Nutella cookies

I came across a forgotten cookie recipe on my computer the other day and decided to try it out. 

It was easy, quick, and delicious -- what else do you need to hear?!

Nutella Cookies

Ingredients*:

1 cup Nutella

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 egg

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°.

Blend all ingredients together.

Form into 1" balls.

Place on cookie sheet. 

Press firmly on each ball with the bottom of a glass.

Bake for 7-8 minutes or until set.

Cool.

Consume.

*I thought about adding peanut butter, but chickened out since it might mess up the consistency.  I think I'll try it next time I make these (read: tomorrow).

"The Girl" by City and Colour

Really enjoying this song recently (discovered thanks to Pandora)

Hearts

I picked up this adorable sweater at Old Navy yesterday:



I also saw this one...

...which reminded me of this J.Crew one:

$25 (Old Navy) versus $88 (J.Crew) -- seems like a no-brainer!

"Moon River" - The Honey Trees

Beautiful cover of Moon River by The Honey Trees:

J.Crew Cece flats

Well now, aren't these just the cutest?

Brandi Carlile: Tiny Desk Concert

Can't stop listening to this:

I'm so lucky to be seeing her and Josh Ritter in concert in August with my oldest sister!

S'Meaches

I want need approximately 900 of these:

S'Meaches from Claire Thomas on Vimeo.

Omnomnomnivore

This made me laugh:

Plenteous Tiles

I love this bikini from Anthropologie:

I think it's just so unique, with the one-strapped top, the wide cut of the bottom, and the colors.

Bonus: it's on sale!

Fenway Park

For Mother's Day, I got my mom and I tickets to the Red Sox game.  We weren't expecting a great game (our boys haven't been playing well lately), but to our surprise, the Red Sox won 12-1 and played a fantastic game.  Plus, the weather was beautiful and we had good seats.  Really no complaints.

I got a new phone recently and took this photo using the panorama feature:

Other weekend events:

- bought myself these shoes ($16.99!)

- went sneaker shopping with my boyfriend

- had a dinner date at Posto (our new favorite Italian restaurant)

- saw The Hunger Games

- uploaded all the photos I've taken since New Years Eve (super satisfying)

Pretty in pink

Hey, I bought some new shoes and suddenly everything feels right...

Just bought a pair of these for myself!

(song inspiration for this post)

This is your life.

I like this.

(found here thanks to her)

Ron Swanson

I would like this mug for my birthday, please.

Mandarin Earrings

Just came across these beautiful earrings on Erin McDermott's website.

They have been added to my birthday wishlist!

Croissant Bread Pudding

I cooked dinner for my parents last night, since my mom had never seen my apartment (despite the fact that I've lived there since September).  I made a chicken and lentil chili in our trusty Crock-Pot, and made Barefoot Contessa's croissant bread pudding for dessert. 

Bread pudding is my mom's favorite dessert, so she's a tough critic, but she loved it!  The recipe was easy to make and delicious - I highly recommend it.

I made a few of my own changes: I used currants instead of raisins (since I already had them in our pantry) and sprinkled cinnamon over the top before putting it in the oven. 

Summer sandals

The decision has been made: I'm buying these.

Pictures are starting to pop up on the internet of various bloggers wearing them (I saw them most recently here), so I'm jumping on the bandwagon.

First Aid Kit

I saw First Aid Kit in concert on Monday evening and they did not disappoint.  Close harmonies, well-written lyrics, and a bit of Swedish dry humor.  I can't stop singing their songs quietly in my office, especially this one:

and this one:

I hope they continue to make great music.

New shoes

I just ordered these from Alloy:

I'm pretty excited.



Mint Candy Apple

I've wanted a bottle of Essie's Mint Candy Apple ever since last summer when I chose it for a pedicure, but I soon found out that Essie only sells it to nail salons, not pharmacies.  Thanks to a recent Cup of Jo post, I found that you could order a bottle through Zappos.  So I did - immediately!

You can order it here.

Weekend plans

It'll be a pretty quiet weekend for me, but here are some things I'm looking forward to:

- making macaroons

- painting my nails (I recently discovered this awesome blog - check out the list of nail polishes she owns!)

- going on a long run (apparently I enjoy running now)

- LSAT prep (but probably not)

- finishing the book I'm currently reading

(Picture found here)

Marimekko

Sigh.

Oh Marimekko, why are you so expensive?

