(over)growth

our backyard is completely out of control. but right now i kinda like it.

katniss fever

so the hunger games movie comes out this week.

am i excited? um, does greasy sae make a mean mice stew?

i’ve booked my tickets at alamo drafthouse for this sunday night! there is literally no better place to see a movie. and did i mention that they’ll be serving katniss’ lamb and plum stew? kick me i must be dreaming because this is too good.

in preparation i am re-reading book one, and watching these two things on loop:

that song gets me every time. i mean the three of them should start a band already. (the civil swifts perhaps?) methinks this could be the best soundtrack ever.

i’ll give my full recap on monday, but until then, may the odds be ever in your favor.

sxsw recap

so this is my first sxsw ever. weird right? in high school i opted out; my present self is thanking my 17-year old self for doing so, after seeing way too much teen angst walking the streets of downtown in middrift tops.

highlights include:

– being the boo of a food truck manager! i got the scoop on all the best spots and played my “i’m with the band” equivalent for food trucks. yum and yum and free.

– staying out til 4am. say what! it’s like adding an extra day to the weekend. however it’s not going to become a habit.

– witnessing just how insanely full of people downtown can get. it’s fascinating for about 20 minutes, then you’re like “hey dude, burn me with your cigarette and i will cut you.”

– introducing our seattle friends to tex-mex, ‘y’all’, and queso. it’s like watching a toddler take their first steps. such pride.

– live streams of shows! b.o.b. and t.i. killed it. i mean killed it. santigold and jay z weren’t half bad either.

-a rockin’ little duo who played a concert smack dab in the middle of sixth street. drums and guitar. add a slice of street pizza and you’ve got yourself a show. it’s like the flash mob of good music.

-finding sweet little sanctuaries downtown for the 25+ crowd to avoid the overabundance of skrillex and jello shots dominating the night life. the driskill bar wins for me. excellent drinks, comfy couches, and a bluegrass band to boot. second place goes to east side showroom for giving us respite from the madness of the east side.

all in all, a fantastic weekend.

did i mention we saw bill murray. yep. that happened.

bye bye sxswi

appropriate for bidding adieu to sxsw interactive week.

marinade serenade

these marinades are easy and tasty enough to evoke bursting into song. believe me, it happens often. but first, a little marinade 101:

:: always marinate in the fridge.
:: resealable bags are the way to go. easy to seal and easy to keep clean. however if you’re going to use a container, make sure it’s glass, stainless steel or ceramic and that you cover it.
:: steaks can marinate from 6-8 hours, and as long as overnight.

it’s always good to have a basic marinade recipe on deck. here’s ours:

red or white wine vinegar. olive oil. crushed garlic cloves. sea salt & fresh black pepper

from there, if you want to mix it up a little consider adding the following:

for a little asian flare: crushed red pepper. soy sauce (or hoisin). ground mustard. ground ginger. brown sugar or honey. sesame oil.

for a heartier marinade: worcestershire sauce. sliced onion. soy sauce. sugar. black coffee.

as a general rule, you can’t go wrong by mixing any combination of the following into the basic recipe: rosemary. thyme. lemon zest. ginger. honey. balsamic.

enjoy!

wine-ooooh

so last weekend the boo and i took a tour of the texas hills wineries. think pub crawl, but in a car, spanning 60 miles, with fancy cheeses, cured meats, and macaroons.

we hit eight wineries and had a blast. along the way we encountered a frenchman with a killer mustache and a love for texas women, a too-cool hipster who acted completely belabored when we asked where their grapes come from, a century old reclaimed farmhouse turned tasting room, miniature ponies, and one lovely mini donkey, and approximately 30 different wines (mostly reds).

texas wineries are just now starting to master their craft, but we’ll be reaping the benefits of this learning curve until they get it right. we even joined a wine club after meticulously shopping around (read: drinking).

p.s. being a wine club member means free tastings for you and your guests…

while the cat’s away

the mice will play.

the cat here, being austin going on a guys trip to tahoe with his family.

i guess that makes sadie and i the mice. she’ll continue on with her normal routine of eating, playing, sleeping, and being adorable.

here’s my to do list whilst living in a female-only house for the next 5 days:

-blaring/singing loudly/tearing up to taylor swift

-painting my nails (finally!)

-gossip girl marathon (this show has gotten so terrible)

-ice cream (austin gave up sweets for lent)

-finish research for my proposal on multicultural competency training (not gender specific, but it needs to get done)

-perhaps an impromptu cleaning out of my closet

basically guilty pleasures and productivity are how i avoid missin’ my man too much. but seriously austin, if you come home early i won’t complain :)

belated much?

(haha, yeah i meant to post this on february 15th and plumb forgot)

we stayed in last night and had an ah-maaaaaaa-zing dinner. i made garlicky brussel sprouts , and baked macaroni & cheese, and austin grilled up a rib eye and a tenderloin (which had been marinating since 8am) to perfection. and how great is this wine label?

we usually cook to music, so last night’s soundtrack was  etta james, louis armstrong and sam cooke (we may or may not have been doing the twist in the kitchen).

i’ll post our sides and marinade recipes later this week.

hope everyone felt loved yesterday.