Favorite Things: November

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Kate

When I find good things, I like to share them. These are a few good things I’ve found over the past month that you might like, too:

Kailey’s Apple Pie and Pumpkin Spiced Pecans


You know those nut stands that sell glazed almonds and make the entire state fair/mall/theme park smell like warm buttery vanilla goodness? These are those — but exponentially better. Crunchy and sweet, but they actually taste like an apple pie or pumpkin spice goodness. I’m throwing these in oatmeal, on salads, and just eating them straight out of the bag because, well, I can’t stop. They’re that good.

Cooking Light’s Soy and Cola Braised Pork Shoulder

Oh my heck, this is good stuff. Goooooooood stuff. Sweet and spiced and asian-y and barbecue-y…just do yourself a favor and make it. As a bonus, it’s as easy as it is delicious. I added a few thai chilis to the braising liquid to spice it up a little, and I can highly recommend doing that, as well. We liked it best as a filling for lettuce wraps topped with some quick and spicy asian pickles (I only use one cucumber and add in some radish, carrot, and onion.)

Kendra Scott Jewelry

I love jewelry — enough that I don’t buy it for myself unless I’m on vacation. (Why? Because then everything — in addition to being awesome — has a story that goes with it. And it’s much more fun to say “Oh, these? I got them when I went to (someplace exotic, or at least not here)” than “Oh, these? Target.” (Note: this has not kept me from buying things at Target when I’m traveling, so it’s not entirely foolproof.)

Anyways. Kendra Scott is one of my favorite jewelry designers and her flagship store just happens to be in Austin, so of course I had to drop in and walk out with far more than I should have. Not only is her jewelry gorgeous, but lots of it is customizable, making it easy to find just the right something you (may or may not) need — whether that’s something for game day or just to dress up jeans and a t-shirt. The Darby earrings (pictured above) are my new favorites, but I also came home from the Blathering with a new pair of Danielles and Anitas (which I can’t find in a linkable format, but I promise they’re cute.)

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Martinis (Pinnacle Vodka)

I love, love, love Pinnacle’s Whipped vodka. (If you aren’t familiar,it’s whipped cream flavored vodka. Yep. Let that one sink in for a while, because not only does it exist, it’s delicious.) A friend recommended their cake-flavored version and Oh My Goodness, do I have a new favorite drink. It is girly and sweet and dangerously easy to forget how many you’ve had — just mix pineapple juice, a splash of sprite, and a fairly heavy-handed shot of cake flavored vodka. Add in a cherry. Thank me later, or invite me over to share. If you want to get fancy, a caramel/brown sugar rim would be an excellent way to do so. These are millions of miles better than the vanilla vodka/grenadine/pineapple juice version, and just as simple. (There’s no pretty picture of the drink because even though we were gifted with gorgeous glassware for our wedding, I usually drink out of a tervis tumbler, which, while practical, isn’t exactly photo-worthy.)

Obligatory disclaimer: These are all my own opinions, none of these companies/people/things are compensating me in any way, shape or form.

Posted in Conspicuous Consumption, Lists | 6 Comments

Post-Blather

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Kate

So, the Blathering. Undoubtedly at this point, you’ve read recaps that are funnier, more insightful, and just plain better than mine, but you’re here now and you will read mine and like it.

(One thing people learned about me this weekend: I am maybe a little bossy.)

My nerves almost got the best of me on the way to the airport.

I don’t know these people, I’ve only met one of them before and have not seen her in over a decade, very few of them have a clue who I am, and clearly no one would notice if I just didn’t show. They would probably have more fun without me! I would really be doing them a favor if I just stayed home! Yes! I will be a hero and avoid ruining everyone’s weekend by being a weird wallflower by just not going…oh, hey, I’m at the airport already. Hmm. Might as well show up. When everyone hates me and kicks me out of the parties, at least I’ll be in Austin and can drown my sorrows in migas, tacos and Shiner.

