A Matter of Support

I did a little bit of shopping this weekend…. Though I’ve admittedly been on a budget as of late due to my spontaneous vacation booking, I ran out of deodorant, contact solution, makeup, and toothpaste all in the same week so a trip to the store for some necessities was in order. (ok I might have picked up a few un essential items as well). 

As I browsed through the aisles I was drawn towards all the spring clothes and bright colors, that is until I walked past the intimates section. I recently had a wardrobe malfunction at work that involved a dress I had never worn before, the lack of a flattering strapless bra, and a coffee urn who may have gotten a little bit of a show… needless to say, I do not want to repeat said experience, so as I browsed through Target I figured it would be in my best interest to invest in a new strapless bra.

Can someone please explain to me why all of the normal-ish looking strapless bras, that had the appropriate support, shape, and dare-I-say padding, are hot pink, orange, colbalt blue & turquoise? I am into bright colors… in cardigans, summer dresses, tee shirts, toe-nail polish, and lipstick, but I have to draw the line at strapless bras. I multi-task all day long, so is it really too much to ask for my strapless bra to look good underneath ALL of my clothes, and not just my brightly colored halter tops? Granted, if I was really serious about finding a strapless bra that looked amazing under clothes as well as by itself I probably shouldn’t have been shopping at Target, but I still cannot fathom why if you are going to the trouble of making a bra, you would not make it available in at least black. Ok, so you are going for the fun flirty look, maybe beige isn’t ideal, but why not black?

Personally I have a bias again strapless bras, or maybe just a bias against gravity.  My less then well endowed body type requires all the lifting power it can get…So strapless isn’t my choice for everyday; however, there are some situations that require a strapless bra, so I was rather peeved when the style I wanted only came in insanely bright colors.

This then got me thinking to the women who do wear these neon-colored strapless bras…. Do they even exist? I completely understand the desire for fun/flirty/sexy lingerie… But why can’t the fun flirty/sexy stuff also come in practical colors? This might just be my tight budget mind at work, but I want a bra that is invisible under clothes, AND has a wow factor by itself. I want the best of both worlds, I want to have my cake and eat it too and I can tell you right now that a turquoise bra with yellow stars (seriously, what could you wear that under?) is not going to satisfy the invisible/ wow factor ratio.

It’s a total double standard I know, because believe me I have plenty of unpractical under-garments, but when it comes to strapless bras I need them to be functioning more so than flirty… Though I would prefer them to be both, I’ll settle for the “no-nonsense black option that when worn alone looks a little matronly” over the “cute cut, great support, makes you look amazing, hot pink, will be seen under everything you own” option… Sigh, another compromise for fashion.

Though a well made, Victoria’s Secret, multi-functioning, cute, sexy, invisible under clothes strapless bra is on my long term shopping list....

Neglect

I know I've been neglecting my blog over the pas few weeks... its not intentional....I've just been running on overdrive between my job and my pet volunteer projects I feel like all of my creative energy is going elsewhere at the moment, and that is just how life is. I have ideas, and things I want to write about and have plenty of notes jotted down in my notebook, and have composed post after post in my head (if only there was a way to get my thoughts on my blog without having to sit down and type them up) but alas, none of them have been written ( a little something to look forward too though!)

This week my dad asked me if I actually considered myself a writer since my writing seems so sporadic at times... and I have to admit it made me really defensive. I mean I had a poem in the Arts Alliance of Yamhill County Newsletter this month (never mind that I know the editor) and I have been writing! Granted, I've been writing advertisements, press releases, and newsletters, but they get a healthy dose of my creative flair... Not to mention the fact that my two volunteer projects happen to be a literary contest an a creative writing festival...
Not that I should be giving excuses. The fact of the matter is that I'm busy, and my creative talents are being used elsewhere at the moment, and when I have time for a free breath, I've been opting to spend them vegging on the couch regaining my energy for the next work week... And when you are living breathing, eating work, there aren't as many exciting (or awkward) things to write about.
So here I am, I'm not ignoring my followers, I'm just sparing you from reading something from the depths of my over-worked, over-exhausted, over-event coordinated, brain... all I ask for is another week and I promise I'll re-gain my spunk and creativity. I promise to pull myself out from this "farmy" state of mind and get back to writing... next week.

A few things that make me smile

Calling Cards…

Right now, I’m slightly obsessed with calling cards… Sure business cards are good too, and I admittedly feel very grown up & professional handing out my business cards at networking events… that being said, not every situation calls for a business card. However, life does, in general, call for calling cards. They are so handy when you need to give out your phone number or e-mail to someone. Gone are the days of awkwardly scribbling your cell phone number on the back of your business card, and praying that the person doesn’t accidentally call you at your office.  I really love the personalized calling cards at Cambria Cove, they are so classy! I’ve been drooling over the green paisley bird calling cards for months now, but lets face it, a girl on my budget doesn’t need $200 calling cards. Which is when I discovered moo.com. So trendy & fun, and affordable! I was able to design & create mini-calling cards for $20, it was ridiculously easy, and they had hundreds of designs to choose from. You can even upload your own pictures and artwork. Frankly, I cannot say enough good things about my cards from moo.com, and I hope that I am starting a trend among my friends. 

 Calling Cards from Cambria Cove

Some of my  Mini-Calling Cards from Moo.com

Raw Asparagus...

