FoodFash

Adventure Begins in the Kitchen

United Skates Of America

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Last weekend, Laura and I brainstormed over Sunday beers and decided that rollerskating was going to happen in our near future. We also thought that red and green elf rollerskating was the only way to go.  We showed up United Skates of America’s adult night, excited, but not knowing what to expect.

We skated for three solid hours to 20% top 40, 80% classic rollerskating jams of the 80s and early 90s.  We couldn’t have picked a more fitting playlist if we had tried.  We heard Debbie Deb twice, and that’s all one could have hoped for.

Laura was a master skater and qualified to skate during the expert only, bounce skate sesh.  I, on the other hand, only had the basics down and still experienced the occasional “whoop whoop” moment where you feel like you’re going to bust it.  Overall, it was SO much fun.  I am totally down to do this on the regular!

Sunday Strolling

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I wasn’t the only one who was in Christmas party recovery mode this weekend! I woke up, feeling nice and rested, to a text from Val wanting to get some food and catch up on one another’s weekend festivities.  I convinced her to walk to Anthro first.

Take an extra 30% off of clearance items?  Yes, please!  Anthro dishes are by far my favorite.  I hope that one day my collection will be significant enough that I can easily set my table with perfectly mismatched goodness.  And yellow jeans?  Uh, yeah, couldn’t resist.  I had never tried on Pilcro jeans before, but I’m pretty happy with they way they fit (especially for the price point).  I may or may not be on the hunt for the green and gray pairs…

After shopping we headed to Hula Bay to soak up some of the last of this season’s warmth.  I ordered the summer citrus salad, which had a ton more fruit than I could have ever imagined.  Whether or not I actually read the description, I’ll never know.  Regardless, so much sweetness was a welcomed surprise!  And bleu cheese on salads…  My oh my.

Thankfully I didn’t have anywhere to be after lunch, because I somehow managed to get balsamic vinegar all over the place.  My shirt (in two places), both arms, my hair, probably some places I have yet to discover.  So gross.

Are your white shirts magnets to messiness?? 

The Pie’s First Slumber Party

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Last night, my uncle dropped The Pie off for her first slumber party at my place, which she quickly renamed “The Princess Castle”.  We went out for Mexican dinner, Christmas light hunting, and then back to The Princess Castle to watch Elmo Saves Christmas.  Someone is ready for Santa to be here!

She woke up bright and early, ready to be entertained and asking for pancakes.

Buckwheat pancakes with pure maple syrup and thawed frozen berries was exactly what The Pie had in mind.  She was so excited to dig in!

After she cleaned her plate, we changed out of our pa-jams and headed to Curtis Hixon Park.  Sunny and low 70s made for perfect park weather.

We ran around for what felt like hours until it was time to get the little munchkin back to her mom and dad.

Until next time Rylee Pie!

Architecture In Helsinki

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With soup season comes boot season and, for some reason, the cooler weather also brings concert season.  Last year we noticed a huge influx of good shows in Tampa between October and February and this year promises to be the same way!

I curled my hair for the occasion, embracing my ratty ends.  My mom is probably going to have a heart attack when she sees a publicly posted picture of my blonde, damaged locks, but in all honesty…  I hate haircuts.  Freshly chopped veggies are yum, freshly chopped hair makes me cry.

Justin picked me up and we headed to The Bricks, our usual pre-show spot, to grab some cold beers and a bite to eat.  It was happy hour so I ordered one of J’s favorite, Brooklyn Lager, and what the waitress deemed the ‘least offensive beer on tap’, Palm Belgium Amber.

I ordered the portabelly sandwich with a side of Asian slaw for the gazillionth time.  The past two times I’ve ordered it wrap style and have been super satisfied with the modification.

And then it was Crowbar time!  Crowbar is quickly become my favorite venue for shows.  It’s small, the sound is decent, there’s no bad place to stand, bartenders are friendly, there’s a quaint porch out back, and on some nights the Vegan Beagle even sets up shop.  Oh and I live super close by so I’m on the way, which means it’s never out of the question for me to hitch a ride!

Architecture in Helsinki was one of the best live bands I’ve seen in quite some time.  It was a total 80’s dance party and it just so happens that my sweet dance moves are so appropriate for 80’s dance parties!