Happy spring

"Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today; / And give us not to think so far away / As the uncertain harvest; keep us here / All simply in the springing of the year."

(quote from Robert Frost, found here)

(photo from A)

Kitchen prints

I finally framed and hung this print above my stove this weekend:

I also love this little print by the same artist:

Is it obvious yet that I love to eat?

Sleepy Man Banjo Boys

I can't get over Sleepy Man Banjo Boys.  The band is made up of 3 brothers who are so incredibly talented: Jonny Mizzone (9) on banjo, Robbie (13) on fiddle, and Tommy (14) on guitar. 

Check them out on their David Letterman appearance.

deCordova Museum

After I saw that this gorgeous sculpture is on display at deCordova Museum (my home town!), I immediately planned a trip there for this weekend.

How beautiful is that?  I hope the sun is shining on Saturday so the colors bounce off the walls.

Anthropologie

Love, love, love this blouse from Anthropologie.

The 26 Happiest Animals In The World

Just a little something for your Friday...

Have the happiest weekend!

A better person

 I saw this today and I couldn't agree more:

Penfield USA

Just discovered Penfield USA, a clothing company started in my home state of Massachusetts.

I love this vest and wish it was on sale for cheaper than $167.

Mr. Happy Man

This video made me smile real big.

Slowing its spin the tiniest bit

Happy Valentine's Day

(image from here)



Bon Iver

Can't stop listening to Bon Iver's version of "I Can't Make You Love Me", a song which has special meaning for me.  I love how he mixes it with "Nick of Time".

Also, I'm so glad he won the Best New Artist Grammy.  And that he wore a plain, brown suit.

Off the bandwagon

I've sort of fallen off the photo-a-day bandwagon.  I'm just going to post when I can and not hold myself to daily posts.  I get unnecessarily stressed out :)

9. front door



7. button

6. dinner

5. 10am

4. a stranger

(Disclaimer: I didn't take this photo this month, but it's too good not to use.  Poor guy didn't see it coming.)

3. hands

Dress love

I went to the outlets this past weekend and fell in love with this little dress from J. Crew. 

Anyone feeling generous?

2. words

(bought myself a little gift)

1. your view today

February photo-a-day challenge

Together with my good friend M, I'm taking part in the February photo-a-day challenge present by fat mum slim.

Since I don't have a smart phone (*gasp*), I can't promise I'll be able to update daily.  But I'll try my darndest and I do promise to take one photo each day!

Enjoy!

The Biodiversity Project

Interesting animals beautifully photographed by Joel Sartore in a collection entitled "The Biodiversity Project".

(one of my favorite shots)

This leads me to my only question: is there any animal in this world that is uglier than the mole rat?

Writer envy

I really enjoy the way this woman writes.  I'm especially loving a recent post she wrote, as I try to figure out the kind of woman I want to become.

Weekend plans

Since I'm going to be traveling out-of-town for the next 4 weekends (just typing that makes me tired), this weekend will be spent inside doing all the things I want to do, which includes:

- crafting (making these into earrings and this necklace)

- making these pancakes

- deep-cleaning my apartment

- painting my nails

- reading my new book while wrapped in a blanket on the couch

- watching the Patriots beat the Ravens *knock on wood*

Have a nice weekend!

Christmas gifts

So, there's a story behind these Christmas gifts.

This past summer, I was browsing the vendor tables at a craft fair in Tiverton, RI.  I stopped at Melanie's booth, the woman behind Stone That Flows, and looked in awe at her beautiful handmade jewlery.  A pair of cufflinks caught my eye and I was so sad to see they weren't earrings.  I expressed this sadness to Melanie, who wrote some secret words down on her business card.  "Just email me this information and I'll make earrings for you."

Yay!

I emailed her a few days later and she responded with the price.  It was a bit too expensive for me, but I thanked her and told her "maybe in the future!"  I saved the email, thinking maybe down the road (when I wasn't a somewhat recent college grad with very little money) I would treat myself to the earrings as a gift.

Fast forward to Christmas this year, when my boyfriend got them for me for Christmas!  He had heard me talk about them (apparently more and with deeper longing than the other random things I talk about) so he wanted to get them for me.

Also, his mother knew he was getting me the earrings, so she got me a matching necklace from the company.

I have good and generous people in my life.

Best American Short Stories

Just bought this book as a late Christmas present to myself:

Can't wait to start it!