So I went, because I was already at the airport and was going to get charged for parking either way, and it was more than worth it.

There is a peace that comes with being among your people, and when it washes over you in an Applebee’s on a Friday afternoon as you barely even touch your salad because you are laughing so damn hard with people you’ve literally just met* (awkwardly, of course — as is my preferred style — in the lobby of a Hyatt Place), it is a powerful thing.

Somehow, the weekend just got better from there. Reconnecting with Tara, who is as strong and smart and funny as they come, finally (finally!) meeting Jennie and feeling like I’ve known her forever, hearing Emily‘s stories in person (as funny as they are on the internet, they are exponentially better when acted out in front of you), trying on the world’s best 80′s cocktail dress as Temerity Jane tweets pictures of you in it before you can even run back to the dressing room, holding ‘s Regan‘s adorable, perfect baby girl, falling a little bit in love with Sarah, Elsha, and Miriel, getting all fangirly over Jonna, spotting #theblatheringhooker in the hotel lobby with Andrea and -R-, marveling at A’Dell‘s planning and hosting abilities, enabling Miranda in developing a new jewelry addiction (confidential to Miranda’s bank account: I am so sorry.), talking hockey and everything else in the world with Jen, spotting houndstooth on South Congress for Sarah and Julie, kind of wanting to be Natalie (even with her neighborhood’s chicken problem), being uberjealous of Lauren‘s amazing hair, Katie sitting there and quietly taking it as I harangued her about her distant relative-by-marriage while she was trying to eat her salad, discussing all things Mike Leach with Becca, perfect hugs from Christina (who I would like to hire as my personal accessory buyer), nearly spitting my drink out laughing with Kristie and Manda, and, and, and…I could write 2000 words and still not get to everyone. I loved every minute, every woman there, and hate that it had to end.

I came home with an even worse case of baby lust than I left with (even after the pregnancy & newborn horror stories — and lo, there were horror stories), an extra five pounds of queso & cupcake weight (WORTH IT), a purse full of Canadian candy (that totally perplexed the TSA guy), a renewed love for Austin (as my long-distance relationship with Texas continues), and most importantly/best of all, the beginnings of what I know are going to be some incredible friendships.**

I can not wait for next year.

*Many of whom were warned not to talk to strangers, before boarding planes to go to another city to spend a weekend doing exactly that.

** I also came home with a $168 speeding ticket that I got on my way to the airport, but that is slightly less fun. Austin, I love you, but we need to talk about your idea of a lovely parting gift because I have to say, while something personalized is always appreciated, you’re still not quite hitting the mark there.

Posted in Nerdery, Out of Town | 16 Comments

13 Things You Should Know About Me

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Kate

I’m headed to Austin on Friday to attend The Blathering, and I could not be more excited (and, let’s be honest, nervous) about the whole thing. It is weird to go to another city to meet a bunch of people you only know from reading their blogs and talking on Twitter*, but it is, I think, the good kind of weird. It is probably weirder to do it for the second time in two months. But some of those awesome ladies from September are ones I met for the first time almost 10 years ago in Austin, because we all had online journals and posted on the same message boards. Plus ça change…

Anyhow. Everyone else is doing a “13 things you should know” entry. I am nothing if not a bandwagon-jumper, so here goes.

