Yum Wednesday, 4.6.11

Buenos dias!

Tasty Things of the Week:

• thunderstorms:  Is it April? Am I in a climate wetter than Denver, CO?  YES.  Yes to both, and it makes me so happy to watch the lightning scribble all over them grey angry clouds, and all the rain is making everything feel so nourished and things are turning green before my very eyes.  Mmmhhmmm.
• thrifting:  I had a 2 hour break yesterday, whoooaaa.  I walked between thrift stores and made a happy find or two (10 cent books and a pair of black capris, even though the word capri makes me cringe, they look swell.)  I also got to share a cookie dough mixer from Culver's with the boy.  Good day all around.
• bread; or more specifically, baking it from scratch.  This is my new ambition.  I've made it a few times from the frozen loaves of dough and it is so so tasty.  I want to learn to do the whole process and maybe make a weekly thing of it.
• friends in France:  my best friend started a semester long study abroad in the fall, and had such a good time that she decided to go back for spring semester.  She overcame the adversity of friends and family to do so and I admire her temporary detour from a relatively fixed young-adulthood.  If only I had the finances to fly over and visit..
• all else: *cooking blogs; *how cute my puppy looks curled up in my bed; *paper; *Band of Horses, Modest Mouse; *masking tape; *purple

--Zoe

Yum Wednesday, 3.30.11

I am exhausted; but here is a quickie.

• having enough money to pay the bills
• driving fast and being pressed into your seat
• beagles
• my cute boyfriend
• “It is absurd to divide people into good & bad. People are either charming or tedious.” — Oscar Wilde

kbye,

Zoe.

Yum Wednesday, 3.23.11

We are almost done withe March, rejoice!

• index cards: I just got done labeling all sorts of stuff with Spanish vocabulary.  I feel pretty nerdy, but in the happy way.  I used my Blue Skies Blue Bic Mark-It, by the way.  Lovely. (I really want the 36-color pack.  I only have 8 or something.  Well, 8 - 1, because my sister let her dog eat the cap of my lime green and it dried out and had to be let go.)
• spring & the beginning of warm weather:  It's snowing today.  But otherwise it had been getting warmer and nicer out, and it's almost April, so I'm paying really close attention to ensure I don't miss Wisconsin's two-week transition between winter and summer.
• hospital coffee: .. because I was not there for any dramatic, scary reasons, but I was there for a really really long time.  And it was free, but also pretty tasty.  A rare combination.
• motorcycles: my boyfriend is talking about buying one.  I'm not going to dissuade him, because that means zooming around on the back, in my red jacket, hugging him a lot and feeling adventurous all summer.  Sweet.  
• sushi: I just learned how to make it last weekend, or some weekend, and it's so easy slash awesomely fun.   I consider sushi very tasty, so I'm excited to become an expert in assembling and devouring it now that we have the necessary supplies.
• and everything else: *baseball season; Brewer's games on the agenda, *candles, *apples and bananas, *musical nostalgia, *cleaning things, *masking tape = good investment, *pb&j, *black clothing, *red hair, *Teux Deux, *red pandas, aka fire foxes - seriously, they are so cute.

Best,
Zoe.

Yum Wednesday, 3.9.11

Hola!Welcome to another edition of Yum Wednesday, the only thing I ever publish on this blog. 

Things I love this week:

• style: When I say style, I mean the sartorial ideas that are currently tickling me, because I have literally no idea what is currently considered trendy, let alone how to avoid it.  I'm ambivalent, I think.  What I'm craving now, however, includes simple white t-shirts, blue jeans, black canvas shoes, button downs, longer hair, stripes, scarves, eclectic nails, black sweatshirts, etc.
• dictionaries: and the discoveries they lead to... I was going to double check the exact definition of "ambivalent", which I used above, and even though it apparently is not good enough to be included in this dictionary, I did notice the words Amatory ["pertaining to love or sex"] and Amateur ["non-professional participant"] next to each other.  Interesting that they share a pre-fix, hmmm? 
• fancy soap: in bars, you know.  I guess pump soap is kind of nice too, but I never learned how to appreciate bar soap and I'm starting to think it doesn't dry my hands out as much.  I really, really want to go into Lush and get some cuts off their giant bricks of the soap, and keep it on kitchen plates next to the bathroom sink.
• quotes: I love finding a really choice string of words, and need more exposure to good ones.  I get quotes emailed every day from Real Simple, but they are mostly random and not very substantial.  Sometimes I underline things in my books. (yes, I do.  I also dog-ear the pages to keep my spot.  It makes me feel good and I don't care what you say.)
• and all the little things:  *Ritz crackers and ginger ale (or milk), *sewing buttons on shirts, *Mumford and Sons, *laundry day, *smelling like laundry, *bottles of wine, *piggy banks and vacation funds, *montana green, mk. 2 GTI's

adios,
Zoe.

Yum Wednesday, 3.2.11

Well now, haven't I been negligent.  (The answer is yes, end of discussion.)

