare in May (thankfully I'm fine) and a job shakeup.

I started a new job when I moved to Portland in May, and while I knew there were risks involved (it was a small startup in a very specific industry) it was also the right decision for me at the time--I was ready for a change and this provided a new opportunity with a bit more flexibility than my previous job. I was let go at the end of October, and while it was a bit of a shock, I think it was for the best: it was really stressful and I was working insane hours. They gave me a really generous severance and I learned a lot from the short time I worked there--I have zero regrets.

So now what? I'm honestly not really sure. I'm actively looking for something new, but I'm also really trying to figure out what I ultimately want to do. There are a couple of things I'm working on (some related to my legal background and others on a more creative plane) and I'm excited to see where these things take me in 2019--in the meantime, I'm trying to remain positive and keep my stress levels low(ish).

That's where I am--wishing you all a healthy and happy New Year!