  • I can be a little slow to warm up in big group situations. I’m not shy (as you will undoubtedly see) and I’m not trying to be rude, but it can take me a little bit of time to feel brave enough to jump in. That said, once I’m comfortable, I am…a little loud.
  • I will forget your name. Multiple times. I’m sorry, I really am. But it’s going to happen. I am absolutely terrible with names.
  • I will have a rental car, am not a horrible driver and would be more than happy to give you a ride, but it has been a while since I drove around Austin, so be prepared to maybe get lost. Or do lots of yelling while we all try to use phones as a GPS.
  • I love college football, am a diehard Sooner fan, and will probably check the score of the OU/Texas Tech game about a billion times. (If you see me muttering and cursing at my phone on Saturday night between about 7 and 10? That is most likely why**.) I am MORE than happy to talk conference realignment (UGH) and am also fluent in all things SEC. I would be thrilled to discuss the relative merits of Auburn vs. Alabama, tell you stories of the jorts I have seen at UF games (orange and blue camouflage, to start with), and probably make fun of LSU a whole lot because I still hate Les Miles from waaaaay back when he coached up in Stillwater.
  • I am a little bit self-conscious right now, having just come back from a cruise where I ate All The Things (How could I not? They made eggs benedict on waffles instead of english muffins! I could order 3 appetizers as my dinner!), so now I feel kind of gross and none of my jeans fit all that well***. (Getting to a point where you only want to lose another 10 pounds or so is great. The aftermath of going on vacation and undoing a lot of hard work is…not.) I have not had a good haircut since moving to Ocala. (I have had one okay cut and one terrible one, though. Living in a new place is fun!)  Also, I am a little bit in love with Erica’s dress and am now doubting my decision to wear this and some boots on Saturday night.
  • Related to the above: I have packed and unpacked and repacked a million times already and will probably do it a million more before I leave on Friday. I am tempted to just shove everything I own into a suitcase, weight limits be damned.
  • While I grew up in a red state and now live in the reddest part of a swing state, I am pretty damned liberal. I would be happy to talk or not talk politics with you, but I am more interested in political strategy and machinations than issues of the day (except for tax policy. I loooooooove tax policy. Let’s talk about how 9-9-9 is regressive and horrifically impractical!), because at this point in my life, you’re probably not going to change my mind (Lord knows my Reagan-loving husband has tried…) and neither am I yours.
  • If the “I loooooooove tax policy” didn’t tip you off, the R2D2 text message tone on my phone probably will: I am a big dork. Especially when it comes to comedy, food, sports, and television.
  • I intended to do the accent vlog, but haven’t gotten around to it, so here you go: I have a pretty broad neutral midwestern accent, until I have my third beer, after which you can very clearly tell I’ve spent the last 17 years in the south.
  • Being on time is important to me. I am Not Late For Things. I am also kind of a Type-A planner, and always want to know what is happening next. Not because I’m not enjoying what’s going on right then, but because I get very anxious if I don’t know what the plan is.
  • I would like to hold your baby. We’re working on our own but apparently these things can take time, and I am a little baby crazy right now. I will give him or her back, I promise, but man, there is nothing better than baby cheeks. Except for baby feet. And baby thighs. And..I’m done. You get it.
  • I will rock some karaoke. Seriously. My co-workers and I used to go every single Wednesday night, and it was awesome. (Um, for us. Probably less so for the tourists in the bar [because of course we went to a bar in a touristy part of town; it's so much better that way] who were just trying to have fun in Orlando or relax while at some lame convention and instead were being subjected to drunk people taking their parts in Love Shack WAY too seriously.)
  • I am SO looking forward to meeting all of you. This weekend is going to be amazing.

 

*Well, to be truthful, I have met one person who will be there: Tara and I went to high school together. But it was high school, and while we were acquaintances, we didn’t run in the same circles. I’m sure that had it not been high school with all of its attendant insecurity, drama and weird social stratification, we probably would have been friends — but it was, and we weren’t. Also, I was a big old self-involved jerk in high school, so it’s probably for the best. Regardless, I am SO looking forward to meeting her all over again and getting to know her as an adult!

** There is also a Penguins game on at the same time, so there is a very good chance I will be cursing and muttering at that game as well.

*** This will not stop me from eating queso like it’s my job. I’m not really a dessert person, but I do love cheese in all its forms. Even (nay, especially) when that form is Cheez.

Posted in Daily Life, Lists, Nerdery, Out of Town | 10 Comments