February 2010
9 posts
1 tag
Grown-Up Lessons in the Kitchen: Croissants
My first attempt at baking croissants from scratch is behind me. I’m not sure how I ended up with a yeast-free recipe (croissants without yeast are traditionally called croissants de patîssier, as opposed to the croissants de boulanger to which I am more accusomed), but they still tasted okay and I was definitely pleased with the flakiness.
I am very excited to try a new recipe for batch...
2 tags
Playing Dress-Up: Altering a Secondhand Dress
Last weekend Mama and I went thrifting on a whim. We hadn’t been in ages, and luckily we both made some really phenomenal finds!
We bickered over who would have the honor of being the new owner of this hideous vintage dress (I say “hideous” now that I look at the photo I took after winning the battle and bringing it home in my goody bag, but obviously we both saw something more...
1 tag
Grown-Up Lessons in the Kitchen: Chocolate...
This may be the richest, most decadent cake I’ve ever eaten.
I don’t like cheesecake, but my little brother loves it, and since his birthday’s on Valentine’s Day and he came home from college to celebrate with us, I decided to indulge him. (Plus, when I asked him what kind of cake he wanted, he told me to “do [my] worst,” and a real grown-up can’t...
1 tag
Do It Yourself: Cover Up An Ugly Painting
Ever since I rescued it from a yard sale last September, I’ve had what I’ve fondly referred to as “the ugliest painting in the world” hanging in my bedroom. Fear of breaking my camera lens kept me from photographing it, but trust me: It was bad. Greens, browns and pinks swirled together in an impressionistic interpretation of, well, something ugly, probably, and some sort...
2 tags
Playing Dress-Up: Like Sister, Like Sister
Hannah and I are having a “romantic” night tonight. We made homemade calzones with homemade marinara to dip them in, dressed up in startling similar outfits, and are going to see a movie.
Our outfits weren’t exactly coincidentally alike. We both decided to rock a hippie headband (though it’s more her look than mine) and our fringe booties with leggings and button downs...
Snow Play
I got my snow day wish today! My sister Hannah and I walked downtown for chai lattés and art supplies. You’ll see the fruits of my labor soon! In the meantime, snow antics were aplenty.
2 tags
Grown-Up Lessons in the Kitchen: Date Night Gift
I was pretty proud of the way this meal turned out. I cooked for the parents of my charges as a Christmas gift, delivered the meal to their door, and whisked the kids off for a night of pizza and movies at my house.
I served rosemary roast chicken on a bed of barley bean risotto with roasted, spiced carrots. I also made martinis as an apératif and added a French bâtard and a bottle of wine. For...
1 tag
Do It Yourself: Embellish A Sweater
In my giant closet clean-up, which is taking me ages, I uncovered this beautiful cashmere sweater, which is one of the most luxurious hand-me-downs I own. Unfortunately I have an abundance of simple sweaters, and since this one has a bit of a looser fit on me, I decided to make it more feminine by doing a bit of embellishing around the neckline.
I bought some glass pearls and beads and strung...
2 tags
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