Poco-Cocoa – Page 35 – Things & Stuff

Randoms
I cut my hair – it’s slowly growing into an even length! I also went for a chocolatey-red color. The receptionist at Vain said it was “cherry Coke.” Which reminds me of a lovely moment in Steel Magnolias, when Sammy makes Annelle the “best cherry Coke in the history of the world.”

I’ve also started walking more. I walk to the coffee shop before work to get an iced coffee, and today I walked on the treadmill at the YMCA while watching an episode of Castle. I had a physical this week, and I am not happy with the number on the scale or the numbers on my lab tests. Nothing is actually technically high, but it’s all too close for my comfort. So! Walking it is!

The other night I helped my friend David at an event. I bartended with my friend Joe – it was a really fun and really tiring night! Joe was sad because he got a $1 tip, and I got fives and twenties. Being a woman has its benefits. Though at the end of the night, I had no idea where the tip money went. Hopefully it was donated to the event’s charity.

Sometimes I get obsessed with things. Especially things I don’t understand.
1. I read an article somewhere about the popularity of plastic surgery in Korea. I found this site, which shows before and after images, and I can’t stop looking at it. It fascinates me that plastic surgery is such a no-big-deal option, that so many young people feel that it’s necessary for success, and that the trends are always forehead implants, jaw trimming, nose jobs, and double eyelid surgery.
2. Then I read this article about how some kids in Korea study seven nights a week to become K-pop stars. This is apparently a viable, reasonable job option for these families. So then I looked into some K-pop groups. I can now say I’m a fan of Big Bang and Girls’ Generation. Their videos are so crazy to me – so many group members, such a fun mix of Korean and English, and fantastic fashion.
3. Japanese street style. OBSESSED.
Two colorful tasks I had at work recently – arranging flowers for an event and picking up smoothies for the chefs for lunch.

Two books I’ve read and loved recently – The Picture of Dorian Gray and Eleanor & Park.

I adored Oscar Wilde’s writing, and Dorian Gray is just so creepy and awesome. I immediately rented the BBC version from Netflix, and I wasn’t disappointed. Heebie jeebies.

I fell in love with Rainbow Rowell’s writing in Attachments, and so I was excited to read Eleanor & Park, which was equally lovely. I cried. And laughed. And I love Park.

We had dinner at Rachel & Logan’s last night, and Logan made a feast. There was paté and pickles, melon and prosciutto, steak and spinach, panzanella, and an awesome peach galette. It’s pretty awesome having chef friends.

I thought this was pretty good reading. Have a great weekend!♥
August 10, 2013

Random Thoughts
Blogsistential Crisis
Ugh, I’m having that weird “I don’t know what I want to blog” thing. I go through this every few months or years or whatever. I’ve been kind of updating my Tumblr page, mostly with Instagram photos and a few thoughts here and there. It just seems easier than logging in to WordPress and posting something new here. I still have that weird expectation that this space is for complete thoughts, pretty photos, videos, etc.

Basically, I just want to have a visual journal to look back on. Right now it’s spread out on Instagram and Tumblr and Goodreads and here. I have one Pinterest board where I keep track of movies I want to see and another for movies I’ve seen. I want them all in one place.

Of course there’s also Evernote, where I keep recipes and things, and my Keynote journal, where I drag images from the web. And my Moleskine, where I write down lists and ideas. Still, I WANT THEM ALL IN ONE PLACE.

I know I’ve blogged about this before. How blogging has changed, and how I can’t figure out how to fit this blog into my life, and how I’ve been blogging since before the light bulb was invented, and all that. And I still haven’t figured it out!

Anyway, here are some recent thoughts.

Justin launched a new website for East Side King. It’s super crazy and fun. He rocks.

I made deviled eggs for my friend Erin’s going away party. I only got to eat one, but I loved them! I got some advice from the chefs at F&D (and truth be told, my friend Brandon beautifully minced a shallot for me), and mixed the yolks with mustard, mayo, shallot, parsley, pickles, and a bit of ricotta. Oh, and a sprinkle of smoked paprika. So good.

I’ve been reading quite a bit. Recent favorites:
1. Attachments: This was such a lovely, light, fun romantic comedy. I loved the characters and was happy with the ending, which never seems to happen these days.
2. The Cassoulet Saved Our Marriage: A great selection of essays on food and family and how we learn our own food habits.
3. Perfect: A very sweet random teenaged girl in the library recommended that I read this book,and so I did. It’s written in a fun poetic style, and each character’s struggle with perfectionism really hit home.
4. The Sun Also Rises: Oh, Ernest Hemingway. I love how spare and yet detailed his writing is. I loved getting lost in Paris and Pamplona. I loved the bullfights and the human fights and the many bottles of booze.
And, as always, Roux and Little are not amused.♥
August 1, 2013

Everyday Life
#franinthebayou
Last weekend I flew to New Orleans to celebrate my friend Kate’s bachelorette party. It was TOO much fun. Highlights:
- A gigantic old Louisiana house with three kitchens and a bajillion rooms
- Dinner at Coquette, one of the cutest restaurants ever
- A juicy burger at Port of Call, which reminded me of one of my favorite songs
- Doctah Dave, who bought us all dinner and tickets to the show next door, just because we were lovely ladies
- Being completely content with who I am in this stage of my life, even as the oldest in the group
- Learning about the lovely “Yat” accent of NOLA
July 10, 2013

Travel
Arts & Crafts

Yesterday I mixed white beans, tuna and artichokes with a bit of lemon juice, olive oil and pepper. I consulted with my brilliant friend Kate, and today I re-made the salad with the addition of parsley, cherry tomatoes, capers, a vinaigrette, more pepper, greens, and toasted bread with really good butter.

I am a great cook. I can parse out a recipe and tell you whether it will be good or bad, what it might taste like, whether I’ll like it. I can build on recipes and get inspiration from cookbooks and cook a top-notch meal. But Kate. Kate can create something from nothing. Kate can look in her fridge and pantry and make a fantastic meal from the end of a loaf of bread, a half-box of pasta, and some old, shriveled mushrooms. Kate is an artist in the kitchen; I am more of a craftswoman. I suppose each has its benefits, but I so enjoy learning tidbits of art from Kate.

In other news, this. And this. And this.♥

July 9, 2013

Everyday Life, Food + Drink
On my nightstand

One.
Two.
Three.
♥

July 8, 2013

Everyday Life

Randoms

Blogsistential Crisis

#franinthebayou

Arts & Crafts

On my nightstand