I’ve been in love with vegetables my whole life, but it has taken me twenty-five years to discover the delights of raw asparagus. While searching for spring recipes this week I stumbled across and asparagus salad, that has quickly become my new seasonal staple (I’ve made it 3 times in the past week). It consists of raw asparagus, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese, and a light citrus & olive oil herbed dressing. The genius part is that you shave the asparagus with a vegetable peeler, so it comes off in long flat strips that almost resemble linguini. The flavor is so light and green, the texture is crisp, and it looks beautiful! Tasty, easy, and sure to impress your dinner guests. 

 Shaved Asparagus Salad

Aprons...

I got an apron for Christmas, and every time I put it on, I feel like I’m embracing my domestic goddess. Though I’m not sure if food actually tastes better when I wear my apron, it gives me an excuse to spend more time in the kitchen, and food is certainly more fun to make while wearing it. Lately I’ve been finding just about any excuse to put it on. I’ve been doing a lot of baking at work, and I’m pretty sure my boss thinks I’m a little nutty when I whip out my apron and start whisking up batter. I know it’s crazy, but I just feel so much more adventurous in the kitchen when I’m wearing it. I want to try new recipes, tackle new challenges, master the art of being gourmet. This week I made cornbread, which is quite possibly the easiest thing to make. But add a few sage leaves and some feta cheese (and of course a dash of confidence provided by the chic apron) and you suddenly have a dish worth talking about.

White bleeding hearts

Though I love pretty much all spring time flowers, I cannot get enough of the delicate blooms of the white bleeding heart. 

Sparkling cucumber water...

By far my most healthy obsession, but also arguably the most delicious.  Throw a few cucumber slices into a glass with water (I prefer sparkling, but this is also great in regular water), and perhaps a few basil or mint leaves, and you will be drinking water all day long. It’s remarkably yummy, and makes me feel a little bit fancy. It’s so simple, and so delicious.

My “Nephew” Oakley

Clearly no words are needed. He is precious.

Rosemary Thyme Sugar Cookies...

Yes I am realizing that a LOT of the things that make me smile are related to food… But when you work at an herb nursery, its really hard not to be excited about food, especially this time of year. when. I spend my lunch hour browsing the nursery, and dreaming about my summer vegetables, and different uses for culinary herbs… it could be worse, at least I’m not blogging about doughnuts.

A few weeks ago I had to do some baking for a class we were teaching, and I stumbled across a recipe for herbed sugar cookies. This immediately appealed to the savory part of my brain. I’m constantly putting lavender in things, and have had great success with rosemary and thyme tea breads and other savory delicacies, so why not cookies? A few tablespoons of fresh rosemary and thyme added to the dough, and voila, you have the perfect cookie. Again, something delightfully simple that makes you immediately feel fancy and gourmet. If I were the type to throw garden parties (which lets face it, I wish I was) there would be a never ending supply of these herbed cookies and cucumber infused water.  

 

little nuggets

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of the little things in life. Seriously it is the little things that make it or break it for me, and today was a day filled with little things. Firstly, it was my first day off in a good long while that I didn’t have to be somewhere or do something right when I got up. I was able to slide into my morning, and I cannot even tell you what I difference that makes! Secondly I fell asleep with my computer next to my bed, which meant that I didn’t even have to get out from beneath the covers to check my e-mail. Fantastic. Thirdly, in my in-box was an e-mail from the Boston Redsox with a picture of Fenway Park at 5AM. Happy Opening Day.

Of course today was also Easter, which meant lots of quality food and lots of quality family time. Whenever we have traditional family gatherings there is always a bit of a power struggle between me wanting to try some new slightly exotic recipe, and my brother’s slightly boring food preferences… Ok, maybe they aren’t boring, they are just very traditional, and he is often not quite as willing as I am to think outside the box when it comes to meals. So there was my mother, stuck between the tendencies of my foodie palate, and his traditional taste buds. We ended up compromising somewhere between savory French toast, and salmon with deviled eggs, and ended up with a delicious brunch of Huevos Rancheros. I was able to satiate my culinary creativity by making a tomatillo salsa and also by introducing my family to Bloody Mary’s ala Tayler. (because I have been perfecting the art of Bloody Marys since my grad school applications went into the mail). The huevos were delightful, the tomatillo salsa was a huge hit (even with my dad who claims that tomatillos are his least favorite ingredient in Mexican cooking) and by the end of the meal we were all feeling fat and sassy with our cocktails. Overall a huge brunch success. To top it all off my mom made her coconut cheesecake, and there are really not enough good things that I can say about it, so I won’t even try. 

The other highlight of the day was my non-traditional Easter basket… yes ok, I know I’m twenty-four, and maybe slightly old for an Easter basket, but like I said, I enjoy the little things! Of course Claudia (my mother) knows this about me, and is incredibly good at coming up with fun little surprises. I got a brightly colored floral watering can stuffed with marshmallow eggs, good eyeliner, a red belt, and a little bag filled with kumquats! I know, I’m a huge nerd… but I think the kumquats are my favorite part. Don’t get me wrong, the other stuff is great too, and I’ve already mentally planned out about five outfits I can wear the belt with, and am envisioning a summer filled with container gardening and lots of watering… but damn it, what is better than an unexpected little parcel filled with kumquats? 

To top it all off, I spent most of the afternoon playing with a puppy, the Red Sox beat the Yankees, Neil Diamond sang Sweet Caroline Live at the game, and I was able to successfully balance my checkbook... all is right with the world.