Friday, November 15, 2013

Around here ...

I haven't been breaking out the camera as often as usual and while it's sometimes a nice break, I also miss it. Here's a few glimpses of what we've been up to over the last couple months.

caramel brownies, again
{caramel brownies, again}

porch dinner
{porch dinner}

stenciling
{stenciling}

carrot cake
{carrot cake}

Apartment hunting. Blerg. Looking for a dog friendly, cute, inexpensive place in Hollywood, Silverlake or K-town. Would also like parking and a backyard with a magical unicorn, obvs.
{apartment hunting}

lasagna in progress
{lasagna in progress}

homemade rice krispie treats
{homemade rice krispie treats}

I may not be a huge chocolate person, but add a little bit of caramel and I'm suddenly on board.

We've been making the most of our balcony, especially with the crazy warm weather over the last month. Leftover wedding candles make everything prettier. Friends make everything more fun.

I told D I was totally over Halloween and just wanted the easiest costume possible that would let me wear sweats. Somehow we ended up hand stenciling skeleton costumes?

It was carrot cake time of year again. I won't deviate from this recipe. Even if shredding the carrots by hand kills me a little every time. (I ditch the maple syrup in the frosting because I swear it doesn't make a difference)

Apartment hunting in LA is a little brutal. We started a month ago and told ourselves we wouldn't settle! I wanted hardwood floors, laundry in unit, garage parking, no popcorn ceilings, patio or balcony for outdoor space. Four weeks later and we're pretty much ready to take the first decent, affordable, dog friendly thing that pops up. Patient, I am not.

Homemade lasagna noodles, inspired by cevd. Worth the time.

Homemade rice krispie treats, which is what happens when I decide to make an easy dessert. I COMPLICATE IT. Turns out homemade marshmallow fluff, while ridiculously delicious, makes for seriously stale rice krispie treats. So that is a bummer. I need to figure out the science on this one.

17 comments:

  1. hmm. what do i have to do to get you to post photos of the finished skeleton costumes? you know how i feel about skeleton costumes.

    it didn't occur to me until this minute that i could make vegetarian rice krispies treats if i used marshmallow fluff instead of marshmallows. um, looks like i'm going to have to do some extra running this weekend.

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    Replies
    1. For you, anything! Except I didn't actually get a picture of the skeleton costumes in action. Luckily, we have been wearing them around the house piecemeal ever since Halloween, so I'm sure I'll capture them soon.

      Yes to veg marshmallows! What do you sub for gelatin? Agar? I've been curious about that.

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  2. Um, caramel brownies? How has this not occurred to me before? Yum.

    And as always, I love your photos and the way you grab beautiful moments out of the everyday. I don't care if you crop out messes (didn't you write about that once?), because I'm all about snatching the beauty and peace in the middle of the mess, anyway.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Katie! Yep, I definitely crop messes as necessary for my own sanity! But I also try to leave them in sometimes because sometimes the mess *is* the good part, you know?

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  3. wait, did i see "dog friendly?" are you letting one of the family pooches shack up with you? amazing!

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    Replies
    1. Yes! We are adopting Circe girl! My parents are just having a hard time managing with the three dogs, given that Circe and Mick can't be in the same room without starting a fight. This will make everything easier and we are so looking forward to having her full time.

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  4. Replies
    1. Isn't it gorgeous? I'm SO SAD that we couldn't take that apartment, but it didn't work for us. I wanted to just live in the kitchen.

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  5. I totally get you on the apartment hunting. I wanted a washer/dryer in unit, hardwood floors, a pool, and relatively close to Westwood. I ended up in K-town with hardwood floors and a pool.

    I'm pretty sure that I'll eventually move back to Orange County and just vanpool out here. Nice apartments are so much cheaper down there.

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    Replies
    1. Ha! We're in the same position. We're settling for hardwood floors and non popcorn ceilings.

      One day we will have washer/dryer in unit! Let's dream together.

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  6. W&D in unit was my dream in LA too but I already am paying so much.... gahhh....now work is taking me to SinCity and I can have it *all* (attached garage and balcony, W&D in unit, etc.) for a *fraction* of what I would pay in LA.... I agree, LA's apartment hunting is easily one of the most frustrating thing ever. I will be back in 15 months and hopefully can afford more :)

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    1. Yes, Vegas is so much cheaper! I hope you have an amazing time!

      I just comfort myself by reminding myself that at least we don't live in NYC or SF. That apartment hunt would probably kill me.

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  7. I am always so happy when I read your new posts.

    Sandra

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  8. P.S. I wish you a lot of luck in apartment hunting. I totally understand why you want a washer and dryer in unit, but what is wrong with a pop corn ceiling? Honestly, I do not care about the ceiling as long it is clean and neat. My only requirements would be: good kitchen (no old kitchen!), excellent schools, no crime, W/D in unit, and garage parking. A house is usually the only option that meets all my requirements. You get what you pat for.

    Sandra

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    Replies
    1. It's funny but I just hate popcorn ceilings for some reason. Every time I look at the ceiling in our apartment it bugs me! I love how polished a smooth ceiling looks. At this point, I'm willing to give on everything except the ceiling and the floors (which might mean my priorities are out of whack, but oh well!).

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  9. I have no idea where you're looking, budget, etc. but I feel like I see a lot of really cute duplexes or older-style apartments in my not-so-trendy but convenient general area of South Robertson/Beverlywood-adjacent/Faircrest Heights/Carthay Square-ish.

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