awkward and awesome

Awkward

-the Duluth bus/people on the bus in general (this will probably forever be in the awkward category every single day)

-those lil fly aways that I attempt to straighten and tame and only cause them to stand up in an "Alfalfa" kind of fashion.

-fly down for the majority of the morning, yep.

-Dancing with the Stars...sorry for fans out there, I just think it is!
-overloading on coffee, causing extreme hot flashes (?!)

Awesome

-my new iphone photo apps that will be my new obsession (see above!)

-having the best co-workers a girl could ask for

-broiling brusselsprouts with a lil parmesan cheese-deelish!

-magazines coming in the mail with tons of great recipes to try out (thank you Whole Living)

-toasted great harvest bread with peanut butter and honey

-massages....every day should start with a massage.

-martha marcy may marlene, finally saw it-still creeped out/disturbed by it, but it was awesome. and so is Elizabeth Olsen
--going to Milwaukee (yes, again!) tomorrow to celebrate my baby sis!

Fashion Forward Duluth

This past weekend I decided to go to the Fashion Forward Collective, a charity fashion show supporting the Scottish Rite Clinic (free speech pathology services for youth) here in Duluth.

I really had no idea what to expect...Duluth isn't necessarily noted for being the fashion mecca of the Midwest, but I was impressed with the designers and their work-some really interesting pieces. Also, Danielle Everine, from Project Runway Season 9, showed clothing from her collection that she is preparing for Denver Fashion week! 

The other presenting designers were Jen-Ann Giving of Pacy James, Richard Rosvall, Elizabeth Chesney and Aleasha Hladilek. 

all photos from Stephen Hoglund Photography

celebrating the big 2-1!

happy birthday baby sis...can't wait to celebrate with you so soon!

rustic italiana!

  

Ever have that feeling where you know that something realllyyy cheesy and reallyyy savory is just what you are in the mood for?! Well welcome to my plans for tonight :) I stumbled upon this awesome looking recipe for Penne Frittata and Basil from Sunday Suppers (adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe) that looks simple and oh so delicious. 

I hope to have a few friends joining me for this meal-wouldn't want to devour it all on my own-so I'll have to have a big ol' salad to balance out the pasta.

Will you be chef-ing it up tonight? Feel free to share your favorites! 

Makes one 10-inch frittata; Serves 10 to 12
Ingredients:

* 6 large eggs

* 1/2 c whole milk

* 1/2 c fresh ricotta cheese

* 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

* Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

* 3 cups cooked and drained penne rigate pasta (from 7 ounces dry)

* 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

* 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

* Garnish: fresh basil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Whisk together eggs, milk, ricotta, Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir in cooked pasta and chopped basil.

2. Heat a 10-inch ovenproof skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium heat. Add oil; swirl to coat bottom and sides of skillet. Pour in egg mixture, and cook until edges are just beginning to set, about 2 minutes. Transfer skillet to oven, and bake until eggs are completely set, 10 to 12 minutes. Invert onto a plate, and re-invert onto a serving dish. Let stand for 5 minutes. Cut into wedges. Garnish with basil.

have a lovely weekend

whew! I feel like this week was just a blur and it's sort of hard to believe it is already Friday! I've unfortunately got a weekend full of work (gotta pay those bills!), but excited for the sprinkling of fun things throughout as well..
-a 4onthefloor concert
-catching up on some reading (a Handmaid's Tale has been really intriguing so far)
-possibilities of cookin' and craftin'!
-the Fashion Forward Collective show (my roommate is walking in it!) w/special guest Danielle Everine from Project Runway Season 9
-AND The Hunger Games!


I hope all of you have some fun plans for the weekend-if you've got sunshine, get out there and enjoy it on behalf of all of us who are stuck in the rainy and foggy weather that just doesn't want to go away! If you are trapped inside, check out some of my favorite finds from around the web...


bicycle buses for Dutch kids (they are always ahead of the game there!)


one of my favorite online shops lovely spring dresses, like this one

hilarious Bachelor sketches (via Cup of Jo)


a peek at Katniss's Hunger Games looks

crazy cat nap positions


my favorite source for tattoo inspiration


Prosciutto-wrapped salmon with asparagus from aneessa at What's More to Love


And this lil diddy to get your weekend started off...have a great one!

bathroom stall wisdom

You just never know where you are going to find some interesting advice-thought I'd share this find from over the weekend at Paddy's Irish Pub in Milwaukee. Note: I don't necessarily agree with all of this "wisdom" (I think some of this could apply to men too!), but found it entertaining nonetheless!

Every woman should...

know  how to use a stick shift; a plunger

understand the difference between don't tell a soul and 

don't tell a soul I mean it. 

Know her mind; change it.

Have protection handy; but too handy;

use special china and special underwear for no special reason;

over commit; come through; refuse to do it again; 

be able to discuss first and ten;

have better things to do;

set boundaries; go camping;

grow something; dance crazy all alone;

get dressed in five minutes; be a princess; get over it

believe in the perfect man (or woman); get over it

read; walk; flirt; shock; listen; sing

be single and like it; a lot

raise a child; or not

see a wrinkle and be reminded of her youth; not her age.

cheers to all you wonderful women out there! Happy Thursday :)

happy birthday to you

I am not going to lie-this morning I woke up with no creative thoughts to share, no grand DIYs to make sure you knew about. But I got lucky, I was reminded that today my grandpa or as we called him, Grandan (grandpa + Dante = Grandan) would have been celebrating a birthday. 

thanks to my Aunt Mary for the photo!

Grandan was one of the smartest, most worldly, and inspiring people I knew and certainly wish I could have known him longer in my adult life so I could truly appreciate it all. I love hearing from my mom about all the love letters he sent my grandma over the years-he was was quite the romantic.

I have quite a few great memories of Grandan, but one of my favorites was the time he took my brother (Tj), sister (Olivia), and me out on his boat.  We were all giddy to be out on the boat and happy to be out on the water and enjoying some quality time with him. As we were zooming along the Long Island Sound, he turned to me and said, "Want to take over?" Of course I was thrilled and eagerly stepped up to take the wheel....I couldn't have been much more than 12 or 13, so this was all a pretty big deal and felt pretty epic when Grandan encouraged me to go even faster! It was quite a ride-I don't think I'll ever forget that feeling....
So cheers to you Grandan, we all miss you and wish you were still here to celebrate! 


Do you have any special ways of remembering those who you have lost on their birthdays?