Tasty, happy things for this week!:

• coffee rituals: I've always been a coffee-nut, you know, I know, we all know.  I've been pondering more the different ways in which to enjoy this mighty beverage... Such as, with cookies.  Or after dinner on the patio with friends.  In a tea cup.  In a mason jar.  I still will only drink it black though, so don't think I'm getting too crazy here.
• having experiences in common with Mr. Obama:  I somehow got linked to this page, and it is a quote from our dear president on love and marriage. It tickles me to see how he was able to phrase, so concisely, something I've been discovering as of late.
• Sometimes, when we’re lying together, I look at her and I feel dizzy with the realization that here is another distinct person from me, who has memories, origins, thoughts, feelings that are different from my own. That tension between familiarity and mystery meshes something strong between us. Even if one builds a life together based on trust, attentiveness and mutual support, I think that it’s important that a partner continues to surprise. "
• giant drawing pads of newsprint paper: They are awesome, and make everything feel a little bit cooler.  Or like kindergarten, which, I'm going to admit, was really fun.  I make lists and hang them on doors and windows all over my house.  
• homeschooling: I decided to teach myself a lot of languages so I can get a job interpreting.  French, Italian, Spanish and German.  Here goes nada.  I will also have a sub-focus on culinary arts and creativity. 
• ampersands: You may have noticed a habit I picked up from Gala Darling.  In all posts prior to this, I used the ampersand symbol (&) in place of the word 'and'. I have decided that it is time to retire this habit, basically because I said so. 
• push-ups: I can do 7 in a row now!  SEVEN.  I try to do this number every day, until I think I can do 8, and then I will probably brag about it again.  It's kind of empowering though, to have this kind of daily investment in my fitness.  I show my appreciation for my body by making it stronger, rather than depriving it of fuel.
• itty-bitties:  *being thankful, *bright blue nail polish, *glass bottles and jars full of change, *the green of my bedroom walls, *my supremely handsome man-friend, *Panda Bottle!, *I guess that whole Threadless collection in general, *French Milk by Lucy Knisley, *blogging again :)

Gracias!
--Zoe.

groundhog's day

groundhog's day by cosmosaur featuring logo handbags

random daydreamings.

Yum Wednesday, 9.8.10

• it smells like fall: Friday, I walked out of work & one of my coworkers mentioned that it smelled like Wisconsin Cold.  & it did.  Now that I have a name for that sensation, it's easier to recognize that there is a singular moment I know that fall has arrived, whether the temperature continues to fluctuate or not.  Mid-fifties, lightly clouded skies & a healthy breeze, I seized the opportunity by wearing tights & boots & a button-down.  Well, a skirt too, but that part wasn't as exciting. 
• Menard's: I got a jorb, & I work 5am-9am, 6 days a week, & it actually doesn't totally suck.  Most of the time. Can't wait for my first paycheck, woot woot!
• oh wait, I haven't told you about my dog.  Suki is my 4 month old beagle, & she is.. sort of a bucket of trouble.  But I have high hopes, & she's sweet & adorable regardless.  
• naps!!: Seriously, with the hours I work now, I haven't gotten more than 5 hours of sleep in one night for over a week.  So, whenever I have time to kill, I curl up on the couch & pass out, & it feels kind of great.  I used to oversleep ALL the time, & it's interesting to be on the other side of that.  
• etc: *teal & grey & mustard & coral & royal purple (this is my outfit today); *chapstick; *summer nights; *upcoming Six Flags excursions; *park benches; *banana peanut butter cup ice cream; *swingsets; *blueprints; *cookbooks; *informal art societies; *new denim.

Hasta luega & hoping you don't know spanish,
Zoe Finn.

My Bookshelf; Wonderful Tonight by Pattie Boyd

I checked this out from the library for my plane ride to Portland a few weeks ago.  It is a biographical novel by Pattie Boyd, describing, in turn, her childhood, marriages to both George Harrison & Eric Clapton, & her life thereafter. 

It was a... good book; I felt, however, that the writing was a bit dull. Tedious.  It was like listening to someone give you an overview of their life story, without any of the animation, or colorful descriptions you would expect from a woman who values creativity so highly. 

I would still recommend it, if you are fascinated/bored enough. Maybe I just don't like biographies.

--Zoe Finn.

I have been negligent.

So, these days I am living out at my dad's house in semi-rural WI.  We are having the hardest time trying to get internet out there, & consequently, au revoir to my internet life.  So, I will attempt to plan around such obstacles in the future, because I really do miss my blog.

Off to schedule some posts,
Zoe Finn.

Yum Wednesday, 8.18.10

Posting in advance from Portland, OR!

• travel & renewed perspectives: My weekend here has been great & I feel a whole bunch of renewed energy for life flowing through me. I'm really excited for.. everything.
• Atmosphere: & this random coffee shop for playing it.  I feel like I could be uber productive here if I actually had things to accomplish. :)
• a wide array of cuisines & flavor: it's been a great break from the monotony of eating from an empty kitchen in the barren cultural landscape of my small Wisconsin town.  I've had falafel, burritos, caprese sandwiches, spanakopita, baba ghanouj, greek salad, baklava, sushi, pub food, grilled cheese, ohmygodETC.  Amazing.
• charming neighborhoods with excessive foliage, great architecture, friendly people.. seriously.  I love this city.  No expectations, no disappointments. :)
• eeny meeny meiny moe: *annual India Festival in Pioneer Square; *new clothes & chilly weather; *morning rituals; *sewing projects; *Thai food; *Rum & Coke; *the beagle puppy

au revoir au revoir; à bientôt, mon amie!
-Zoe Finn

uhhhh

zomg, I've really failed at having internet for about a month.  So uh, I'll be back, I promise.  I PROMISE.

--Zoe Finn. <3