The next time you’re near a Trader Joe’s stop in and pick up an adorable succulent that comes in a tiny terra-cotta pot for just a few bucks. Then, the next time you’re near Walmart, pick up their two pack of Moscow Mule Mugs for around $12. The terra-cotta planter fits right into the mug and you’re left with a super cute little plant addition for your shelf.
xoxo,
Adora
Summer is in our rear view mirror, and with it, baseball season. So, a few weeks ago Josh and I drove up to Round Rock to see the Round Rock Express play! I normally hate beer, but at a baseball game, it seems so de rigueur and it was actually delicious. We had no idea that tickets to a Triple-A game would be so affordable, I think we paid $16 each, which left plenty of date night money for beer, hot-dogs and peanuts. It was a blast! Come next April, especially if you have a local Triple-A team near you, consider heading out to a game instead of dinner & a movie. I guarantee, you’ll love it.
xoxo,
Adora
Since I read more than I do pretty much anything else, I like to share snippets of the books I’m reading with you all. Just little phrases that stick out to me.
“In the days after Thanksgiving a woman microwaves her three-week-old infant and another slashes her three-year-old’s throat. It’s not fair. Why have these ungrateful women been blessed with children when mine has been taken from me? Have I been that bad of a mother?” -The Good Girl
I wont sport with your intelligence by telling you how to screw two 1×2’s together at a 90° angle. It’s pretty straight forward, but then again, I didn’t actually have do it. Handy handsome husband perks, you know?
Anyway, for about $20 of wood (we had the stain & screws on hand) we made two 7 ft. long frame ledges to go above our standing desk.
Josh got 4 – 8ft 1″x2″ pieces and cut a foot off of each, stained, sealed, and screwed them together. Then, he screwed those into the wall above the desk.
I’m so pumped about how this turned out. I love the way the letters shadow the wall when the overhead light is off and our work lamps are on.
This whole project ended up costing about $65. $45 for the letters (found on clearance at Joann’s for $3 each) and $20 for the wood. Not bad given how much wall it covers.
Just like that, this has become my mantra for my work life and really, many other aspects of my life as well. I’ve messed with the spacing on the letter a few times a day for many many days. Probably will continue to do so. World without end.
Work hard & be nice, little babies. Until next time…
xoxo,
Adora
We’ve been at the new apartment for a little over 3 months now so I know it’s long overdue for a house tour. That will also be coming soon.
xoxo,
Adora
Since I read more than I do pretty much anything else, I’ve decided to start sharing snippets of the books I’m reading with you all. Just little phrases that stick out to me.
“I think all of us are only 5 years old in the presence and absence of our parents.” -The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
More than just a 1940’s insult, it’s a fact, this tart is easy. I’d probably pinned some form of this recipe 100 times, but never actually got around to making it. You know what finally motivated me? My asparagus that I never got around to cooking last week was about to go bad. (Dave Ramsey would not approve) So, I finally spent the 30 minutes (top) to make it. Oh my gosh, y’all. Change your life good. Plus, it looks so much fancier than it is, so you could take this to pot lucks or group dinners and win win win at life. Praise the lamb I actually remembered to take pictures. Steps and Ingredients below.
Ingredients:
Puff Pastry Sheet
A bundle of asparagus with ends removed
6 ounces Gruyere cheese – shredded
EVOO
Salt + Pepper
Steps:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Roll out your 30 minute thawed puff pastry to get it a little longer
Slide puff pastry onto a baking sheet with parchment paper
Slice about a 1 inch border from all sides
Poke the middle section of the puff pastry with a fork a million times
Bake for 15 minutes
Take out of oven and sprinkle all the Gruyere over the middle section of the tart
Layer on the raw asparagus alternating ends an heads
Drizzle EVOO on top of the asparagus
Salt and Pepper
Bake again in the 400 degree oven for 20 more minutes.
Enjoy!
xoxo,
Adora
You all (didn’t) asked, so I’m answering! “How do we make the perfect taco salad?!” all you readers (never) shouted in desperate unison. Well, everyone calm down- I’m finally going to tell you.
This how mama do.
First of all, an exchange of sour cream for the lower calorie Greek yogurt is 100% acceptable. You really can’t taste the difference in this south western mix of deliciousness. Secondly, while normally I go solid black beans occasionally I do enjoy refried black beans on the salad and that’s okay. Lastly, you may be tempted to use guacamole instead of solid avocados but that is a rookie mistake. Your salsa, your sourcreamgreekyogurt, and cholula already create a liquidesque dressing substance in your mix and now you need solid pieces in your salad.
So, while this is a very prep-heavy meal, I’ve never regretted it. I’ve only ever regretted eating so much of it that I exploded.
Layers from top to bottom:
Chips (on side)
Shredded Cheese
Picante Sauce
Cholula
Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt
Avocados
Corn
Tomatoes
Onions
Ground Beef
Black Beans
Lettuce
Fin.
xoxo,
Adora
Since I read more than I do pretty much anything else, I’ve decided to start sharing snippets of the books I’m reading with you all. Just little phrases that stick out to me.
It’s knowing that I’ll never have what she has – a beauty so powerful it brings things to you. I fear I will always have to chase the things I want. I’ll always have to wonder whether I’m truly wanted whether I have just been settled for. -A Great and Terrible Beauty
And now, for another edition of “Adora finds easy recipes online and tries to make them even easier”. Tonight’s recipe inspiration came from a blog that called for searing chicken thighs (yuck) before baking. I’m both lazy and grossed out by dark meat, so something had to give. I did use onions and this recipe but it doesn’t call for them, I just had a bag of diced onions that was about to go bad so I tossed them in here. Enjoy the photos instructions and ingredients are below.
Line your baking dish with tin foil and slap down your raw chicken. Salt and pepper. On top of that, pour the mostly drained can of diced roasted tomatoes. On top of that add your drained marinated artichoke hearts. On top of that add your drained sliced olives. Cover with tinfoil and put in to a preheated 375° oven. Bake for 30 minutes. Take out of the oven, uncover, sprinkle on as much mozzarella as you see fit, and put back into the oven uncovered. Bake for an additional 20 minutes. That’s it you’re done. Add some fresh basil if you’re fancy (I wasnt’) and dusting on some Parmesan never killed anybody. It’s Josh approved, so you know it’s good. Enjoy!
xoxo,
Adora
